Recent Concerts
Early Summer concert 2010
At the early summer concert on Saturday 22nd May 2010, South Holland Singers presented Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana" at The Parish Church of St Mary and St Nicolas, Spalding. Featuring the combined choirs of South Holland Singers (MD - Robin Carter) and Cantemus (MD - Eric Wayman) with the George Farmer Technology and Language College Junior Choir, led by their music teacher, Miss Sam Graper. Soloists for Carmina Burana were Soprano - Glenys Page, Tenor - Leslie Crowson and Baritone - Robert-John Edwards.
The Choir were accompanied by Carolyn Sumner and Roy Philips on two grand pianos, and with percussion accompaniment from the Lincolnshire Chamber Orchestra Percussion Ensemble.
The first half of the concert included included two pieces from the percussion ensemble, An African Song and two Elgar songs by the choir and a piano duet from Carolyn and Roy.
Germany Visit 2010
During a week long visit from 27th April to 4th May 2010, to Spalding's twin Town, Speyer, we joined the Mozartchor for their Grand Concert on Sunday 2nd May 2010 in the Weltraumhall in the Speyer Technical Museum.
A massive performance of Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana". It was described by our German friends on their website http://www.mozartchor-speyer.de/ "Ein imposantes Erlebnis" -An impressive experience!
It was a memorable experience for those who went. Robin Carter writes: "Sixteen Choir members and friends went on the trip to Speyer. They were each given a welcome by their hosts, and at the Concert in the Technical Hall singers from South Holland Singers and I received a rapturous ovation from the nearly 900 in the audience! It was tinged with sadness as it was the last Mozartchor concert conducted by our friend Udo-Rainer Follert, who is retiring to the Black Forest region in Southern Germany." A full press cutting can be read here (in German).
Christmas (Advent) Concert 2009
This was held on Saturday 5th December 2009 at St John's Church, Spalding. As well as the South Holland Singers, we were joined by the Junior Choir of St. John's Primary School. They sang some very lively songs in the first half of the Concert.
We sang a number of Messiah choruses, a version of Silent Night and "A musicological Journey Through The Twelve Days of Christmas", as well as other works for Advent. We were encouraged by a sizeable audience, who were invited to sing some Christmas carols with us.
Easter Concert 2009
This was held on Thursday, 16th April at Spalding Parish Church. 2009 marks the 200th anniversary of Haydn’s death, so it is particularly appropriate that South Holland Singers chose to perform ‘The Seasons’. Soloists were Glenys Page (soprano), Alastair Baker (baritone) and Adam Martin (tenor), accompanied by David Shepherd on organ, Carolyn Sumner on Piano and Roy Philips on the Harpsichord.
The South Holland Singers, conducted and directed by Robin Carter, were joined by the Mozartchor from Speyer, our German twin town, who made a welcome return to Spalding for this event. 'The Seasons' was in fact Haydn’s last major composition and first performed in German, but for this performance it was sung from an English edition. Mozartchor's Musical Director, Udo-Rainer Follert, accompanied the Choir from Germany.
Christmas Concert 2008
Our 2008 Christmas concert was held on Saturday 13th of December. Under the baton of Robin Carter, on another chilly, but seasonal Saturday night, at the Parish Church of St Mary and St Nicolas, Spalding, the choir performed Vaughan Williams' 1954 work "Hodie".
Soloists Mollie Barrett (soprano), standing in for Glenys Page, who was unfortunately indisposed, Alastair Baker (baritone) and Leslie Crowson (tenor), with David Shepherd on organ, Carolyn Sumner on piano, the Lincolnshire Chamber Orchestra Ensemble provideing bass and percussion accompaniment. We also welcomed the girls of the Spalding High School Junior choir, led by Lynne Baker. This year (2008) marked the 50th anniversary of Vaughan William's death. We also presented Cecelia McDowell's modern work, "Christus Natus Est", an arrangement of five popular carols, with full brass and percussion accompaniment.
May Concert 2008
Moving to St Mary and St Nicolas Church, Spalding Parish Church, the Choir presented three of Handel's Coronation Anthems, along with a modern work "Fire from Heaven" by Ian Schofield. The Coronation Anthems were a straightforward sing for the Choir, whereas Fire from Heaven proved to be a more challenging piece. Baritone Soloist was Alasdair Baker, Musical Director of Peterborough Male Voice Choir. We were very privileged to have the Composer and his wife with us at the concert.
The Singers were conducted by Musical Director, Robin Carter, and we were accompanied by David Shepherd at the organ and the Lincolnshire Chamber Orchestra Brass Ensemble and Percussion.
Easter Concert 2008
On Good Friday 2008, at St John's Church, which must have been one of the coldest and wintriest Easter evenings for years, the Choir sang JH Maunder's Olivet to Calvary. This early 20th century work was well received by a small but dedicated audience, who turned out for this devotional concert. We were privileged to invite Bass David Jones from Spalding and Tenor Leslie Crowson from Peterborough as our soloists.
As usual, the Conductor was our resident Musical Director, Robin Carter, and we were accompanied by David Shepherd on the Church organ.
Christmas Concert 2007
Christmas 2007, at St John's Church and at Kirton the Choir sang Cecelia McDowall's "Christus Natus Est" with David Shepherd at the Organ. We also had a selection of Sacred and Light/Modern works from the Band.
May Concert 2007
The Singers, accompanied by the Lincolnshire Chamber Orchestra, returned to St. Mary Magdalene Parish Church, Gedney for their 60th Anniversary concert. This saw a performance of the choral masterpiece Verdi's "Requiem". The Singers were augmented inviting other enthusiastic singers from around the district. The soloists came from the Royal College of Music. The Singers thanked their many friends and supporters for joining them in the anniversary celebrations.
