Review

TITLE: Wherever You Are ... Our Salute

VENUE: Huddersfield Town Hall

REVIEW: Suzanne Smelt

A CONCERT in support of the Mayor of Kirklees’ charity, The Yorkshire Regiment Benevolent Fund, in tribute to all serving soldiers, and remembering all our fallen heroes, was presented in Huddersfield.

And it was done so at the Town Hall by the T-shirt clad Honley Ladies Choir, in green, and Kirklees Mass Choir – think ‘Military Wives’ – in white.

They were joined by the super-smart and shiny Yorkshire Regiment Band, ably conducted by Captain Gary Clegg.

Powerful singing, as heard in the Mass Choir’s sensational debut ‘Wherever You Are’, with the stunning soprano voice of soloist Jacqueline White, was expected, but for this multitude to produce a palette of choral colours, sustained phrases and superbly synchronised unison singing was testament to their outstanding conductor, Emily Reaves-Bradley.

Heart-wrenching ballads, like ‘There’s a Hero’, were delivered with excellent diction by Honley Ladies. The words ‘Make some noise and find a voice tonight’, from ‘Sing’, were carried on melodic ripples that swelled into an amazing tidal wave of sound, itself generated from the unified forces of all performers!

Poignancy came from poised and perfect solos, such as ‘When the Tanks Roll By’, sung effortlessly, and with beauty of tone, by 10-year-old Molly Mellor.

Frivolity lightened the atmosphere in 1940s numbers such as the band’s Chattanooga Choo Choo, with sparky syncopations, and in its spicy Mexican set, which was ablaze with blisteringly hot brass finger-work and sizzling percussion, all hallmarks of the band’s high musical discipline and versatility.

On the night, a mighty musical army held us captive, with music sung, and played, from the heart. Bravo!