Brilliant result for Kenya children's charity

24 March: The choir headlined an inspirational charity concert in Caterham on Saturday.  The charity funds a deprived market community in western Kenya and the concert, with five different acts, raised a brilliant total of £3700.

Andrew conducts choir at St Mary's (photo: Andrew Greenslade)

CMVC sang four sets at the concert, opening with Vivaldi’s Gloria in Excelsis, and closing with a rousing rendition of When the Saints. In between it attracted rapturous applause in a packed St Mary’s Church for Nessun Dorma, Make You Feel my Love and Coldplay’s Fix You.

Caterham Community choir sang two sets as did the stunning a capella women’s group,  Obbligato. The U3A Recorders group played four numbers and Sarah Fisher, CCC MD, sang her own slot. The concert ended with all choirs and audience singing Jerusalem, with choir accompanist Sam Prouse on organ.

Choir gives their all for CHECK (photo/video: Paul Binge)

The charity which benefited from the concert is CHECK, which stands for Community, Health and Education for the Children of Kimilili.  Its Caterham supporter, Geraint Jenkins, who organised the concert, spoke movingly of the community’s needs, which he first helped to meet almost 50 years ago.

Geraint praised CMVC for its “melodious” singing, and singled out the printed programme produced by the choir for special mention.  He later emailed thanking the choir again "for such a splendid concert - it was wonderful, please pass on my heartfelt thanks and congratulations." 

A local councillor, Jenny Gaffney, and her partner said it was "a brilliant evening, we really enjoyed the concert." Choir members themselves felt the choir had reached new heights, several saying as much to music director Andrew Moore.

The occasion was also notable for featuring a record five "newbies", namely recent choir members singing in their first concert.  The five - all tenors - were: Denis Delaroute, Luis Fernandes, Andy Greenslade, Paul Murphy and John Willoughby.

The choir is now rehearsing for its forthcoming concert at South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, with the Swfit Singers, on April 18.  That is followed by an appearance at the Penge Music Festival in a three-choirs concert at Penge Congregational Church on Sunday April 26.