We appeared in a fabulous concert on the North Norfolk Coast on Saturday 24th March 2018
as guests of Musical Director Ro Curtis and the Ladies of the New Sheringham Singers.
Each choir and the very impressive guitarist Danny Murphy provided a set before and after the interval,
with both choirs joining together in a massed choir SATB finale to end each half and to give a final encore.
Our own MC, Ian Masters, had a night off
as the two Choirs' Musical Directors conducted the verbal, as well as the musical, proceedings!
as guests of Musical Director Ro Curtis and the Ladies of the New Sheringham Singers.
Each choir and the very impressive guitarist Danny Murphy provided a set before and after the interval,
with both choirs joining together in a massed choir SATB finale to end each half and to give a final encore.
Our own MC, Ian Masters, had a night off
as the two Choirs' Musical Directors conducted the verbal, as well as the musical, proceedings!
We were delighted to participate with three other Choirs from the NAC Anglia Region
in the National Association of Choirs' Gala Concert on Saturday 14 April 2018,
held on the weekend of the NAC's 2018 Annual Conference in Norwich.
A first for us as a Choir was being understood by people with profound hearing difficulties as we sang,
since the concert was fully BSL signed by Dr Paul Whittaker.
Paul was interviewed during the concert by the evening's Compere, our very own Ian Masters,
and it was clear to all attending that Ian, for a change, had finally found his match!
in the National Association of Choirs' Gala Concert on Saturday 14 April 2018,
held on the weekend of the NAC's 2018 Annual Conference in Norwich.
A first for us as a Choir was being understood by people with profound hearing difficulties as we sang,
since the concert was fully BSL signed by Dr Paul Whittaker.
Paul was interviewed during the concert by the evening's Compere, our very own Ian Masters,
and it was clear to all attending that Ian, for a change, had finally found his match!
One of the hottest Summers in the East of England on record
and our gentlemen songsters, despite the warmth, pulled all the stops out!
We ventured south outside of the County for the first time to Beccles in the Waveney Valley.
It had to happen during our scorcher of a summer though... ...the weekend greeted us with several heavy thunderstorms.
Philip Bourne was our MC for the evening and he quickly assured our audience in Suffolk that we came in peace!
He went on to delight and surprise us all with many encyclopaedic insights into the source and history
of the songs in our programme, quite befitting of his role as our Choir's Librarian!
and our gentlemen songsters, despite the warmth, pulled all the stops out!
We ventured south outside of the County for the first time to Beccles in the Waveney Valley.
It had to happen during our scorcher of a summer though... ...the weekend greeted us with several heavy thunderstorms.
Philip Bourne was our MC for the evening and he quickly assured our audience in Suffolk that we came in peace!
He went on to delight and surprise us all with many encyclopaedic insights into the source and history
of the songs in our programme, quite befitting of his role as our Choir's Librarian!
Our concert on Saturday 8th December 2018 brought the year to an end on a massive festive high...
...and not just because this was a 'something for everyone' programme including audience participation and
several places where those in attendance might sing 'Oi!', but disciplined choir-members didn't (or daren't!),
It was also our best-ever attendance for one of our own concerts.
The evening also represented our first event without Tenor 1 Fred Lake, in whose memory the concert was held.
...and not just because this was a 'something for everyone' programme including audience participation and
several places where those in attendance might sing 'Oi!', but disciplined choir-members didn't (or daren't!),
It was also our best-ever attendance for one of our own concerts.
The evening also represented our first event without Tenor 1 Fred Lake, in whose memory the concert was held.
Having been delighted to have undertaken our first private engagement, singing at a wedding, in March 2019,
we were back to our 'home base', the Mile Cross Methodist Church on Norwich's Aylsham Road, in April
for our first public performance of the year.
The first half interlude was reserved for the first public appearance of The Four Hoarsemen,
a quartet made up of three of our number together with a past-choir member to indulge in their love of swing.
They were originally brought together as an informal group by our previous accompanist Simon Ireson,
but now accompanied by our very own Sarah Grimes.
The concert also marked the first without Tenor 2 and PMVC Eggheads Challenger Team Member Chris Hurst,
and it was held in his memory.
we were back to our 'home base', the Mile Cross Methodist Church on Norwich's Aylsham Road, in April
for our first public performance of the year.
The first half interlude was reserved for the first public appearance of The Four Hoarsemen,
a quartet made up of three of our number together with a past-choir member to indulge in their love of swing.
They were originally brought together as an informal group by our previous accompanist Simon Ireson,
but now accompanied by our very own Sarah Grimes.
