St Ives Community Choir News 2021

Stennack Surgery Covid Vaccination Clinic

Our final pre Christmas sing-a-long was outside the surgery carolling to folks in the queue waiting for their jab on Monday 20th December. Once again it was just a few members of the choir who came along. We had a happy hour or so providing a little cheer to those who stood socially distancing in the car park. How the virus has once more devastated our Christmas programme, but we remain thankful for all that has been possible. All those practices throughout the autumn were not a waste as each one is an enjoyable stand alone experience.

Photo courtesy of Marguerite

Carolling Around the Town

Rain caused the first attempt to share the joy of Christmas around the town on Saturday 4th December. Another opportunity availed itself two weeks later on Saturday 18th December. Again a few hardy souls were able to brave the cold but dry conditions. With tea and cake outside the library and hot chocolate courtesy of Janet O'Shea at Zion Congregational Church the little group spread the cheer of Christmas. Considering the affect Covid 19 is having making people think twice about venturing amongst lots of people, we sang to appreciative and generous listeners. A total of £127.61 was raised for charity.

Photo courtesy of Bill Thomas. More photos in the gallery >>>

Lighting up the tree at Halsetown

With concerts beginning to be cancelled through concern over the latest variant of the Covi pandemic several concerts are already cancelled. An late invitation was given for the choir to help with the lighting of the Christmas tree outside the Halsetown Inn. A few hardy members of the choirs brought good cheer with some entertainment both outside and inside the pub on Saturday 4th December.

Photo courtesy of Bill Thomas. More photos in the gallery >>>

Towednack Church Christmas Concert

The choir recieved a very warm welcome from a smaller audience than usually attends what has become something of an annual event on Friday 10th December. The choir itself were perhaps just twenty in number, with one bass and one tenor; Alan Thomas and Stuart Greaves. Nevertheless, putting 'omicron' to one side, the church was filled with all the  sounds of Christmas. A welcome from Rev. Elizabeth Foote launched a varied programme, with congregational carols, The 12 Days of Christmas provided plenty of mirth, while William & Tricia blended two songs into the evening which conveyed the true message of Christmas - God incarnate.

A collection was made and a raffle taken to raise money for repair and restoration of the car park. At the conclusion gifts were received for MD William, accompanist Alison and also Donald & Maureen Stevens who had organised the concert. The choir were then treated to a Cornish pasty supper, with heavy cake and saffron buns too.

With confusion over current Covid 19 protocol is was good to enjoy a pleasant evening concert. Hopefully our Christmas programme will be able to continue.

Tate Gallery 8 Christmas Concert

With some restrictions on numbers due to Covid 19 a depleted choir gave a concert at the Tate, St Ives, the first of the Christmas season, in The Tate on Saturday 27th November. Although with reduced numbers, the choir performed admirably, Gallery 8 being well suited to producing good sound. Stephen Bassett deserves special mention (back left) as the only bass. There are a couple of videos of the concert which were a simple unedited recording from a mobile phone. They are available to view on this website: Media >>> or You Tube 'Who is this child' >>> and You Tube 'Rainbow Christmas' >>>

Photo courtesy of Bill Thomas

September Festival Concert, "St Ives Entertains"

After a long layoff due to the Covid 19 pandemic the choir accepted an invitation to sing at the St Ives September Festival at The Guildhall on the evening of Friday 17^th September. The event was organized by Dave Brotherton of Tir ha Tavas to raise funds for St Ives Community Land Trust. Other performers included Kidz R Us representatives, Bamaluz Bootleggers, poet Bob Devereux, Katrina Geraghty and Sophie Andrews.

The choir opened well with “Let Music Sing”, a rousing piece to ignite warm applause. MD William had the audience involved with “The Do Ron Ron” and Cornish favourite, “Proper Job” (soloist Stephen Bassett). After “Like an Eagle” the whole evening was brought to a conclusion with the Cornish anthem “Bro Goth Agon Tasow”.

Morag Robertson, chair of St Ives Community Land Trust, had commented: “Our members and supporters would like to thank Dave Brotherton for thinking of such a fabulous way to support our housing project at The Old Vicarage Flats, which is right next-door to the Guildhall.

“All the performers are giving their talents free to get behind affordable homes, which are so needed in the parish. We are looking forward to a grand night out!”

Dave Brotherton wrote to the choir with these words: "Thank you all for your input into a very successful evening yesterday.  I’ve had lots of very positive and flattering comments about all of the performances and the organisation.  It’s wonderful to think that we can produce such an evening for such a valuable cause.

"Thank you once again and a big well done!!!"