Choir delights on Worthing tour

May 21: The Croydon choir has returned from a barn-storming tour of Worthing and Arundel. It delighted packed audiences with spirited performances covering the whole of its current repertoire, and created extended reverberations in the stunning acoustics of Arundel Cathedral.

The choir sings at Arundel Cathedral (photo Leni Gillman)

 The tour began on May 17 at St Mary’s in Goring,  where standout numbers included Star of the County Down (arranged by CMVC’s Northern Irish music director Matthew Quinn) and the Hallelujah Chorus.  The concert also brought a reunion with Roger Pinsent, CMVC MD from 2018 to 2022, and now chorus director of the Sussex Kings of Harmony, a delightful men’s barbershop group.

Roger Pinsent returns to conduct 'Angels'

It sang six numbers between the CMVC’s sets, including Neil Pitney’s Mary Lou and Neil Sedaka’s Amarillo.  During his tenure with CMVC, Roger arranged Robbie Williams’ Angels, and to everyone’s delight he accepted Matthew’s invitation to conduct this once more with his former choir. The near sell-out audience responded with rousing applause.

The next day saw the choir in Arundel where the choir were first invited to entertain at the busy Farmers’ Market in the town centre. This was followed by the steep ascent on foot to the splendid cathedral, built in French Gothic style, with a breathtaking nave and soaring acoustics.  These were revealed at their best when the choir sang the Finlandia Hymn and Nessun Dorma.  For its third set, the choir was accompanied by Sam Prouse on the cathedral’s remarkable ornate organ.  To coordinate with the singing, Sam had to play half a beat ahead, the two sounds combining in a remarkable echo. 

The choir lines up at Arundel Cathedral (photo Leni Gillman)

The evening concert was at St Andrew’s in Tarring, where another substantial audience thrilled to a new set of songs, with the choir’s staging of Song of the Jolly Roger a particular delight.  The guest slots were taken by the choir’s very own Octet(ish) and ShantyMen, who displayed the enormous versatility the choir now possesses.  The rector, Fr Steven Emerson, thanked all three choirs for their brilliant performances.  “It has been a wonderful evening.”

Matthew leads warm-up at Tarring

The tour brought the customary round of extra-curricular activities, with spectacular après performances long into both nights at the Three Fishes pub in central Worthing, attended by most of the 80-strong group of choir and travelling supporters. There was a notable first for the choir, when music director Matthew Quinn was required to prove he was over 18 in order to gain admittance – the first time this has befallen any CMVC MD.

Before CMVC left the Chatsworth Hotel on Sunday morning, it gathered to hear Margaret Jacob thank the choir members on behalf of the touring women: “We are very proud of you,” she said. Choir chair Kim Ormond said it had been another brilliant tour and made presentations to Matthew and Sam, as well as to John Ward Turner, who has announced his retirement as tour organiser.  “Our thanks to all of you,” said Kim.

Prezzie from Kim to JWT at the end of his last tour as organiser