A Wonderful Community Event

For me, the Coronation festivities started on the Friday evening at Holy Trinity with the Coronation Concert – a truly community event bringing together students from Humphrey Perkins, pupils from Hall Orchard, church members and other talented musicians.

The concert reflected the interests of King Charles III and focused on music representing the environment, conservation and the sea as well as all four nations of the United Kingdom. The Humphrey Perkins Orchestra opened the evening with a rousing rendition of ‘I vow to thee my country’ with soloist Philipa Jackson … and the audience, singing along and waving their union flags enthusiastically. This was followed by the haunting notes of the ‘Lark Ascending’ as violinist Jon Barwell beautifully represented the lark’s flight. A dance trio from Humphrey Perkins gracefully symbolised our natural environment to ‘Colours of the Wind’ from the Disney animation Pocahontas. The Hall Orchard Choir sang as one voice to a piece written by Barrow singer-songwriter, Sophia Dady, accompanied by a string ensemble brought together for the occasion.

Music from around the UK came in the form of a Scottish bagpipe medley played by Bill Pepper; vocalist Philipa Jackson, accompanied by Jeremy Kimber, sang Danny Boy; and the string ensemble played Greensleeves. Vocal soloist Jo Dring, accompanied again by Jeremy Kimber, gave a rousing rendition of ‘Guide me, O Thou Great Redeemer’ for Wales. Then the 56 countries of the Commonwealth were represented by Hall Orchard Choir’s own version of ‘Sing’, created by Gary Barlow for Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee. The Wolds Choir brought the first half to a close with ‘Cantilena’ and the inevitable, ‘Zadok the Priest’ with orchestra and organ.

The second half opened with a poem, ‘The King’ narrated by two drama students from Humphrey Perkins, followed by the String Ensemble playing ‘The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba’ in honour of Queen Camilla. The Carillon Quartet, Wolds Choir together with trumpets and percussion presented a medley from ‘The Armed Man’ culminating in a peel of bells from the tower of Holy Trinity church. King Charles’ navy career was marked with the Hall Orchard and Wolds choirs, along with musical accompaniment, presenting their version of a traditional song ‘The Water is Wide’ and then a hornpipe medley had people clapping along (with the help of the Hall Orchard choir). The concert ended with another chance for the audience to enthusiastically wave their flags as Jo Dring led us all in the singing of ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ and, of course, we all stood to sing ‘God Save the King’. The sold-out event was pulled together by the talented and hard-working Kath Eastwood-Paramore; was skilfully stage-managed by a team of well-rehearsed stagehands; our compere for the evening was Reverend Clive Watts; a catering team provided our interval refreshments and we were warmly greeted into the concert by a team of people which included students from Humphrey Perkins. It was a wonderful evening.

Karisa Krcmar