IT was great to see new faces and welcome our new Friends, president and vice-presidents at the Elgar Chorale's summer get-together.
Truly an evening of wine, women and song - there were even a few gentlemen and a mouthwatering feast laid out too!
Chorale socials always prove to be great fun and this July evening proved to be no exception on a, thankfully, warm and dry summer night.
And if that sounds like a cue for an Elgar part song, well it wasn’t long before one came along but it wasn’t “Stars etc etc” but O Happy Eyes, one of the short medley of pieces performed by several Chorale members.
The programme of madrigals, As Torrents in Summer - almost the Chorale’s theme tune by now - and Summertime was rounded off with the rousing It’s a Grand Night for Singing, from Rodgers and Hammerstein musical State Fair, with Donald stepping in to provide the piano accompaniment.
Then it was his turn for a surprise when everyone sang Happy Birthday, in recognition of the previous day.
With a raffle adding to the fun, it all added up to not just a grand night for singing but a grand night out and we’re looking forward to seeing the successful auditionees when they join us to start rehearsing Bach’s B Minor Mass in September.