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A Joyous Celebration of Christmas Music
Our recent Christmas 2025 concert was a resounding success, delighting a full house with a rich and varied programme of festive music. The evening opened with Vivaldi’s Gloria, performed with radiant energy, setting a joyful tone that carried through the night. The choir’s bright harmonies and the trumpet's crisp accompaniment captured the exuberance of Vivaldi’s masterpiece beautifully. A highlight of the evening was Will Todd’s Jazz Carols, featuring a warm, velvety double bass played by Natasha Thompson bringing a smooth swing to familiar melodies. The blend of jazz rhythms and traditional carol tunes proved irresistible, earning smiles and tapping feet throughout the audience. The programme continued with Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Christmas Carols, its lush harmonies and evocative folk melodies filling the hall with a sense of timeless English warmth. The solo lines were sensitively delivered, weaving seamlessly through the rich orchestral texture. No Christmas concert would be complete without audience participation, and this one was no exception. Traditional carols were sung with true gusto, uniting performers and listeners in festive spirit. As the final notes faded, the applause said it all — a joyful celebration of music, community, and Christmas cheer. Thank you to all who came along and to those who helped. Photo credit Jane Roberts |
Summer Concert 28 June 2025
The choir were thrilled to sing with their special guests the Oxford Welsh Male Voice Choir, celebrating songs from all over the British Isles and beyond, from folk to pop, in Welsh with colourful goats and even with the full actions to Sea Shanties!
There were also songs requiring audience participation, and you didn't need asking twice - Jerusalem, We'll meet again and Smile were sung with gusto.
The raffle was run by Steve Challen raising funds to purchase, fill and drive an refurbished ambulance to Ukraine. To date over £1,000 has been raised, which is just incredible. It was a balmy evening so refeshments were taken outside whilst admining the ambulance convenient parked nearyby. Thank you everyone for your generosity in supporting such a worthwhile cause.
It goes without saying that we are incredibly grateful to everyone who makes our concerts possible, from St Lawrence Church, the organising committee and all the other helpers, partners and supporters and most of all you the audience for coming along and supporting us.
Please see a selection of photos below (with thanks to Mike Andrews): -
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Palm Sunday 13th April 2025
The choir were thrilled to perform John Rutter's Requiem and other choral classics together with the Nene Sinfornia, who also played their own pieces The Lark Ascending with the outstanding solo by Towcester-born violinist Richard Smith, Gabriel's Oboe and Schindler's List. Many in the audience commented they felt it was the choir's best concert yet and it was certainly a huge honour and pleasure performing these magnificent pieces in St Lawrence Church and especially complimented by the skillful orchestra and beautiful soloists Hester Wood and others from the choir. |
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We had a wonderful day, firstly practicing our breathwork with Claire Turner of compassionate_voice and then (whilst fortified with many cups of tea and cakes) working through Rutter's Requiem under the guidance of our inspirational MD Helen Swift and Accompanist Rowena Gibbons.
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