Saturday, 5^th December 2009 Chester le Street Parish Church

Chester le Street Civic Choir presented ‘A Christmas Celebration’ at the local Parish Church.

The choir was conducted by Katherine Ottosson with Paul Conroy as accompanist.

The concert opened with a selection of pieces from the ‘Messiah’ with soloists, Sue Percival and Tracy Hopper, the men’s chorus and the full choir. This was followed by readings, ‘A Ragtime Carol’ with Peter McQuaker as soloist, ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ with an octet of choir singers, ‘Calypso Carol’, ‘Child in a Manger’ and ‘Prayer’ by the ladies of the choir. The first half closed with the full choir singing ‘Jubilate’.

The second half included ‘O Holy Night’, ‘Hurry to Bethlehem’, ‘Nativity Carol’ by a choir sextet, ‘Walking in the Air’ by a quartet, ‘A Christmas Carol’ with Cynthia Howarth as the soloist, ‘All the Stars Shone Down’, ‘The Wise Men (Swing that Camel)’ by the men’s chorus, ‘Christmas in the Country Style’, and ‘In the Bleak Mid-winter’ with soloists Irene Cookson and Brian Armstrong. The evening closed with the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ from the Messiah.

Saturday, 18^th July 2009 – Park View Theatre, Chester le Street

Chester le Street Civic Choir presented the ‘Razzle Dazzle’ Concert at the Park View Theatre.

The choir was conducted by Katherine Ottosson and Paul Conroy was the accompanist.

Their special guests for the evening were the Durham Constabulary Brass Band with conductor, Keith MacDonald.

The band opened the concert with a medley of numbers which included ‘Breezin’ down Broadway’, ‘The Folks who live on the Hill’, ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’ and ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square’.

The choir followed with ‘We’re the Choir’, ‘The Rhythm of Life’, ‘Nice ‘n’ Easy’ and ‘The Music’s Always There With You’.

The band’s next selection included ‘I Got Rhythm’, ‘From That Sacred Hill’, ‘Blaydon Races’ and ‘Bugler’s Holiday’.

The choir closed the first half with two songs from ‘Chicago’ – ‘Razzle Dazzle’ and ‘All That Jazz’, then ‘Fields of Gold’ with soloists, Hate Reeder, Peter McQuaker, Sue Wigham and Alan Howarth, and finally ‘Hallelujah by a solo group of Derek Morse, Cynthia Howarth, Tracy Hopper and Christine English.

The second half opened to ‘Hartonian March’, ‘The Acrobat’ and ‘The Irish Blessing’ by the band.

The choir followed with the ‘Fiddlerman’, ‘Two North East Songs’ by Eric Boswell – ‘This Place is on my Mind’ with soloists, Helen Miller and Joy Lynn, and ‘But It’s Mine’ with Peter McQuaker as soloist, followed by ‘Singin’ in the Rain’.

The band’s final section included ‘Rock Around the Croc’, ‘Tuba Smarties’ and ‘Farandole’.

The choir’s final section included two songs by Frank Sinatra – ‘New York, New York’ and ‘Fly Me to the Moon’, followed by ‘Goodnight Sweetheart, Well It’s Time To Go’.

The band and choir closed the concert with ‘Thank you for the Music’.

Saturday, 18^th March 2009 – The Parish Centre, Chester le Street

Chester le Street Civic Choir presented the ‘Spring Voices’ Concert, which featured a programme of classical and modern choral favourites, at The Parish Centre. The conductor was Katherine Ottosson and Paul Conroy was the accompanist.

The special guest soloists for the evening were Clark Adamson, baritone and Patricia Casement, soprano, with Martin Dack as accompanist.

The choir opened the first half of the concert with ‘The Heavens are Telling’ featuring Sue Percival, Bill Peardon and Alan Howarth, followed by ‘Art Thou Troubled?’ and ‘Hail, Bright Star of Heaven’.

Following a selection of solos by the guest artistes, the choir closed the first half with ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’ and a selection of pieces from Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’.

The choir opened the second half with ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ and ‘Ave Maria’ with Helen Miller as the soloist.

Following guest artist solos, the choir presented a selection of numbers from the musical, ‘Les Miserables’ with Bill Peardon as soloist.

After a closing set of solos from the guest artistes, the choir concluded with ‘Gonna Rise Up Singin’’, ‘All Night, All Day’ and ‘I Believe’.