A Stourport Christmas

If ever you needed to be put in the Christmas mood, this was it! The show was billed as a collaboration between Stourport Choral and Stourport-on–Severn Brass Band with a delightful mixture of formally arranged carols, Christmas songs and fun music. Once again they were joined by the children from Lickhill Primary School with two talented teachers in support. Add a visit from Father Christmas and an interval mince pie with fruit punch and the evening had everything.

Julian Manchee MD for Stourport Choral provided an interesting background to their programme, skilfully accompanied by Margaret Tillott and included in Part 1; ‘Sleigh Ride’, ‘Tomorrow shall be my Dancing Day’, ‘The Holly and the Ivy’ and ‘Bethlehem’ .

Stourport -on -Severn Brass Band clearly goes from strength to strength, winning a number of awards and recently being promoted to the Second Section of the National Championships. In part 1 the band impressed with ‘Ukrainian Bell Carol’ ‘Do they know it’s Christmas’ and ‘Away in a Manger’ with an excellent cornet solo by Andrew Lane. Following two numbers from Lickhill Choir including some lovely harmony in ‘Winter Wonderland’, the first part closed with a ‘Christmas Fantasy’ with both Choir and Band.

The Band opened Part 2 with ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’ and following a selection including the gentle lilt of ‘Nativity Carol’ and ‘The Christmas Song’ sung by Stourport Choral in which Mary Sinclair provided a strong solo piece, the evening closed with ‘The Grand Finale’ of favourites for everyone to sing along with.  Throughout the evening, Oliver Wilson, Musical Director for the Brass Band, took the opportunity to link various pieces with a number of seasonal stories, providing a splendid rapport with the audience.

I look forward to many more Stourport Christmas’!

Bruce Wyatt  (Regional  Representative, District 10)

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