Latest News
Christmas with the Chester Ladies' Choir
Our Christmas season started on Sunday 4 December when we supported the Light Up A Life Float a Candle on the River for the Hospice of the Good Shepherd. We met on a wet and blowy afternoon on the Groves and boarded the Lady Dianna and set sail for the middle of the river. This wasn't without incident as one of our number was late arriving and was left on the bank but with true CLC grit and determination donned a lifejacket and was ferried out to join us. Hundreds of people braved the weather and lots of money was raised for the Hospice.
The following Thursday we were asked to sing carols for the John Lewis' card holders evening. Unfortunately not many customers turned up (shades of Blakemere last year but warmer) but the staff said we sounded great and the mince pies and mulled wine were good.
On Tuesday 13 December Brenda opened her house for our Christmas social. A good time was had by all - lots of laughter, good food and quizzes.
On Thursday 15 December we discovered how it would feel to sing in a sauna when we performed at the Upton Horticultural Christmas Social. We performed our Christmas programme and our lovely young soloist, Shelby, sang 3 Christmas songs. We finished at 8 30 pm to let the audience enjoy their pie and peas before we totally disolved into blobs of grease. However several of the audience said how much they enjoyed it so they must have put our red faces down to blusher!
The highlight of our Christmas season came on Saturday 17 December when we performed our Christmas Concert at All Saints' Church in Hoole. We all sang our hearts out, Rodney was pleased (always a good sign) and the soloists, Jon Christos and Jenny Williams were excellent.
The season finished on Tuesday 20 December with us singing some carols at a Winter Wonderland (complete with ice rink, giant Santa and real reindeer) at the Bridge Foyer. It was very well supported with lots of young people and babies.
Now all that is left is Christmas itself. For myself I'm taking my 9 month old cocker splaniel to Bristol to stay with my son who has a cat - I must be mad!
Alison
Charity Concerts
The Chester Ladies' Choir is always keen to support local charities and good causes. If you would like to hold a concert in aid of your favourite charity at a venue of your choice, please contact our Concert Secretary, Sandra Lenel on 01244 680490.
Charity Concert
Pictured after the Concert at All Saints Church,Hoole which raised £500 for the Hospice of the Good Shepherd, are Rodney T. Jones, Musical Director, with our Chairman Sandra Hughes and Sue Christie Conductor of the Millhouse Green MVC, with its Chairman Stephen Dixon together with Lauren Davies and Jemma Hamilton of the Hospice Fundraising Team.
Encouraging Young Singers
The Chester Ladies' Choir has and still does encourage young up and coming singers by including them in its concerts. Many have gone on to make singing their career but one in particulate reached the dazzling heights. Amanda Roocroft went on delight audiences in Opera Houses throughout the world with her exceptional voice and interpretation of the various roles in her repertoire. Recently, she sang the role of Ellen Orford in the English National Opera's production of Benjamin Britten's musical drama "Peter Grimes". She can be heard with the Welsh National Opera in Madam Butterfly at Venue Cymru, Llandudno, on Wednesday 14th and Saturday 17th October 2009.
