Singing for William Hill in Llandudno

It was great to be a member of the choir at St Paul’s Llandudno on Saturday 29^th September. We formed at 10am, a very mixed bag in which most people already belonged to a choir and were familiar with the pieces to be sung.

For some reason I had assumed the choir would be much bigger than the forty we were and was feeling a bit exposed at being 20% of the bass line! But Michael crossed over from the tenors and then we were six.

At 7:30pm we were on stage by the altar singing a bit of Messiah and then the ‘Palestrina’ but my favourite was Vivaldi’s Gloria. With Chris like a tuning fork on my left and Michael on my right, nudging me when to sing or stop, and various hand movements to indicate a wrong note or which bar we were in – I muddled through and loved the experience. My first time in a choir since schooldays.

Our goal was to help raise funds for the William Hill organ installed back in 1910. A total of £150K is needed but I think sufficient funds are now available for at least the bellows to be fixed. This is what a 102 year old organ sounds like in a cold church with a very high ceiling:

Thanks everyone for making it such a great occasion and to Alison Smith for organising it.

Singing for the Organ

Long ago I stopped making negative new year resolutions, like less this and that. These days, after a glass of wine, I like to be enthusiastic and that’s how I ended up with sore knees and a big smile at the end of my first trail marathon. My other resolution for this year was to join a choir and perform in a concert. But time had been running out with little progress until a fortuitous invite arrived by email.  

I’ve applied and, even though I explained my lack of experience, have been accepted into the choir that will be formed on Saturday morning (29^th September) to perform A Fistful of Glorias that evening. The venue is St Paul’s Church Llandudno and the cause is the William Hill (nothing to do with gambling) organ, installed in 1910, which needs a £150,000 overhaul.

By 7.30pm I’ll be in my suit ready to sing Vivaldi’s Gloria and Glorias by Bach, Handel, Palestrina and Weelkes. If you’d like to join the choir, please contact Alison Smith on 07955 070885 or by email to alison.jane62@gmail.com If you’d like to enjoy the concert I am assured there are some proper job singers and all you need do is arrive and make a donation.