Page 36 - Phonebox Magazine August 2011

Well, we did it – well and truly! Olney Community Choir’s inaugural concert at Olney Parish was a great success, and it was a very special evening for all. Our choir really rose to the occasion and delivered a memorable performance. It was a real privilege to be conducting them that evening in Olney’s beautiful Parish church. All the time I was conducting, I kept looking up at the stained glass altar window with the evening sunlight coming through, and smiling at the singers, mouthing all the words from the songs to give them more confidence. It had been difficult trying to place everyone in the church during our one rehearsal, especially with the band in front of us, but we sorted it in the end with the professionalism and support from Melinda Lightfoot and her husband Mark who did the sound.
We also had some very young performers taking part in the concert with Lavendon school choir and guitarist Liam McManus. What little stars they were! Thank you to Janet
Howe head teacher at Lavendon school and her staff for bringing them along.
I would also like to thank all the soloists who participated on the night; John Hawkes, and Gilly Giddings, who sang the new Willen Hospice song (this was recorded
during the concert), Charlotte Burbridge, who did a beautiful version of ‘Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen’ with the choir, and ‘Defying Gravity’ from ‘Wicked’ the musical, in an ensemble with Lucy French, Naomi Brock, Gill Hardy and Emma Testro. Milly Whittington also sang ‘Ave Maria’ by Caccini and stunned everyone with her beautiful voice. This is one lady who is going to be heard a lot more of in Olney!
Thanks also to Andrew Dougall who accompanied John on guitar, Bobby Orr on drums and Rob Evans, double bass and guitar. I am indebted to Mark Needham, Melinda’s husband who did sound for the night. Without him, our soloists would not have been heard. It’s very difficult singing next to a stone pillar!
A Summer Gala Concert in aid of Willen Hospice 9 July, Olney Parish Church
notes in ‘Chanson Boheme’ from Carmen. It’s such a fun aria to sing and so popular, I had to give it a go. I hope everyone enjoyed it as much as I did. More than anything, I wanted to sing for myself, as I never thought I would have a voice again after having the tumour three years ago.
My thanks must also go to Alan Haughton and Richard Heyes for their support with the new choir, stepping in to do accompanying now and then in rehearsals, leaving me free to conduct. Alan’s piano playing is astounding and we are lucky to have him living in Olney, lending his support in local events whenever he has been asked. He has also been on hand to give me support and advice when needed. Alan has set up a new Jazz Club in Olney starting on 13 September at the Bull Hotel. Terry Lightfoot will be performing there on the first night, so check out Alan for more info and tickets or contact the Bull.
Richard is also in demand for his playing and conducting and has also given his free time to help us in our first performance. He is a superb accompanist and conductor and I look forward to many more concerts with him in the future. Richard is Musical Director for Newport Pagnell Parish Church, and our choir is participating in a ‘Voices for Hospices’ concert in Newport on 8 October with other local choirs.
Thanks must also go to Rod, Gill and Basil, church wardens at Olney Parish church, for all their help in organising seating, which was a mammoth task, as the church was full to capacity. Basil’s humour was appreciated when we ran into difficulties with only one toilet for 380 people. The queue during the interval was
It was an honour to have Terry Lightfoot perform with us in our first concert. I am amazed at his stamina and professionalism and patience, especially with us in rehearsals. He was so calm and reassuring - a real gentleman. Melinda, his youngest daughter who was singing with him and the band, was absolutely lovely with all the singers and gave us all some very good tips for performance, which was
appreciated.
I also had to get used to singing operatic arias in front of a microphone and stand well back when I hit the high
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