Raffle and Retiring Collection in aid of

……..upon a star, your dreams come true! Or so goes the song. Come and join us as we

celebrate the very best scores from some of your favourite animated films. From Snow

White to Little Mermaid, and Jungle Book to Frozen - plus everything in between. Perfect

for the whole family. We will be raising money for our nominated charity for 2015, Ty

Hapus.

Christmas again, some mistake surely!

Not that I’m complaining! As regular readers of this column will know it’s my favourite season and the one which gives me the most pleasure in finding new music and revisiting old favourites, often in new ways!!

This year has been our year of the piano, or pianos, and it has seen us return back to the beginning and strip back our performances to where we started but with a lot more singers. As a choir we are blessed with our pool of tame pianists, in particular our Assistant Musical Director and Principal Accompanist Rhiannon Pritchard and our old friend David Doidge. Both are extraordinarily talented and we are so lucky to have them grace our performances once again, both have been connected with the choir for well over 6 years and long may that association continue!

So what have we been up to since we last met? Amazingly not a lot! This is always a short term and we’ve not had a lot of time for anything else. We were delighted that our summer concerts raised around £1,700 for our nominated charity The Forget-Me-Not Chorus, and in October some of our singers also raised money for them in the Cardiff Half Marathon. This money is already making a difference, and we hope that this weekend will add further to our fundraising totals. We are also really pleased to be welcoming them as our Special Guests during our concert on Sunday, not only to sing with us but to sing some festive treats for us all to enjoy as well.

What does the future hold? Well you only have to look at our list of upcoming dates to see that we’re planning ahead! It seems like only yesterday we were celebrating our 5th Birthday, now our 10th Birthday is looming large on the horizon! We move back to St David’s Hall on a semi-permanent basis from next year and we return to the House of Mouse! Whilst you’ll find Disney in almost all of our concerts, which should be no surprise, it’s 2009 since we last devoted an entire evening to the vast catalogue of music from these films. I can’t wait to get started, and I hope you’ll join us once again.

May I take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. I hope you enjoy the concert.

Simon Curtis—Musical Director December 2014

Simon Curtis Musical Director

Simon was born in Hertfordshire and developed a love of all aspects of live theatre after he left school, primarily at the Kenneth More Theatre in Ilford. He performed in over 50 straight plays, music theatre and opera productions there over a 10 year period, as well as stage managing and being music director for many others.

Until 2012 he was a full time professional singer performing with many of the leading opera companies throughout the UK including Glyndebourne, D’Oyly Carte and The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. From 2001 until 2012 he was a member of Welsh National Opera, with whom he performed and understudied a large number of roles, including the title role in Jephtha and Kromow in The Merry Widow alongside Lesley Garrett, which was broadcast on the BBC.

His concert work is extensive, having appeared at the Royal Albert Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, St Johns Smith Square, Symphony Hall Birmingham, The Bridgewater Hall Manchester, The Royal Centre Nottingham and many other venues in the UK and Europe.

Simon has been a conductor, vocal coach and arranger for Sing Live UK, course tutor for the National Youth Choir of Wales, Director of the RWCMD’s Community Choirs, worked with the WNO Community Choir on an operatic FlashMob and was music director of City Voices Bristol from 2011 to 2014. Simon is very proud to have founded and been music director of City Voices Cardiff since 2008.

Simon works for Equity as its National Organiser for Wales and Regional Organiser for the South West, and still flexes his vocal chords when time allows!

David Doidge

British pianist David Doidge was born in Plymouth and recently joined the music department at Welsh National Opera. Having trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, specialising in opera and vocal coaching, his studies of postgraduate training were supported by prestigious awards from the Arts Council of Wales, the Musicians Benevolent Fund and the Welsh Livery Guild. He was also a recipient of one of the first of five Prince of Wales Scholarships awarded across the arts in the UK.

As an undergraduate piano student, David gained first prize in the RWCMD Annual Concerto Competition performing the 2nd Piano Concerto by Shostakovich at the BBC Hoddinott Hall at the Wales Millennium Centre with the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra, and at St. David’s Hall with the RWCMD Symphony Orchestra. During his second year David was granted a place on Yehudi Menuhin’s scheme Live Music Now and has given multiple performances for the scheme in across the UK.

David has been a frequent guest performer at La Mortella on the Italian island of Ischia at the home of Sir William and Lady Susana Walton, and in 2010 was the winner of the Mansel Thomas Memorial Prize for accompanists. David is also a frequent guest performer with BBC's 'Last Choir Standing' winners' 'Only Men Aloud', and was the accompanist for their latest album 'Unplugged'.

David has performed extensively with some of the worlds leading artists including Bryn Terfel, Nuccia Focile, Judith Howarth, Gwyn Hughes Jones and frequently works with Grammy award winning soprano, Rebecca Evans. In 2013 David was invited to perform in Los Angeles for the ceremony of the unveiling of the star on Hollywood Boulevard for Welsh actor, Richard Burton. David is extremely delighted to be joining 'City Voices Cardiff' again in concert!

