Outstanding Singing Day
It was a great pleasure to welcome some 70 singers from across the region to our Singing Day on Saturday 10 February, when we learned and performed A Little Jazz Mass by Bob Chilcott, under the inimitable direction of maestro Keith Orrell, Musical Director of the William Byrd Singers and the Liverpool Welsh Choral Union.
The Jazz Mass proved to be a delightful piece; our challenge was to master the unfamiliar jazz rhythms and to learn to sound like jazz singers! As always, Keith guided us through the day with his trademark enthusiam, skill and humour; his Ella Fitzgerald impressions were a sight to behold! Throughout, we were ably accompanied at the piano by Tim Walker, who was joined in the afternoon by bassist Martin Popple and percussionist Sophie Smith to add an authentic jazz flavour to our performance at the end of the day.
Huge thanks to all of them for making the event so enjoyable, to the members of the Barnby Choir and helpers who worked so hard to make it a success, and to all those who came along to sing with us. We look forward to seeing you again next year!
