making our own kind of music
News
Pat Rudkins Curtain Call – Halstead Gazette Thursday 8th May
Marvellous Maestro Thomas Duchan, Musical Director of The Hedingham Singers started their recent “Memories” programme of 40 years music making with his signature style of luscious harmonic arrangements.
His choir swelled in response. “Only You” and poignant “Dance With My Father” made a first half dynamic duo followed by the could-be-sombre but weren’t, Parry and Rutter numbers.
The captivated audience loved everything from sacred to show tunes. Especially “Mr Snow” from Carousel, confident guest artist Corrina Groombridge’s tribute to the wonderfully rich-voiced Maggie Levoir.
The Halstead concert was especially dedicated to Maggie.
Travelling far for the occasion, Richard and Crystal, now lead vocal in her band must have been immensely proud, for their mother was a magnetic force in our area and beyond.
How do the Singers do it? Here was flamboyant accompanist Bodhana Ravliuk, along with Corrina to add music magic to a group that sang way out of its league.
I know it was done for other reasons, but splitting the Tenors, Basses, above and below St Andrew’s chancel steps “worked a treat”. Bravo.
Marvellous Maestro Thomas Duchan, Musical Director of The Hedingham Singers started their recent “Memories” programme of 40 years music making with his signature style of luscious harmonic arrangements.
His choir swelled in response. “Only You” and poignant “Dance With My Father” made a first half dynamic duo followed by the could-be-sombre but weren’t, Parry and Rutter numbers.
The captivated audience loved everything from sacred to show tunes. Especially “Mr Snow” from Carousel, confident guest artist Corrina Groombridge’s tribute to the wonderfully rich-voiced Maggie Levoir.
The Halstead concert was especially dedicated to Maggie.
Travelling far for the occasion, Richard and Crystal, now lead vocal in her band must have been immensely proud, for their mother was a magnetic force in our area and beyond.
How do the Singers do it? Here was flamboyant accompanist Bodhana Ravliuk, along with Corrina to add music magic to a group that sang way out of its league.
I know it was done for other reasons, but splitting the Tenors, Basses, above and below St Andrew’s chancel steps “worked a treat”. Bravo.
easyfundraising
Congratulations! Amazing news!
The Hedingham Singers has raised over £419.76 which means they're in the top 50% of causes. With over 190,000 causes on easyfundraising, that's an amazing achievement! If you, your family and friends have not yet signed up to easy fundraising do it now! Simply click of the easy fundraising tab for full details. When you shop at hundreds of different websites you can raise money for The Hedingham Singers without it costing you a penny. Sign up today!
Congratulations! Amazing news!
The Hedingham Singers has raised over £419.76 which means they're in the top 50% of causes. With over 190,000 causes on easyfundraising, that's an amazing achievement! If you, your family and friends have not yet signed up to easy fundraising do it now! Simply click of the easy fundraising tab for full details. When you shop at hundreds of different websites you can raise money for The Hedingham Singers without it costing you a penny. Sign up today!
Afternoon Delight
Our recent concerts of popular love songs at Pebmarsh and Sudbury have been a great success with large audiences enjoying our selection of musical numbers including “Portrait of My Love”, “They Long to Be Close To You” and “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” from ‘The Lion King”
It is much sadness that we announce the death of Maggie, who passed away on December 21st following a short illness.
Maggie was a long-standing member of the Hedingham Singers and many of our concerts featured a solo by this great soprano, and if we needed a “Britannia” for a “Last Night of the Proms” medley she would come dressed in a large union flag and lead the audience in a rousing “Rule Britannia”
Maggie was also very active on the local musical scene. In Halstead she led the WI “Warblers”, in Gosfield, a member of the cast in the annual village pantomime and in Sudbury she was not only a singer, but an actress, producer and musical director for several local drama and singing groups, including Sudbury Light Opera Society and Sudbury Dramatic Society. For many years she led Braintree Theatre Train offering young people aged 6 to 18 training in the performing arts.
