Previous Events
Concert Performance
20 July 2010 - Holy Trinity Church, Blacon
It was the 25th annivesary of Chester Ladies' Choir performing at Holy Trinity Church Hall, Blacon in aid of the Blacon Hospice Support Group.The weather was aweful but this didn't prevent the audience from turning up and enjoying a superb evening of music. The choir performed a varied programme which started with the traditional With a Voice of Singing and included songs from the shows, You Raise Me Up, Hallelujah, and Adiemus ably supported by Louisa on the flute. The choir also gave their first performance of And All That Jazz which, although still work in progress, shows signs of being a show stopper! Local baritone, Bob Hopkins, entertained us during each half with songs that had us tapping our feet and itching to sing along! A total of £421.25 was raised for the hospice.
Spring Concert
15 May 2010 - All Saints' Church, Hoole
On 15 May the Chester Ladies' Choir were hosts to Voices in Harmony, a mixed choir from the Black Country who were guests at their Spring Concert held in All Saints' Church, Hoole. Both choirs had a varied programme with the Chester Ladies performing 2 new pieces added to their repertoire this season - Karl Jenkins' Adiemus and the very popular Leonard Cohen's Allelujah. The choirs were joined by Musical Interludes, a very tallented group of young musicians from Congleton High School. They were Ella on flute, Hannah on saxaphone and flute, Tim on tuba and the irrepressible Jordan on banjo with songs made famous by George Formby. An excellent night's entertainment!
Anniversary Concert
8 May 2010 - Holy Trinity Church, Blacon
The Chester Ladies' choir performed a concert to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Blacon's Holy Trinity Church.
Wedding
29 May 2010 - Our Lady Star of the Sea, Ellesmere Port
On 29 May The Chester Ladies' Choir sang at a wedding at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Ellesmere Port.
Concert Performance
13 March 2010 - Civic Hall, Ellesmere Port
The Chester Ladies' Choir joined with 5 other choirs from the region to take part in the National Association of Choirs concert in Ellesmere Port Civic Hall. Each choir performed a programme lasting about 15 minutes and then joined together to sing The World in Union and The Hallelujah Chorus. The event was a great success with even a standing ocation at the end!
Concert Performance
6 February 2010 - St Oswald and St Thomas of Canterbury Church, Parkgate Road, Chester
The Chester Ladies' Choir joined with the Harmonetts, a trio who sang 40s and 50s music, and Molly a young lady with a spectacular voice, to give a concert at St Oswald and St Thomas of Canterbury Church. The concert was to raise money for a new disabled ramp which has been installed at the church.
Earthquake Appeal Concert
31 January 2010 - Chester Cathedral
On Sunday evening the Chester Ladies' Choir joined with Chester MV Choir, Kelsborrow Choir, A Handbag of Harmonies, The Cathedral organ,The City of Chester Band, Farndon and District Brass Band and Karamba Samba for a mamouth concert in aid of the Haiti Earthquake Appeal. It was a splendid evening and £7,808.84 was raised for the appeal.
Christmas Concert
22 December 2009 - The Chapel, Eaton Hall
The Chester Ladies' Choir's very busy Christmas season was completed by a concert in the Chapel at Eaton Hall in aid of Nightingale House Hospice. The choir performed their Christmas repertoire which together with audience carols and readings made a very enjoyable concert. The evening ended with refreshments served in the Long Room at the Hall.
Sounds of Christmas
12 December 2009 - St Peter's Church, Holywell
On the Saturday it was a repeat performance at St Peter's Church in Holywell. The church was smaller but the audience just as appreciative. The soloist this time was Benjamin Thomas Gillham, a talented young tenor in his final year at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Ben entertained us with a songs from opera and musicals. Once again the Hallelujah Chorus performed by both choirs, brought the house down!
Sounds of Christmas
11 December 2009 - All Saints' Church, Hoole
It was 'standing room only' once again in All Saints' Church, Hoole on Saturday evening when the Chester Ladies' Choir gave a joint concert with the City of Chester Male Voice Choir. The both choirs performed a programme of seasonal music and the solo artist was Lauren Faulkner, an up and coming young local singer.The evening was rounded off with a performance of the Hallelujah Chorus which really put everyone in the festive spirit.
Festival of Brass and Voices
31 October 2009 - Royal Albert Hall, London
On 30 October 2009 The Chester Ladies’ Choir set off on their trip to London to take part in the Festival of Brass and Voices which is held at the Royal Albert Hall every 3 years in aid of Cancer Research UK. We arrived at our hotel just across the road from Kensington Gardens mid afternoon and then spent a happy time with friends and family.
On Saturday morning it was down to work with a long and, at times, frustrating practice in the Royal Albert Hall. Sufficient to say the 2 bands, The Grimethorpe Colliery Band and The Brighouse and Rastrick Band were excellent. It was a somewhat dejected choir who returned to the hotel to eat and freshen up for the evening performance. We need not have worried! It’s true what they say about a poor rehearsal and an excellent performance.
Once seated in the auditorium we were entertained by some young Scottish fiddlers, Fochabers Fiddlers Frontline, and with community singing with the organ. Of course we also took part in the usual game of Spot the family. The festival went very well and the conductor remembered to indicate when he wanted us to stand up and sit down (mostly) but the real stars of the night were the 2 bands. They were truly AMAZING. It’s hard to pick out the best bits but for me it would be the Cornet Carillon and Procession to the Minster – can’t wait for the CD.
We sang our hearts out, waved our flags and even came-in in the right places for the Hallelujah Chorus but that could be the interval drink talking!
