Tenby Male Choir performed at St. Mary’s Church on Thursday, September 7. This is always a favourite venue as the church is such a beautiful and welcoming setting. Their soloists for the evening were Paul Varallo and a delightful 10-year-old pianist named Elizabeth Morgan. Elizabeth is making giant leaps in the music world and is a very accomplished performer. She has performed with the choir before, but this was the first time that I had had the pleasure to hear her play. Her achievements so far are astounding for such a young girl. She obviously works very hard to achieve high scores in her exams and competitions.

The choir opened the concert with the rousing Welsh hymn Deus Salutis which was well received by the audience. During the course of the evening, they sang in various languages and offered a variety of religious music, show music and popular songs from years gone by. The choice of contrasting tempos, moods and types of music kept the audience entertained throughout the evening. At the end of the first set, they performed the African Trilogy and once more I was transported to the Serengeti, the choir were Maasai warriors and Mount Kenya loomed in the background.

Paul Varallo was our first soloist singing Love Changes Everything and The Holy City, both of which were warmly received by an appreciative audience.

The choir’s second set included two songs requiring audience participation and the outcome was very pleasing. We Climbed Every Mountain with gusto and tick-tocked/ding-donged our way through My Grandfather’s Clock. A brilliant performance by the audience was only awarded a seven by the choir in Len Goodman style and when our MC asked the choristers to make sure that the numbered cards be replaced before the Sunday service this received laughter from the audience.

It was then Elizabeth’s solo spot, and although she admitted to being nervous, her choice of Haydn’s sonata and Heller’s opus 45 numbers 13 and 2 had the audience spell bound. Apart from the sound of the piano, there was utter silence from the audience until Elizabeth received thunderous applause at the end of her set. Her talent is truly amazing and I predict a bright future for this hard working and dedicated young lady.

At the end of the choir’s final set, they were once again joined by Dr. John Harrison on the church organ for a roof-raising performance of An American Trilogy. Only one guest chorister joined the choir on this occasion and although a reduced top tenors section had expertly held their own alongside four second tenors throughout the concert, it was comforting for them to have an extra voice for the finale.

Once again, many favourable comments were made by members of the audience as they left the church. Tenby Male Choir certainly have the ‘feel good’ factor brightening everyone’s mood on a damp and dreary evening.

We retired to the County Club for liquid refreshments and crisps to mull over their performance. Wilbur was delighted with their efforts awarding them a healthy nine out of 10. He did however send everyone an email on the following day, and after praising them for producing one of the best performances of the last couple of years, he added: "We have had some dodgy instrumental performances in My Grandfather’s Clock, but last night’s totally incompetent rendition on the whistle will go down in choir folklore.”

Many thanks to St. Mary’s Church for accommodating us again and in particular many thanks to Dr. John Harrison for accompanying our finale on the church organ.

It is coming towards the end of a busy season for the choir and their next concert is on September 26 at the Giltar Hotel, followed by a concert at St. Mary’s Church on September 28 as part of Tenby’s Arts Festival Week. Church concerts start at 8 pm and doors are open at 7.30 pm.

Di Mumford