Rhiannon Pritchard Assistant Musical Director and Principal Accompanist

Rhiannon graduated from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in 2009 after studying for 4 years under the tutelage of Richard McMahon.

She was awarded the Seligman Award for her work as a répétiteur and vocal coach with WNYO in 2008, adding to the RWCMD Mansel Thomas prize and Accompanist Prize she won in 2007. In 2010 she won Gwobr Goffa Eleri Evans, the accompanist prize at the National Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale, and she also won the Instrumental Duet competition at the same Eisteddfod.

Rhiannon was accepted for the late Yehudi Menuhin’s musician scheme, Live Music Now, in 2009, and performs all over the country in recitals, concerts

and workshops.

She has regular work as a piano tutor and vocal coach, while her choral accompanying roles include Cardiff choirs CF1 (of whom she is also the deputy conductor), Côr y Gleision and City Voices Cardiff (also Assistant Music Director), and the Morriston RFC Male Voice Choir. Her accompaniment skills have also seen her travel to South Africa, America, Canada and Europe.

During 2014, Rhiannon will continue her work as a repetiteur for WNYO and the WNO Max department, RWCMD and WIAV, and accompanying for LMN, the Urdd, The National Eisteddfod, the Bryn Terfel Scholarshi[, Music in the Vale Competition, The Llangollen International Eisteddfod and S4C, while also being involved in many more independent concerts and recitals.

We Need a Little Christmas Words and Music by Jerry Herman Full Company

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Words and Music by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane Full Company

Merry Christmas Darling

Words by Frank Pooler and Music by Richard Carpenter Full Company

The Lamb

Words by William Blake and Music by John Tavener Full Company

O Little Town of Bethlehem Words by Bishop Phillips Brooks and Music by R. Vaughan Williams

Full Company plus Audience

SATURDAY ONLY

Angel

Words and Music by Sarah McLachlan

Rachael Cook, Gemma Hicks, Claire Pearce and Lowri Porter

Just in Time for Christmas

Words by David Zippel and Music by David Friedman Gemma Stanbury

Thankful Words and Music by David Foster, Carole Bayer Sager & Richard Page

Simon Curtis

Snow from White Christmas

Words and Music by Irving Berlin

Geoff Ashford, Bernice Bird, Roger Brown and Catherine Williams

SUNDAY ONLY

Silent Night Words by Joseph Mohr and Music by Franz Xaver Gruber

The Christmas Song

Words and Music by Bob Wells and Mel Torme

A Christmas Medley Words and Music by Various arr. Alexander L’Estrange

The Forget-Me-Not Chorus conducted by Kate Woolveridge

accompanied by Jan Ball

The Holly and the Ivy

Traditional Carol / Music by John Gardner Full Company and Audience

Sussex Carol Traditional English Carol arr. Mack Wilberg

Full Company

Rejoice With Exceeding Great Joy / We Three Kings

Words and Music by Lanny Lavon Wolfe and John Henry Hopkins Full Company

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Words and Music by George Wyle and Eddie Pola Full Company

As Long as There’s Christmas

Words by Don Black and Music by Rachel Portman Full Company

I Believe in Father Christmas

Words by Peter Sinfield and Music by Greg Lake & Serge Prokofiev Full Company

Still, Still, Still

Austrian Carol arr. Mack Wilberg English Text by David Warner Full Company

O Come, All Ye Faithful

Words and Music by John Francis Wade Full Company

My Wish for You This Christmas

Words and Music by Douglas E. Wagner

Katy Dale, Rachel Freeman, Deborah Lancastle and Catherine Williams

Something About December

Words and Music by Christina Perri, Nick Perri and David Hodges Rachael Cook

One December Bright and Clear

Catalonian Carol arr. Mack Wilberg English Text by David Warner Ladies of City Voices Cardiff

Winter Wonderland

Words by Richard B. Smith and Music by Felix Bernard Full Company

Do You Hear What I Hear?

Words and Music by Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne Full Company

Musical Director Simon Curtis

Secretary Bernice Bird Treasurer Damian Peachey

Musical Director Simon Curtis

Assistant Musical Director and Principal Accompanist Rhiannon Pritchard

Rehearsal Pianists Conal Bembridge-Sayers and David Harrington

Keep an eye on our website for further dates and details

If you or your company wishes to become a sponsor of City Voices Cardiff, there are many

promotional options available. As a sponsor, your name/logo will feature on our promotional

materials i.e. our website, targeted mailing list, posters and flyers, as well as being featured in

our concert programmes. Sponsorship will generally be allocated to the choir’s main funds.

However, you may wish the sponsorship to be directed toward a specific project—for example a

particular concert, commission, private function or PR event. You might also consider

sponsoring a specific part of the concert. As an alternative you could pay for an advertisement in

our programme. We can tailor any of the above options to meet your needs. To discuss

sponsorship further, please contact simon@cityvoicescardiff.com with your requirements.

