Sing choirs of angels

What a quick first third of the season that was. It seems like only yesterday we were starting back at rehearsal following the summer break.

The choir, as always, have worked hard and put together a fantastic programme for a concert that was a full house on Sunday 14 December. With music ranging from the Baroque to the 21st Century, including a world premiere, the choir rose to every challenge and the audience thoroughly enjoyed it all.

SEMusic Adult Choir performing O come all ye faithful

As with previous years, the adult choir were joined by are enthusiastic SEMusic Juniors who shone brightly in the first half of the concert proving that they do could produce music from a variety of eras to a high standard. We were also joined by the choir of Sacred Heart Catholic Academy, making this a true community event in the heart of Waterloo. The choir of Sacred Heart produced some true showstoppers with the undoubted highlight being their rendition of Go tell it on the mountain.

Highlights from the adult choir included the ever popular The 12 days of Christmas, the Chris de Burgh classic A spaceman came travelling, and the most non-festive festive perennial there is in the Jona Lewie classic Stop the cavlary. The choir also brought the softer side of their repertoire with I will light candles this Christmas which set the poem of the same name by Howard Thurman to music composed by Kim Andre Arnesen, as well as their world premiere of Sleep, Sweet, which set the poem Holy Innocents by Christina Rossetti to music composed by our conductor Benjamin Dolan.

SEMusic Adult Choir performing Bethlehem

A special mention goes to a slow burning favourite, sure to make it's third appearance next year, entitled Christmas Hymn. This little Victorian hymn sets to music the words of Charles Wesley's Hark! the herald angels sing. The tune itself was written by to the Mendelssohn tune that we all know and was composed by Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria. We have researched this piece and as far as we can find we are the only choir to 1) be performing it and 2) have a recording of it.

SEMusic Adult Choir performing I will light candles this Christmas

We also had the pleasure of awarding our Honourary Patron award for 2026. This award is the highest award that SEMusic can bestow on a member and is used to recognised members who truly espouse our motto of Free. Fun. For Everyone. Last year we awarded it for the first time to our accompanist, the wonderful Anne Dickinson MBE. This year, after nominations were sought from the choir, it was a pleasure to award the Honourary Patron award to Joan Lawler. Joan, was a founding member of the choir, who helps make rehearsals fun with her stories and poems and her great musicality. When her name was called at the concert, it was great to see how surprised she was at being awarded it as she is always a great champion of everyone else. Well done Joan!

Joan with her Honourary Patron award

Christmas itself will be over soon, and the choir will return to rehearsals for their next concert, in a cabaret style, entitled It's Time Now To Sing Out!

See you all soon,

Ben

Director of SEMusic