Shifnal Chorale held a late autumn concert of festive English Music on 30th November 2019. The Vaughan Williams, with our excellent baritone soloists, was accompanied by some beautiful cello playing by Charlie Tucki, a young music scholar at Solihull School and David Fisher on the organ. Our conductor, Alex Woodrow, performed a well known organ piece by JS Bach which was well received, prior to a break for our delicious homemade cakes. The second half of the concert, Britten's Ceremony of Carols, consisted of a number of medieval carols in 'old English' and was enhanced by our tenor and soprano soloists. 

The spring concert took place on Saturday 20th July at St Andrew's Church Shifnal with an audience of over 90 people.

The programme of light music included songs from the musicals and traditional folk songs. Solos were performed by Marcia Hall (‘I could have Danced all Night’), Roy Grain on clarinet (Faure’s Pavane and Bechet’s Petit Fleur), Alex Woodrow and David Fisher (Dvorak’s Slavonic Dance Op 46 piano duet), Neil Robinson (solo from Ruddigore by G&S) and Masefield’s Sea Fever performed by Mike Street. We are blessed to have such a wealth of talent amongst our members!

The concert was followed by a delicious strawberry cream tea.

The Spring Concert 2019 was held on Saturday 6th April at Trinity Church, Shifnal under the direction of Alex Woodrow and beautifully accompanied by Michael Davey on organ, harpsichord and piano, in the absence of our regular accompanists.

The church was nearly full and the appreciative audience treated to a collection of British songs and music. The programme got under way with 'Summer is icumen in' sung as a round, which warmed up our voices for what was to follow - three madrigals set to music by Thomas Morley. 'It Was a lover and His Lass', 'April is in My Mistress' Face' and 'Now is the Month of Maying'.

Alex Woodrow then played the 'Miniature Suite for Organ' by John Ireland, followed by W Sanderson's 'The Laughing Cavalier'  sung by Marcia Hall. Te Deum Laudamus by HRH Prince Albert was then given a rare and stirring performance, in honour of the 200th anniversary of Prince Albert's birth. This has been videoed for posterity, and featured soloists Jane Preston, Marcia Hall, Kiaran Asthana and Mike Street.

Following refreshments (including a selection of delicious home-made cakes), Daina Gromadzki explained the more obscure meanings hidden in the folk songs which comprise 'Sprig of Thyme' and gave an insight into the stories behind the songs. The 11 folk songs from John Rutter's 'Sprig of Thyme' were then sung by the choir and another successful performance brought to an end.

For those who wish to listen again to Te Deum Laudamus, here is a link to the video on YouTube : https://youtu.be/rjDriInCcbY

Our annual 'Come and Sing' was held at 2pm on Saturday 2nd February 2019 at Trinity Methodist Church, Shifnal. We had a good turn out of 87 singers, although several more were unable to attend due to winter 'bugs'.

We worked through Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem in D minor, Op.48 with conductor Alex Woodrow, Music Director of Shifnal Chorale. A performance followed, attended by an audience of family and friends. The Requiem was a joy to sing, and beautifully accompanied by Chris Blake, with uplifting solos from Olivia (soprano) and Neil (bass).

Good comments were received afterwards about our excellent musical director and the quality of the afternoon tea. All in all, a treat for singers and listeners alike.

Shifnal Chorale, with the RAF Cosford Voluntary Band, held their annual Christmas concert on Monday 17th December 2018 at the Trinity Church in Shifnal. The choir sang a lovely selection of carols under the direction of Music Director Alex Woodrow, accompanied by organist Chris Blake, with occasional enthusiastic vocal assistance from the large audience - a full house that evening! The RAF Cosford Voluntary Band, conducted by bandmaster Patrick Ryan, played a programme of 10 pieces, including a wonderful rendition of 'Fairy Tale of New York'. The evening's varied programme also included readings by Janet Lambourne, Josie Balkwill and a cheery piece by Pam Ayres read by Diana Barnes. The evening finished with mince pies and, for many, a swift drink in the pub opposite.

A triumphal first public appearance with the Shifnal Chorale for our new musical director Alex Woodrow!

The choir was accompanied by The Centenary Orchestra in a concert to commemorate 100 years since the end of World War 1, and also to remember Wilfred Owen, the Shropshire poet who died just a few days before the war ended. The venue at St Michael's Church in Madeley was well attended by an appreciative and enthusiastic audience,

Programme: 'Oh!For a closer walk with God' by CV Stanford & 'Thou Knowest Lord' by Purcell, both sung by the choir and accompanied on the organ by David Fisher. 

'Elegy' by GT Ball, performed on the organ by Alex Woodrow

'Futility' by Wilfred Owen, recited by Kiaran Asthana and 'Dulce et Decorum Est' also by Wilfred Owen, recited by Sheila Charlson.

Elgar's 'Elegy for Strings' performed beautifully by the strings of the Centenary Orchestra, followed by Hubert Parry's 'Dear Lord and Father of Mankind' sung by choir and audience.

The highlight however, was The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins, which followed interval refreshments. The choir and orchestra delivered an emotional and stirring performance which received a standing ovation from the audience. The timpani were magnificent! Lilian Kelly's cello solo and the trumpet solo were melodic and moving, and the orchestra helped lift the choir to a new level. Our choir soloists Jane Preston (sop), Marcia Hall (alto), Roy Grain (tenor) and Neil Robinson (bass) sang like nightingales, and none of us wanted the performance to end. What a fitting way to show that 'We will remember them'.