newsletter > Summer 2001 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL My dear Friends Welcome to our first Newsletter! I would also like to welcome our new Editor Yvonne Walker. Yvonne will be assisted by one of our patrons Pat Kite. We are going to try to keep the newsletter about dates of concerts, contact numbers, reviews of concerts and generally news about the choir. I hope you will find it interesting and informative. The May concert went with a Swing and concerts at Cheltenham, Ross-on-Wye and Windsor were memorable and very successful! Where do we go from here? The main thing is that we must always remember our roots by singing at smaller concerts, hospitals and sheltered homes where people cannot readily get to the Wyvern. September 9th sees us doing a full show at Wavendon at the Stables Theatre (Cleo Laine’s theatre!). This is very exciting! Pollyanne Tanner will be organising a coach to this event. Her phone number is 772729. She should have details after July. I am just putting the finishing touches to our November Show "Hey! Mrs Producer". Should be good again! Well back to the piano! See you all soon Love Sheila <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> REVIEW OF THE MAY CONCERT, 18/19 MAY 2001 I am sure the majority of you were at the Wyvern Theatre for our annual May concert ‘Swing to Classics’. We again joined forces with the Band of the Army Air Corps and, as the title suggests, presented a concert very much of two halves in which the band and choir were able to demonstrate their diverse qualities. The Swing half produced many favourites for our ‘older’ friends of the audience, including such numbers as ‘St Louis Blues’, a ‘Glen Miller Medley’ and the ‘Big Band Selection’ all arranged for the choir by Gordon Talbot. The Classical half did not disappoint; included were such well-loved pieces as Handel’s ‘Hallelujah Chorus’, ‘Toreador’s Song’ from Carmen, the ‘Russian Dance’ and the Lakme Flower Duet. The evening concluded with the choir joining the band in Tchaikovsky’s ‘1812 Overture’ with a fitting narrative of the repulse of Napoleon’s invasion of Russia presented by Clarry Bean. The following day the complete production moved to the Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham where the performance was repeated to a packed house. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> REVIEW OF THE ROSS-ON-WYE CONCERT, 3 JUNE 2001 ‘A memorable evening’ was how one member of the audience described the 3-hour musical extravaganza "Songs from the Shows" put on by the Kentwood Choir supported by the Band of the Army Air Corps at the Nimbus Concert Hall. This view was heartily endorsed by the whole of the 550 sell-out audience. The enthusiastic audience was treated to excepts from many popular musicals including ‘South Pacific’, ‘Phantom of the Opera’. ‘Oliver’, ‘My Fair Lady’, ‘West Side Story’ and Les Misérables’. Everyone was highly impressed with the enthusiasm and discipline of the choir and the outstanding quality of the soloists, particularly bass Graham Davidson-Smith. At times it was possible to close your eyes and think you were in the stalls at a West End show; so professional were the choir and the soloists. The Musical Director of the choir, Sheila Harrod, who first established the choir in 1964, was herself an outstanding singer who performed with various groups of the choir and was certainly an invigorating conductor. Excellent support for the choir came from the band of the Army Air Corps, Musical Director Captain Peter Clark. It was a magnificent evening only marred by the Meadow not being available for the pre-planned picnic, owing to foot and mouth, but full use was made of the hospitality available in the marquee adjoining the concert hall. The concert provided funds for the setting up of a medical unit in the Namutumba District of Uganda where John Kyrle High School have strong links with Kisiki College. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> THE ROYAL GALA SHOW, WINDSOR, 17 JUNE 2001 The choir topped the bill at the 7th Royal Gala Show at the Theatre Royal, Windsor, in aid of the Prince Philip Trust Fund for Windsor and Maidenhead, The Grand Order of Water Rats and the Bud Flanagan Leukaemia Fund. The choir sang ‘Lullaby of Broadway’, a medley of ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’ and ‘It Don’t Mean a Thing if it ain’t got that Swing’, culminating in its now signature number, ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’. It was a tremendous thrill for Kentwood to be backed by such talented musicians in the Don Shearman Orchestra. The choir couldn’t fail to swing, swing, swing!. We were very well received and earned many favourable comments from both audience and fellow performing acts. Appearing alongside the choir were Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee, Joe Pasquale and Roger de Courcey to name but a few. The choir was invited to perform for HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, following its very successful appearance last Christmas at the Stables, the home of Dame Cleo Laine and John Dankworth. