Christmas activities 2019
Once again, Christmas for the Barnby Choir began on the first Saturday in December, with our annual visit to St Mary’s, Nether Alderley, where we sang a selection of carols as a backdrop to the traditional Christmas Fayre. Both conducted and accompanied this year by our own members, we all enjoyed sharing in the Christmas story through music, and exchanging greetings with friends old and new – including a nicely synchronised visitation of travellers from afar (aka East Cheshire Ramblers)! Many thanks to the Rector and all at St Mary’s for the warm welcome we always receive there.
A weeks or so later, a number of members paid what has become our annual visit to Oakmere residential home in Handforth, where we had a very enjoyable afternoon with residents, singing carols and Christmas music. Afterwards there was time for a pleasant chat over a cup of tea, and we thank the residents and staff for making us so welcome.
Messiah success
Following our sell-out performance of Handel’s Messiah on Sunday 8 December at the United Reformed Church in Wilmslow, we were delighted to receive an exceptional number of positive comments, from both singers and members of the audience. Below are just a few examples:
Audience members
“Last night was awesome in every way. The performance was amazing – as was the organisation of the whole event.”
“Absolutely wonderful, thank you.”
“A superb performance, alive and spirited.”
“Members of the audience around me clearly loved it and found it uplifting and moving.”
“Uplifting: a very spiritual experience where all performers told the story; soundly musical.”
One of our soloists
“A fabulous Messiah – the choir sounded fantastic and were so well prepared. It was a joy to sing with you all!”
Singers
“At a personal level it was my best choir experience ever, and I have been singing for over 40 years.”
“What a wonderful occasion – a truly spiritual, as well as emotional experience.”
“After 25 years in the choir, I felt this was certainly one of our very best performances.”
Thank you to all who made the concert such a success – especially our magnificent soloists, Anna-Clare Monk, Rhain Taylor, Bo Wang and Matthew Nuttall, together with the musicians of Musica Nova and organist Elin Rees. Not forgetting our wonderful audience – it was a joy to see so many people completely filling the church, and a particular pleasure to welcome our founder’s son, Andrew Barnby and his wife.