The concert also marked the first without Tenor 2 and PMVC Eggheads Challenger Team Member Chris Hurst,
and it was held in his memory.
"Passports at the ready, Lads..."
Just joking!!!
Phoenix enthralled a lively audience in Grantham, Lincolnshire, on Saturday 11th May
at our first ever concert outside of East Anglia,
and it was great to be able to travel there with so many 'other-halfs' to enjoy our first tour venture.
Invited to take part in the joint concert by our singing friends of Nottinghamshire’s Radcliffe-on-Trent Male Voice Choir,
the message to the Norwich singing men from the host Church Spokesman and their Minister
was clearly to come back again,
as several of the town centre's ChristChurch audience took to their feet in applause
at the end of Phoenix’s programme of songs.
Just joking!!!
Phoenix enthralled a lively audience in Grantham, Lincolnshire, on Saturday 11th May
at our first ever concert outside of East Anglia,
and it was great to be able to travel there with so many 'other-halfs' to enjoy our first tour venture.
Invited to take part in the joint concert by our singing friends of Nottinghamshire’s Radcliffe-on-Trent Male Voice Choir,
the message to the Norwich singing men from the host Church Spokesman and their Minister
was clearly to come back again,
as several of the town centre's ChristChurch audience took to their feet in applause
at the end of Phoenix’s programme of songs.
Phoenix's intrepid travelling cohort of MD Sarah (foreground, left),Choristers and Companions on the Choir's first 'away' concert at Grantham, May 2019
A warm summer evening was only exceeded by the warmth of the welcome
from the Church in Loddon when Phoenix appeared at St John's Methodist Chapel on Saturday 20th July.
A fully appreciative audience greeted the Choir's Summer 2019 programme, A Night with The Phoenix,
on our return trip there, having first visited Loddon in the Summer of 2016.
Sadly, the photo marking the occasion features several of our singing friends who have passed away since.
It was like we were going to be on our hols...! A summer away from our Mile Cross Methodist Church 'home base'... ...but no!!! Plans to sing in Thompson on 27th July fell though, and it was an easy decision when deciding on a replacement venue
to say "Home Again?". Naturally!
to say "Home Again?". Naturally!
More 'firsts' in the life of Phoenix occured in early September when we visited Thorpe St Andrew's Witard Road Baptist Church
to host our first Autumn concert appearance for some years.
Arranged to celebrate the visit to the County of guests and stage-sharers, the Millhouse Green Male Voice Choir (picture below),
our lively audience was treated to two exceptional sets from each of the male songster groups
and to two song doubles of male voice standards from the combined choir of 60 voices for each 'end of half' feature.
In return, the entire audience took to its feet as one in final applause recognising the endeavours of both groups of singing men.
The rousing Deadwood Stage (Yee! Ha!) and uplifting Gwahoddiad, beloved by both choirs, closed the half
under the direction and accompaniment of the Millhouse Green team of Rachel Atkinson and Philip Sutcliffe respectively.
The audience favourite Ob-la-di Ob-la-da completed the Phoenix set,
who were then gladly joined by the men of Millhouse Green
and the combined voices closed the show with God's Choir and the roof-raising American Trilogy.
Our own Sarah Grimes and Jason Lambert with the direction and accompaniment honours this time.
to host our first Autumn concert appearance for some years.
Arranged to celebrate the visit to the County of guests and stage-sharers, the Millhouse Green Male Voice Choir (picture below),
our lively audience was treated to two exceptional sets from each of the male songster groups
and to two song doubles of male voice standards from the combined choir of 60 voices for each 'end of half' feature.
In return, the entire audience took to its feet as one in final applause recognising the endeavours of both groups of singing men.
The rousing Deadwood Stage (Yee! Ha!) and uplifting Gwahoddiad, beloved by both choirs, closed the half
under the direction and accompaniment of the Millhouse Green team of Rachel Atkinson and Philip Sutcliffe respectively.
The audience favourite Ob-la-di Ob-la-da completed the Phoenix set,
who were then gladly joined by the men of Millhouse Green
and the combined voices closed the show with God's Choir and the roof-raising American Trilogy.
Our own Sarah Grimes and Jason Lambert with the direction and accompaniment honours this time.
Usually, the Christmas Concert at our Mile Cross home base marks the end of the Choir's singing year...
...but not this time as there was still a date in the calendar for a fortnight later for Heralding Christmas in Stalham, too!
Our Christmas Spirits in Norwich were undiminished though, as the Singing Men of Phoenix led from the front...