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> A LETTER RECEIVED FROM KAPLAN KAYE ENTERPRISES, THE ORGANISER OF THE ROYAL GALA CONCERT, WINDSOR Dear Sheila Just a note to say a big ‘THANK YOU’ I also thought you might like to see a copy of a letter I received on behalf of HRH. The calls and letters I have had so far, from friends, punters, supporters you name it, have all said how much they enjoyed the show and that every single performance was superb, so what more can one say. Please would you thank on my behalf all the members of the choir for their great performance everyone really excelled themselves. I really do personally appreciate your contribution and thank you most sincerely for helping me to make the evening the success that it undoubtedly was. The atmosphere back stage I thought was also tremendous and once the show was on I can say I really did enjoy myself, and I hope you and all the choir did too. Once again Thank You. Kind regards Kaplan Kaye <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> LETTER FROM EQUERRY IN WAITING TO HRH THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH TO KAPLAN KAYE The Duke of Edinburgh has asked me to write to say how much His Royal Highness enjoyed the Royal Gala Show arranged by you at the Theatre Royal in Windsor yesterday evening. Prince Philip was delighted to receive such a warm welcome from everyone, and very much enjoyed the splendid show. It was a most impressive illustration of a most extraordinary range of talent from up and coming youngsters, to more established acts and familiar names. The participation of everyone in this charity event was greatly appreciated. His Royal Highness would be grateful if his thanks could be passed on to all those who put in so much hard work and who played a part in making the show a resounding success. Prince Philip was most grateful for the presentation of the cheque for £10,000 to the Prince Philip Trust Fund which was a marvellous culmination to the evening. The Duke of Edinburgh sends you and all the participants in last nights Royal Gala Show his best wishes and renewed thanks. Finally on a personal note, on behalf of Sergeant Pat O’Higgins and myself, may I say how much we appreciated being included amongst your guests for this most special of occasions. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> KENTWOOD CHOIRS INTERNET SITE For those of you who have access to the Internet you may be interested to know that the Kentwood Choir has its own website. Located at www.kentwoodchoir.co.uk the site contains a wealth of information including details of the next and upcoming concerts, choir history, pictures, reviews of past shows and soon you’ll be able to listen to excerpts from the choir’s two CD’s. The site is updated regularly and is a great place to quickly find any Kentwood information you need. If you can’t find what you’re looking for the site also has contact details for the choir. Give the site a try and if there is anything you feel should be included on it do get in touch. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> THE "KENTWOOD" MOUNT BY WESLEY ADAMSON, 20 FEBRUARY 2001 Written following our concert at Evesham with the West Mercia Police Band There will be a choir in 'HEAVEN' All dressed in 'Heavens' BLUE! They are on tour - down here on earth The Kentwood Choir (you knew) Each audience needs a warning That this choir is not the norm For-right from the beginning They take the place by storm Others sharing with them Find it hard there to compete For whilst most choirs are simply heard Kentwood get you off your seat To hear them it is awesome One stands on hallowed ground Have you every seen such radiance Or heard such perfect sound They captivate the stranger Rejoice again the friend Such is their power when singing One wants it not to end They make it look so easy Not seen a printed word And to call this choir professional Would not be absurd Each soloist (unhidden) Holding forth in Blue Reveals such wealth of talent In songs both old and new Each face has its radiance Which cannot be ignored Radiant just like Moses When he has seen the Lord How good it is, Lord to be here Your beauty to behold Transfigured there in every song As each item does unfold Who could resist their impact Captives we each are Brought in sadness falls off instantly Different (inside) by far Who would have thought a human choir Could lift us far above But lifted to the heavens we are By this choir so filled with love A credit then to Sheila Her vision once (when young) There in the Sally Army E'er this choir was begun She is the power behind the throne Of this choir we so admire This group of lovely people Sparkling with her fire She stands before - their leader (In Salvations choir - RED) Bringing out perfection For failure they would dread A choir of individuals Now a team - women and men And all who hear them singing Live in hope they'll come again How good it is to be here Yet here we can't remain Thus from the lofty Kentwood mount We slip home to our plain <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> NOTE FROM THE EDITOR I hope you enjoyed the Kentwood Newsletter in its new format. I will endeavour to issue the Newsletters during March, June, September and December. I would welcome any comments or suggestions so please contact me at 23 Bourton Avenue, Stratton St Margaret, Swindon, SN3 4LY, or telephone on (01793) 823849 (home) or (01793) 442096 (work). Yvonne Walker