Goose bumps in Addiscombe 

MARCH 17: The Croydon choir staged an exuberant concert at St Mildred’s church, Addiscombe on Saturday March 16.  An enthusiastic audience, some on their feet, gave prolonged applause when the concert closed with Dona Nobis Pacem, sung as a round with the choir’s guest singers, the Tour Choir from Wetherby Preparatory School, London.

The choir at St Mildred's 

CMVC sang seventeen pieces in all, opening with Battle Hymn of the Republic and closing with When the Saints Go Marching In, followed by Dona Nobis Pacem as an encore. 

The concert marked the fourth time its new music director, Roger Pinsent, has conducted the choir.   CMVC pianist Nat Brawn conducted the Tour Choir from Wetherby School, where he is head of music.

A "wonderful evening" for choir and audience  (Photos: Nia Reynolds, Black Stock Films)

Jenny Nicholls, events organiser at St Mildred’s, thanked the two choirs before the final encore, saying it had been a “brilliant concert”.  At times she had goose-bumps and had also been moved to tears. 

Roger Pinsent thanked Jenny and the audience for their hospitality and their generous response to the performances by the two choirs.  “This has been a wonderful evening,” he said.