Two Choirs a-singing
The Bedwellty Deanery Choral Group held their first Social Dinner at the Islwyn Bowls Club, Pontllanfraith at the beginning of October. Over seventy choristers and friends enjoyed an excellent four course dinner and the Dean of Monmouth entertained the gathering with an amusing and informative after-dinner speech.
The occasion concluded with Bedwellty's own version of BBC's Maestro. Although all the inexperienced 'conductors' showed remarkable ability to control the lively choristers, Bill Hughes of St Paul's, Newbridge, and Michael Dale from
St David's, Fleur-de-lis, seemed to edge out the contestants from the neighbouring churches.
New choristers are always welcome and plans are already being made to visit and sing at different churches within and outside the diocese during 2009.
Andrew Hayman a former chorister and Organ Scholar at Newport Cathedral, and now a Choral Scholar at Wells Cathedral, gave an Organ Recital at St Margaret's Church, Blackwood, on Thursday 30 October. Andrew who is to take up a place at Magdalen College, Oxford in October 2009 gave the appreciative audience an opportunity to listen to the ravishing sounds of the Nicholson instrument at Blackwood.
Michael Wilcox, Tel: 01495 224812
Cantores Ambrosiani visit to Canterbury Cathedral
For their tenth year, Cantores Ambrosiani, a choir formed by Ian Jordinson who attends St Mary's, Portskewett, in the rectorial benefice of Caldicot, sang the services in Canterbury Cathedral during the week 4 -10 August. It was a hectic week with Evensong each day and a Eucharist service on Sunday morning. Ian, organist for the choir, was also asked to play for the Queen's Own Buffs Memorial service which was slotted between the two Sunday services.
The forty-strong choir, was supported by friends and family from around the country. Revd Dennis Richards led a Benefice Pilgrimage to Canterbury on the Thursday. The setting of Canterbury Cathedral with the beautiful arrangements for the psalm and canticles, made it an unforgettable experience.
This was Ian’s last year as choir Organist and he was presented with a beautiful lead crystal vase engraved with the names of all the cathedrals visited by the choir.