SOUND WAVES, a concert in support of the RNLI and in tribute to the late RMVC chorister Owen Davis who for many years did so much for the charity. 15 July 2023.

As we gathered, once more in Romsey Abbey during the Romsey Festival, we were joined by guest choir, The Orpheus Singers from Hadleigh in Essex to stage a concert originally scheduled to be held in 2020, but like so many things fell prey to the Pandemic. Joining us also on the night was the super-talented flautist Anna Loadman performing with RMVC for a second time.

The programme of music offered saw The Orpheus Singers performing five pieces in each half of the concert. In the first half singing a set of evocative and contrasting arrangements of Japanese songs called Furusato, and in the second half, with a very different flavour, the Beatles medley Here There and Everywhere, Eleanor Rigby, Hey Jude and Yesterday.

As strong supporters of the RNLI, RMVC’s choice of music in part followed the themes of sea and water in the songs Let the River Run, Away from the Roll of the Sea and Wellerman, a New Zealand sea shanty. The choir also performed old favourites including Chattanooga Choo Choo, Bring Him Home, Nessun Dorma, and the always moving Prayer of the Children, in which once again we acknowledged the ongoing troubles in Ukraine.

The well-known Rogers and Hammerstein You’ll Never Walk Alone was performed as the joint Finale.

Alongside the two choirs the audience was treated to the beautiful playing of Anna Loadman, who, even as she is studying A level music, has performed in both Winchester and Norwich Cathedrals along with other venues. Her two pieces played were Morceau de Concours by Faure and Waltz in B minor op.69 by Chopin.

The concert was followed by a convivial and musically vocal AfterGlow, with an abundance of food produced by the RMVC Ladies Support Group led by RMVC’s Chairman’s wife Lesley Cleary – many thanks ladies you did us proud once again.

OTHER THANKS

To:

The RNLI representatives who came to the concert to talk about the work of the charity. We will let them, and all others, know the amount raised for this great cause in due course.
The Orpheus Singers Musical Director David Clark, and our own MD Marion Maxey.
The Orpheus Singers Accompanist Janet Walker and RMVC’s Accompanist Brian Budden.
Concert Secretary Mike Bull, who as always excellently ticked all the organisational boxes.
Our generous sponsors and advertisers who help to make such charity concerts possible.
Main Photographs by Philip Clewer.