Saturday, 8^th December 2001 - The Parish Centre, Chester le Street

Chester le Street Civic Choir presented ‘A Concert of Seasonal Music’ at The Parish Centre in Chester le Street on Saturday, 8th December 2000.

The concert was in aid of the 'Motor Neurone Disease Association.

The choir was conducted by Katherine Ottosson with George Gent as accompanist. Rachel Orr, Soprano, and David Fiddaman, Tenor, were guest soloists.

The concert opened with a congregational carol, 'O Come All Ye Faithful'. This was followed by selections from 'Pink Champagne' and 'The Merry Widow' featuring the Choir and guest soloists. The Choir then performed 'Tritsch Tratsch Polka' and 'One Voice', followed by the congregational carol, 'Once in Royal David's City'. Rachel Orr then sang 'O Holy Night'. After performing 'The Very Best Time of Year', the Choir encouraged a community singalong to 'Jingle Bells', 'White Christmas' and 'When a Child is Born'. The Choir then performed the selection of 'Deck the Hall', 'Rocking' and 'Sussex Carol'. After a guest duet of 'If I'd Been There', the Choir closed the first half with 'Joy to the World'.

The second half opened with the men from the Choir singing 'The Carol Singers', followed by guest solos of 'The Virgin's Slumber Song' and 'Mary's Boy Child'. The Choir then encouraged another singalong of 'The Christmas Song', 'Winter Wonderland' and 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town', followed by the solo, 'The Night before Christmas'. The Choir then sang 'I Saw Three Ships' before guest solos of 'In the Bleak Midwinter' and 'Star of Bethlehem', followed by the Choir performing the beautiful arrangement of 'Bethlehem'.

The concert concluded with the congregational carol, 'Hark! the Herald Angels Sing' and the Choir singing 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas'.