Yes, no less than 5 items on the Christmas programme this time were new to the Choir,
albeit two had previously been performed from within our number in the past as either a solo or duet.
Most exciting of all is that one of the first half pieces was a World Premiere Performance !
Yes, it's true...!!! ...the composer of 'The Prophecy', Christine Kelly, confirms it!!!
A favourite in rehearsals, many audience members commented favourably upon the piece.
and news of how well-received it was by our audience has been relayed back to Christine, who is said to be delighted!
...but not this time as there was still a date in the calendar for a fortnight later for Heralding Christmas in Stalham, too!
Our Christmas Spirits in Norwich were undiminished though, as the Singing Men of Phoenix led from the front...
Yes, no less than 5 items on the Christmas programme this time were new to the Choir,
albeit two had previously been performed from within our number in the past as either a solo or duet.
Most exciting of all is that one of the first half pieces was a World Premiere Performance !
Yes, it's true...!!! ...the composer of 'The Prophecy', Christine Kelly, confirms it!!!
A favourite in rehearsals, many audience members commented favourably upon the piece.
and news of how well-received it was by our audience has been relayed back to Christine, who is said to be delighted!
Phoenix's Concert M.C. and Chairman Ian Masters presenting the Representatives of the Priscilla Bacon Lodge Support Group
Pam Evans (left) and Elizabeth Stallwood (right) with the minimum amount raised in 2019 from fundraising at concerts. The final total raised during the year was £1,034.14. |
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Christmas itself was just 4 days away when our Singing Men ventured out of the City to the Broads and Stalham
to Herald Christmas in the town's Baptist Church, already bedecked in Christmas finery ready for the week's joyous services;
a fine complement to the festive feel of the evening!
It was also a special evening for our Musical Director Sarah in that
much of her musically formative years were spent in study in this very building.
We also became the only Choir to have performed Christine Kelly's 'The Prophecy' twice...
...although we are also the only choir to have performed it at all, having previously premiered it in our Norwich performance!
We can no doubt expect a rummaging in Christine Kelly's catalogue for future concert pieces...
M.D. Sarah recounted the help and guidance that Music Tutor Liz Autrin had given her in her own music studies at the Church.
Indeed, said Sarah, her music career would not be where it is now without Liz's valuable support.
Sarah satisfyingly recounted that Liz had indeed had the opportunity to listen to the Choir
in our previous concert visit to Stalham before she sadly passed away and the pre-interval piece was dedicated to her memory.
Following the drafting of our Christmas Concert Programmes in which our singing membership was named, news reached us that Tenor 1 Derek Evans,
who had only joined us in September 2019, had sadly passed away.
The Phoenix Male Voice Choir is honoured to have been mentioned in his Funeral Order of Service.
to Herald Christmas in the town's Baptist Church, already bedecked in Christmas finery ready for the week's joyous services;
a fine complement to the festive feel of the evening!
It was also a special evening for our Musical Director Sarah in that
much of her musically formative years were spent in study in this very building.
We also became the only Choir to have performed Christine Kelly's 'The Prophecy' twice...
...although we are also the only choir to have performed it at all, having previously premiered it in our Norwich performance!
We can no doubt expect a rummaging in Christine Kelly's catalogue for future concert pieces...
M.D. Sarah recounted the help and guidance that Music Tutor Liz Autrin had given her in her own music studies at the Church.
Indeed, said Sarah, her music career would not be where it is now without Liz's valuable support.
Sarah satisfyingly recounted that Liz had indeed had the opportunity to listen to the Choir
in our previous concert visit to Stalham before she sadly passed away and the pre-interval piece was dedicated to her memory.
Following the drafting of our Christmas Concert Programmes in which our singing membership was named, news reached us that Tenor 1 Derek Evans,
who had only joined us in September 2019, had sadly passed away.
The Phoenix Male Voice Choir is honoured to have been mentioned in his Funeral Order of Service.
Above: A very welcoming Stalham Baptist Church, suitably decorated for the Christmas Season, awaits the Choir's entrance.
Below Left: Tenor 2 Robin singing 'I'll Be Home For Christmas'.
Below Right: In true Norfolk Dialect, Dick reads one of the 'Boy John Letters' from Sidney Grapes, published by local paper, the EDP.
Below Left: Tenor 2 Robin singing 'I'll Be Home For Christmas'.
Below Right: In true Norfolk Dialect, Dick reads one of the 'Boy John Letters' from Sidney Grapes, published by local paper, the EDP.
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