Christmas Concert 2011 - Rings, Doves and a Pear Tree - review

St John’s church in Mattock Lane was packed on Saturday 10 December for Questors Choir’s annual Christmas concert. The audience came knowing that it wouldn’t be ‘just another carol concert’, and the choir, led with great panache by musical director Philip Norman, did not disappoint. 

Philip had penned four arrangements of favourite carols combining the choir, Ealing Abbey organist Cherry-Willow Pauls, the distinguished Aurelian Brass Ensemble, and audience participation.

Between these sequences, the choir sang Christmas classics by Handel and Palestrina, folk carols from England, France, Norway and the Basque country, (some accompanied, some a capella) and a charming modern carol composed by the choir’s president Betty Roe MBE  – who accompanied on the piano.

The programme was completed with a solos from Rachel Seghers and her ukele (Santa Baby!); quartet pieces by Rachel, Ellie Marden, Joanne Wythe and Fiona Gardner, including Fiona’s lovely flute playing; and pieces by the Aurelian Brass Ensemble.

The audience enjoyed interval wine and mince pies, and the evening generated a healthy contribution to the West London branch of the Alzheimer’s Society.'

The concert was photographed by Simon Bishop - capturing the atmosphere brilliantly.