Sunday morning we awoke to rain and wind and were not looking forward to ‘busking’ in Covent Garden one little bit but like true troopers we said we would give it a go. At 12 15 the rain cleared, the crowds gathered and Malcolm Fairless, the Chorus Master, stood on his box and we were off singing again - with no music, crushed like sardines in a tin and only roughly standing in sections. We had 2 second bases standing with us altos but Rodney would probably say they were well placed! We sang for 45 minutes whilst still more money was raised for Cancer Research UK.
Tired but happy we returned to Chester about 7 45 pm. In the words of my friend’s 5 year old daughter – how many more sleeps ‘til next time? (1,0931)
In total £150,000 was raised for Cancer Resedarch UK.
Wedding
19 September 2009 - All Saints Church Gresford
The Chester Ladies' Choir performed at a wedding at All Saints Church, Gresford on 19 September 2009. They entertained the guests as they entered the church and during the singing of the register.
Concert Performance
18 September 2009 - All Saints Church, Hoole, Chester
On Friday evening the Chester Ladies' Choir performed with the Millhouse Green Male Voice Choir from Yorkshire. A small be appreciative audience enjoyed a varied selection of music with the Male Voice Choir including a trumpet player and a tap dancer in their programme! Helen Strange a talented young soprano delighted us with her singing. £500 was raised for the Hospice of the Good Shepherd
Concert Performance
21 July 2009 - Holy Trinity Church Hall, Blacon
Once again the Chester Ladies' Choir performed a charity concert for the Blacon Hospice Support Group in the Trinity Church Hall, Blacon. This proved to be a happy, relaxed evening with the choir performing a wide variety of music to an appreciative audience. The soloist was the very talented Heather Heighway, a 19 year old soprano who is about to commence her studies at the Birmingham Conservatoire. The evening was rounded off with the delicious refreshments which are always provided by the ladies of the Group
Concert Performance
20 June 2009 - Caldy Valley Neighbourhood Church
The Chester Ladies' Choir performed a varied selection of music at the Caldy Valley Neighbourhood Church on Saturday 20 June. The programme included several new items, some of which are destined to be peformed in the Royal Albert Hall in October for the Festival of Brass and Voices. The soloist was the very talented Heather Heighway, a 19 year old soprano who is about to commence her studies at the Birmingham Conservertoire in September. Heather delighted us with songs from opera and musicals.
Concert Performance
2 May 2009 - Little Sutton Methodist Church
On Saturday 2 May the Chester Ladies' Choir performed a concert in the Methodist Church, Little Sutton. The varied programme included several new pieces, some of which the choir will be performing in the Albert Hall later in the year. The soloist was baritone, Mark Gairrusso who sang a selection of songs from musicals finishing with (by popular request) Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud!
Sounds of Christmas
13 December 2008 - Trinity Methodist Church, Ellesmere Port
This was a repeat of the Friday night concert for a very appreciative Ellesmere Port audience. The soloist this time was the baritone Mark Gairrusso who performed a varied programme which ended with us singing along to Mud, Mud, Glorious Mud!
Sounds of Christmas
12 December 2008 - All Saints Church, Hoole, Chester
This year the Chester Ladies' Choir put on two Christmas concerts, both in collaboration with the City of Chester Male Voice Choir. It was almost 'standing room only' for the first one in Chester. The choir performed a varied seasonal programme ranging from the very beautiful Harold Darke arrangement of In the Bleak Mid Winter to a lively rendition of A Jingle Bell Christmas. The soloist was Shelby Williams, a very talented young lady with a bright musical future.
The evening concluded with the choirs joining together in singing Still, Still, Still followed by Joy to the World. A great start to the festive season!
Concert Performance
21 October 2008 - St Luke's Church, Chester Road, Huntingdon
On Tuesday 21 October St Luke's church put on a concert in aid of the Hospice of the Good Shepherd. The Chester Ladies' Choir performed a varied programme of music including some new items for the current season.
Concert Performance
22 July 2008 - Holy Trinity Church Hall, Blacon.
We have been doing this concert in aid of the Hospice of the Good Shepherd here for the past 17 years and, as always, both choir and audience had a very enjoyable evening. Talented soloists were baritone Mark Gairrusso and our own Lesley Ivison. The evening ended with a delicious buffet provided by the ladies of the Blacon Hospice Support Group.
Concert Performance
14 June 2008 - Trinity Methodist Church, Whitby Rd, Ellesmere Port
The Chester Ladies' Choir put on a joint concert with the Westminster Singers in aid of the Air Ambulance Service.
Spring Festival Concert
17 May 2008 - St John's Chapel, St John's Street, Chester
The Chester Ladies' Choir Spring Festival this year featured the 'dynamic talented duo' which are Ember. Known for their unusual harmonies and skilled accompaniment on guitars, violin, clarinet and harmonica, Emily and Rebecca certainly provided an excellent contrast to the choir.
Bangor International Choral Festival
19 April 2008 - Bangor, Northern Ireland
In April the choir travelled to Bangor, Northern Ireland to compete in the Bangor International Choral Festival where we were very well placed in the Ladies' Choir competition, with an excellent adjudication. We travelled through England, Wales, Eire, Northern Ireland and Scotland in our four day break, enjoying nice weather throughout and a wonderful time was had by all.
First Concert of 2008
26 January 2008 - Hamilton Road Chapel, Hoole
A very appreciative audience enjoyed the choirs' first concert of 2008. Pieces that are 'work in progress' for the Bangor (Northern Ireland) competition in April were included in the programme - and they all went well! The audience particularly enjoyed the 'I Believe/Ave Maria' Quodlibet and our version of 'Chariots Comin'. A good concert to open the 2008 season!
