LORD MAYOR JOINS CITY CHOIR FOR SPECIAL AUTUMN CONCERT

The Lord Mayor of Chester, Councillor Sheila Little was the principal guest at a gala concert staged recently by one of Chester's top choirs.

The concert, at Chester Town Hall, featured Chester Male Voice Choir under the musical direction of conductor Joe Mann, with their principal accompanist Helen Jackson at the piano. The choir was joined for the Autumn Festival Concert by its special guest, popular Chester based busker, violinist Philip Chidell. 

Performing in front of a large and appreciative audience, the choir sang a number of popular pieces including "Anthem" from Chess The Musical, "Some Enchanted Evening" from Rodgers and Hammerstein favourite South Pacific, "I Dreamed A Dream" from Les Misérables, "Gaston" from Beauty and The Beast and Irish folk song Danny Boy. The choir also performed some old favourites from its repertoire including "Benedictus" by Ruthin based composer Robat Arwyn, "World in Union", "Hallelujah" and the ever popular "There is Nothing Like a Dame" from South Pacific.

During the evening, the choir paid tribute to its former long-serving Musical Director Rodney T. Jones who passed away earlier this year, with a moving performance of his arrangement of "Veni, Jesu, Amor Mi."

The Choir's special guest, Violinist Philip Chidell performed a selection of popular and light classical pieces during the evening including "Romance" from The Gad Fly by Shostakovich, better known as the theme from  TV series Reilly Ace of Spies, "The Prayer", "You'll Never Walk Alone" from the musical Carousel, "Meditation" from Thais by Jules Massenet and Puccini's Nessun Dorma. Philip also joined forces with the choir to perform "Guardian Angel" (Anfonaf Angel) by Robat Arwyn and Frank Wildhorn's "Tell My Father" from the film The Civil War. 

A total of £350 was raised during the evening for local charity ShareShop which provides help and support to homeless and families in crisis across Chester, Cheshire and North Wales as well as providing support to refugees around the world. 

Following on from the success of the choir's Autumn Festival concert,  its members are set to appear at St Alban's Church in Tattenhall on Sunday 22^nd October. The choir will also be performing at the Trees of Light service at The Countess of Chester Hospital on Friday 1^st December and the annual Santa Dash in Chester city centre on Sunday 3^rd December before staging its special Christmas concert at St Columba's RC Church on Friday 15^th December with special guest, harpist Dylan Cernyw. 

Full details of Chester Male Voice Choir, its upcoming events and how to join its ranks can be found at: 

www.chestermalevoice.com

Pictured - Musical Director Joe Mann with Chester Male Voice Choir.