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Dream debut for our new pianist 

SEPTEMBER 25: Pianist Felipe Rodrigues played his debut concert with the Croydon choir at Banstead United Reform Church on Saturday. The concert was the first of the new concert season and an audience approaching two hundred filled the auditorium to capacity.

Debut pianist Felipe Rodrigues with music director Richard Hoyle at Banstead

Richard Hoyle, the choir’s music director, said: "Felipe, who has had little time to prepare for his debut, played brilliantly and with a great deal of confidence. The choir, feeling strongly supported by Felipe, sang with real focus and enjoyment.”

 

Felipe commented: “As this was my debut playing for a male choir, I was surprised by the powerful sound of the choir when they sang their first note.  It was such a good surprise for someone who has played for choirs for many years.”

Felipe added that he has felt “really welcomed” by the choir since joining it at the start of September – and that this contributed to the “great success” of the Banstead concert.

The choir lines up at Banstead (photos JWT)

The choir’s performance of Robat Arwyn’s Guardian Angel was so powerful that one audience member, who (like Felipe) came from Brazil, was moved to tears. The final number, Hava Nageela, the most difficult song in the choir’s current repertoire, was sung extremely well and brought cheers and rapturous applause.

Also making quite an impression was choir tenor John Aitkenhead, who delivered two solo spots, accompanied by Andy Roth on acoustic guitar and his daughter Lucy, who played flute. Their rendering of Till There Was You was particularly effective. 

John Aitkenhead - quite an impression

The choir’s next concert is at Oxted on Saturday October 28 (see Our Next Concert page).  Meanwhile the choir’s main focus is to prepare the remaining pieces set to be recorded on the choir’s new album, following an initial session when half the numbers were recorded. There is a rumour that due to the demands of this preparation, Christmas music will be missing from the choir’s concerts this year. “Needs must,” Richard replied when asked about this!

Breaking news: Stewart Robinson, the choir’s concert secretary, was phoned by a member of the audience the following day to say that she loved the concert:  “It was the best night out she had had for a long time.”