Adam Van Dorninck

Alan Jones

Alison Spiller

Andrea Reynolds

Andrea Webster

Andrew Hull

Andy Falleyn

Angela Dunstan

Angela Palmer

Ann O’Brien

Anna Stephens *

Anne Allen

Balazs Bezeczy

Barbara Dwyer

Barbara King

Bernadette Evans

Bernice Bird

Bob Bird

Brenda James

Carly Hill Banks

Carol Ledwards

Caroline James

Catherine Williams

Catherine Ashford *

Catriana Arnold

Catrin Evans

Cecile Gwilym

Ceri Rowland

Charlotte Hayes

Charmaine Abraham

Chris Myant

Chris Ross

Chris McGowan

Claire Owens

Claire Pearce

Claire Sanderson

Colette Hosgood

Colin Dunstan

Damian Peachey

David Elworthy

David Holmes *

David Miller

David Pavey

Deb Das *

Debbie Oliver *

Debbie Thomas *

Deborah Lancastle

Derek Farmer

Edward Takata

Eleanor Morrey

Eleri Jones

Ellie Russell *

Emma Allfree

Emma Roberts

Erika Fitzgibbon

Fiona Creedon

Gemma Hicks

Gemma Stanbury

Geoff Ashford

Georgia Davies

Hannah Jenkins

Harry Palmer

Helen Wheeler

Ian Stuart

Ian Smilie *

Jane Burgoyne

Jane Corbett

Jane Jones

Janet Wilkins

Janet Ivimey-Cook

Jim Fitzgibbon

Jim James

Jo Griffiths

Jo Tilley

John Davies

John Donovan *

John Price

Jon Frost *

Jon Hoffman

Jonathan Marsh

Judith Devine *

Julia Evans

Julie Coley

Julie Hnatiw

Julie Kitchen

June Donovan

Karen Price

Karen Standen

Kate Davies

Kathryn Williams

Katy Dale

Laura Mitchell

Laura Morgan

Laura Evans

Linda James

Linda Takata

Linda Whatley *

Linda Brunt

Linda Hopkins

Liz Britton

Liz Pendleton

Liz Studley

Louise Jenkins

Louise Roberts

Lowri Porter

Lucy Kerhaw-Naylor

Lynne Ellis

Mandy Hamilton-Jones

Margaret Lewis

Margaret Paines

Margaret Pope *

Maria Jenkins

Maria Maddar

Marilyn Lawrence*

Mark Hale *

Martin Coysh

Martin Lewis

Mary Cosh *

Maurice Lawrence*

Menai James

Michael Mills *

Mike Morrison

Mike Talbot

Molly Crowther *

Naomi Sutherland *

Nicola Stockford

Noel McLoughlin

Pat Colleypriest

Patricia David

Penny Docking

Peter Ellis

Rachael Cook

Rachel Freeman

Rachel Jones

Rachel Potter

Rhiannedd Hughes

Rhiannon Evans *

Richard Price

Roger Brown

Rosemary Chaloner

Rosemary Davies

Rosemary Thomas

Sally Palmer

Sam Hughes

Sandra Gould

Sandra Russo

Sarah Gallimore *

Sarah Harding *

Sarah McCarthy

Sarah Pryor

Sarah Selleck

Sharon Winter

Simon James

Stefanie Rushworth

Stephanie Kendrick-Jones

Sue Goodfriend

Sue Hancock

Sue Herbert

Sue Jervis

Sue McGregor *

Sue Potter

Tara Powell *

Thomas Wheeler

Tina Broughton

Tony Fitzpatrick

Veronica German

Vianne Britten

Vicci Wheten

Vicki Evans

Vicki Evans

Wendy Jones

Wendy Matthews

Wendy Van Dorninck

Zoe Boult

* not appearing in this concert

Photos by Wendy and Nigel Stanbury

The Forget-me-Not Chorus is a Cardiff based charity that supports people with dementia and their families through weekly singing and creative workshops.

With two choirs, in Cardiff and Newport, each week the choirs meet to sing, rehearse and have fun under the baton of music director, Kate Woolveridge. The charity was formed in January 2012 by founders Kate Woolveridge and Sarah Teagle, who had both been working with the group since 2010 under the umbrella of Welsh National Opera and Cardiff & Vale Alzheimer’s Society.

Each weekly rehearsal lasts 2 hours and is singing led with other creative arts activities such as concerts, dance and writing. The Forget-me-Not Chorus work on projects throughout the year, each designed to take the participants on a journey together with the person they love, showing that a good quality of life can be achieved together, despite dementia, and then through an ‘end of project’ performance sharing this with their wider friends and family. If you want to see galleries of videos of their work in action go to their website.

The Forget-me-Not Chorus aims to empower both people with dementia clients and their families to use their voice in song to express themselves and to use the power of music to provide an escape from the everyday caring routine—providing a sense of normality, giving families a positive experience of being together.