This concert was a first for PTN in many ways – the first to be run as a charity concert (in aid of the Peterborough branch of Parkinson’s UK), the first for our new accompanist, Käthe Wright Kaufman (organ scholar at Peterborough Cathedral) and our first Christmas Concert for a few years.  Held at Queen Katharine Academy, the concert was enjoyed by a good-sized audience. We performed a wide variety of Christmas music from Gaudete through to Believe (from Polar Express) and Walking in the Air (from the Snowman), and including some traditional carols. We very much enjoyed singing several carols composed by John Rutter, including the beautiful All Bells in Paradise.  The enchanting Mary Did You Know (Lowry/Greene arr. Hayden) also became a firm favourite with the choir.

With a theme loosely-based on “Flowers”, this concert gave the choir a chance to perform such old favourites as Build Me Up, Buttercup, Edelweiss & Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree, together with the traditional Scarborough Fair & Last Rose of Summer, and John Rutter’s wonderful arrangement of All Things Bright & Beautiful.  This was our accompanist, Adam Wilson’s, last concert with us & he treated us to a lovely rendition of Debussy’s Clair de Lune.  The Flower Duet from Lakme by Delibes and La Vie en Rose were performed beautifully by Cornelia Karia & Stacey Lowth, and Callum MacKenzie respectively.  The traditional song I Like the Flowers, sung as a round and with sign language is set to become a choir favourite.

A huge collaboration with the City of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra & Peterborough Opera, this was the most challenging work that Peterborough Take Note has performed during the five years it has been in existence.  Many choir members felt very daunted at the prospect & found rehearsing very difficult, but on the night everyone rose to the challenge and the choir produced a creditable performance.  Feedback from audience, choir members and others taking part was very favourable.

Peterborough Take Note’s second concert of 2018 saw a change at the top, with a new MD (Robin Norman, Head of Music and Performing Arts at Ken Stimpson school) and accompanist (Adam Wilson, organ scholar at Peterborough Cathedral).  In the week that saw the choir celebrate its fifth birthday, the performance consisted of choir members’ favourites from the repertoire.

The concert began with a rousing ‘surround sound’ rendition of South African folk song Shosholoza, which was followed by songs by composers ranging from Verdi (Va Pensiero) and Mozart (Ave Verum) to Paul Simon (The Sound of Silence) and Labbi Siffre (something Inside So Strong).  The toe-tapping Duke Ellington number ‘It Don’t Mean a Thing’ was a firm favourite, and Robin delighted everyone with a solo Tuba rendition of Oystein Baadsvik’s intriguing piece “Fnugg”.

Also under the direction of Robin Norman were polished performances by The Ken Stimpson School Choir and Ken Stimpson Acappella Group ‘B#’.   The school choirs joined Peterborough Take Note for the final two songs Beautiful Boy (John Lennon) and Sing (written for the Queen’s Diamond jubilee by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Gary Barlow). 

Audience feedback was very favourable – “spine tingling”, “best yet”, “enjoyable”, “fantastic”.

PTN’s last concert with our accompanist, James Bowstead, took us through the ages with a wide variety of material – from Gregorian Chant and Sermisy’s Old French love song Tant Que Vivray, through to Motown and Bob Dylan’s To Make You Feel My Love.  James treated us to a wonderful and lively piano solo, Street Tango by Piazzola, and the Consort sang Sing We and Chant It.

We were joined two choirs from Ken Stimpson School (A Capella Choir & Ken Stimpson Choir) led by Robin Norman. Both choirs gave energetic and accomplished performances.

For a review that appeared in the Peterborough Telegraph click here

This concert was the first to feature our new MD, Adam Wills Begley, who despite having only been with us for a few weeks, produced a very good concert. We performed well-known favourites such as Oklahoma, I Could Have Danced All Night, Bohemian Rhapsody and Music of the Night, and the beautiful song La Nuit by Rameau (used in the film Les Choristes), together with medleys from Les Miserables, Porgy and Bess and Sister Act. Individual choir members were given the opportunity to sing short solo parts, and a trio of ladies sang From a Distance.  We were joined by Club 73, who delighted us with their usual enthusiasm.

We travelled in song from the Americas to Australasia, Europe to Africa with a wonderfully varied programme put together and conducted by our MD, James Dixon. We sang his beloved My Country (Australia for Me), of course, and performed the stirring national songs Va Pensiero, Finlandia, Shosholoza, Jerusalem and All Through the Night, together with more lighthearted pieces such as the Sailor and Young Nancy, La Cucaracha and Guantanamera. 

As usual, we were joined by the Club 73 Choir who sang six songs which included Zip a Dee Doo Dah, and guest artists Florence and Terry treated us to a selection of French folk songs.

Our Christmas Concert this year was held in St Oswald’s Church. We had moved to St Oswald’s Church Hall as a rehearsal venue a few months before so we were very pleased to be able to welcome parishioners, and friends and family to this concert. We performed a range of carols and Christmas songs including Barber’s Sure on this Shining Night, Rutter’s A Gaelic Blessing, Stille Nacht, Hark the Herald Angels Sing and the Twelve Days of Christmas, and gave a resounding rendition of Gaudete, Christus Est Natus. We were treated to an organ solo (Bach’s In Dulci Jubilo) by our accompanist, James Bowstead, and we sang a carol composed by one of our members, Ray Markham.

We were joined by Club 73 who sang gave very enjoyable and enthusiastic performances of four Christmas songs.

Another cafe-style event at the Voyager, this concert included the beautiful songs Sure on This Shining Night by Samuel Barber and Rutter’s A Gaelic Blessing, in addition to popular songs such as Oklahoma, Colours of the Wind and Bridge Over Troubled Water.  Solos by members of the choir were also featured, and the Consort performed The Long Day Closes. 

This was the last concert for Steph Anderson, who had been the accompanist since the Choir was formed.

We were also joined by Club 73 who gave an enthusiastic and enjoyable performance.