Review
TITLE: Huddersfield Choral Society Junior Choirs
VENUE: Huddersfield Town Hall
By: JCH
THEY came from all the corners of the UK to sing with the Huddersfield Choral Society Junior Choirs. And they were amazing!
The sound they produced in their songs was akin to the ‘Choral’ itself. It was clear that the youngsters’ initial training in these choirs was giving them all a lifelong joy of singing.
The songs had been well chosen to bring back many memories of different eras.
They turned up for one rehearsal on the afternoon before the concert and produced such quality.
It shone out in contrasting songs. O Thou the Central Orb, by Charles Wood, brought through the power of the men, whilst The Music’s Always There, by John Rutter, evoked a gentleness and clarity of sound from the sopranos.
Particularly moving was the final song Let There Be Peace on Earth.
The Youth Choir and Vocalise both showed their vocal ability to put across the meaning of songs well, whilst the Young Voices aged from only seven, achieved quality and range that belied their years .
Particularly uplifting In Song of the Music Makers by Martin Shaw was One Voice when all the current choir sections sang together.
The soloists were former members of the choir who had gone on to sing professionally. They showed us how such a good start can lead to a musical career.
Emily Reaves entertained us with operatic brilliance that made us smile. Sally Perkins and Stephanie Ball were the fiercest and funniest of ‘cats’. Jonathan Wilby sang with deep feeling in I Believe and Rhiannydd Beaumont showed her vocal command using great gentleness in Love Never Dies.
But the four Youth Choir girls Ann, Laura, Ellie and Sophie were the tops, with their beautiful performance of Over the Rainbow. The Youth Voices Olympic Choir is lucky to be having them in their ranks in 2012.
The Elland Silver Youth Band entertained us royally in their imaginative version of Carnival of the Animals and showed us why they were the Youth Brass Entertainment Champions in 2010.
The two young comperes were slick and confident. Accompanist Jane Robertson played impeccably the whole time. Susan Wilkinson held everything together with great skill.