Maggie supported the work of the Samaritans and anyone wishing to donate in her name can do so by following this link.
www.samaritans.org
Maggie was a long-standing member of the Hedingham Singers and many of our concerts featured a solo by this great soprano, and if we needed a “Britannia” for a “Last Night of the Proms” medley she would come dressed in a large union flag and lead the audience in a rousing “Rule Britannia”
Maggie was also very active on the local musical scene. In Halstead she led the WI “Warblers”, in Gosfield, a member of the cast in the annual village pantomime and in Sudbury she was not only a singer, but an actress, producer and musical director for several local drama and singing groups, including Sudbury Light Opera Society and Sudbury Dramatic Society. For many years she led Braintree Theatre Train offering young people aged 6 to 18 training in the performing arts.
Maggie supported the work of the Samaritans and anyone wishing to donate in her name can do so by following this link.
www.samaritans.org
Magaret Levoir
Making The News with our Own Kind of Music!
Our recent Making Our Own Kind of Music concert at St Giles’ Church Great Maplestead was a sell-out success and raised money on behalf of the Rotary Club of Halstead and made the news headlines in the Halstead Gazette in their April 27th edition.
The news report told how the Rotary Club of Halstead and The Singers had come together to host a joint concert and raising over £1,000 in aid of Ukraine.
Under the direction of musical director Thomas Duchan, the choir sang a selection of their favourite hits from the 60’s and 70’s to a packed and delightful audience.
Halstead Rotarian Keith Brownlie who was instrumental in organising the event said he was delighted in how everything went. “There were some brilliant hits from the era, and everyone had a wonderful time” he said.
Our recent Making Our Own Kind of Music concert at St Giles’ Church Great Maplestead was a sell-out success and raised money on behalf of the Rotary Club of Halstead and made the news headlines in the Halstead Gazette in their April 27th edition.
The news report told how the Rotary Club of Halstead and The Singers had come together to host a joint concert and raising over £1,000 in aid of Ukraine.
Under the direction of musical director Thomas Duchan, the choir sang a selection of their favourite hits from the 60’s and 70’s to a packed and delightful audience.
Halstead Rotarian Keith Brownlie who was instrumental in organising the event said he was delighted in how everything went. “There were some brilliant hits from the era, and everyone had a wonderful time” he said.
Guest of Honour, Halstead Mayor, Jackie Pell gave a vote of thanks to the Hedingham Singers, and all involved.
The following week the Halstead gazette published Pat Rudkin’s review in her regular “Curtain Call” column:
The Rotary Club of Halstead chose well when it picked Hedingham Singers for its latest fundraiser.
In a packed St Giles’ Church in Great Maplestead, a copious afternoon tea encouraged further interval generosity for making Our own Kind of Music.
The concert’s ambiguous title allowed music director Thomas Duchan to add his own arrangements to many of the Sixties and Seventies numbers.
Further ingenuity was provided by this polymath musician as he conducted his choir while simultaneously accompanying it on his grandiose keyboard, centre stage as it were balancing the venue’s acoustic beautifully.
I loved the extra dynamics and unexpected cappella lines he added.
Full throated harmony was heard to great effect in hypnotic numbers such as I Will Follow Him from Sister Act. That said it was the alto section that drew the most enthusiastic audience response with its emotive, less voluminous The Rose.
For those who missed the Singers they are reprising their programme in Gosfield Church on Sunday June 25th when strawberries and prosecco will be on offer. Mmm!
Pat Rudkin
The following week the Halstead gazette published Pat Rudkin’s review in her regular “Curtain Call” column:
The Rotary Club of Halstead chose well when it picked Hedingham Singers for its latest fundraiser.
In a packed St Giles’ Church in Great Maplestead, a copious afternoon tea encouraged further interval generosity for making Our own Kind of Music.
The concert’s ambiguous title allowed music director Thomas Duchan to add his own arrangements to many of the Sixties and Seventies numbers.
Further ingenuity was provided by this polymath musician as he conducted his choir while simultaneously accompanying it on his grandiose keyboard, centre stage as it were balancing the venue’s acoustic beautifully.
I loved the extra dynamics and unexpected cappella lines he added.
Full throated harmony was heard to great effect in hypnotic numbers such as I Will Follow Him from Sister Act. That said it was the alto section that drew the most enthusiastic audience response with its emotive, less voluminous The Rose.
For those who missed the Singers they are reprising their programme in Gosfield Church on Sunday June 25th when strawberries and prosecco will be on offer. Mmm!
Pat Rudkin
For further information, please contact Bob Lilley: 07790 573435