TCK 2015 - Gala Concert Review
By John Harris, Music Director, Top Choir Kent
A packed King’s School Shirley Hall thrilled to the fine singing and varied programmes of seven invited Choirs to celebrate the 6th Year of Top Choir Kent.
The policy of seating choirs in the auditorium increased the decibal level of often ecstatic appreciation of each others’ performances in the audience’s celebratory atmosphere.
This year departed from the competitive element to the theme of “Help”. This was exemplified by the fine performance of East Kent based Mustard Seed, led by Ellie Cordon, an established choir who exemplify the beneficial effects of high quality singing on health and mental well-being.
Excellent Performances were presented by Elham Valley Voices, a mixed youth choir formed eighteen months ago by former TCK Winning Musical Director Jackie Spencer and the wide repertoire of the ladies of Canterbury Voices under Kerry Boyle, a choir which has grown and established a fine tradition in the community and beyond.
Former winners in 2011, female harmony singers Viva Acappella under Gaynor Schofield performed magically, reminding us of their gold medals in national and international competitions. The Cantate Choir led by Robin Walker returned from their triumphal performance in TCK 2014 and the Canterbury Festival Spiegel Tent demonstrated their astonishing variety of styles with wit and humour.
The P and O Choir, again showed their quality, having moved on from 2013 BBC TV winning Choir: Sing while you work” to high demand appearances in London Shows with Susan Boyle, from Hyde Park to the Last Night of the Proms.
The final performance was by the outstanding Kentones Male Voice Choir who also perform nationally and internationally with their unique blend of big choir and Barbershop.
It was the Kentones Director Peter Kennedy, returning from his success as Director of the first TCK winners, Green Street Blues in 2010, who was responsible for the final item.
On our behalf he had commissioned a special choir version for the 50th Anniversary of the first performance of the Beatles “Help”. Having worked with all the choirs in advance, he conducted all the Choirs on stage and with the audience joining in created a fitting Finale for an evening of inspirational music-making that raised several thousand pounds for charity.
For a selection of photographs taken at the concert click here.
The final figure will be known shortly and will be published here.
Organised by the Rotary Club of Canterbury, Top Choir Kent is a festival of singing for amateur choirs of all ages based in Kent, Medway and the London Boroughs of “Old Kent”.
Top Choir Kent: 'HELP' us to 'HELP' others...
