The Key, Spring 2005 edition
In a different format from previous years, our 2004 Christmas event was a Carol Concert in St Paul's Covent Garden with the highly acclaimed Vasari Singers. Taking place one week before Christmas, the festive spirit was truly upon us and the audience was treated to a beautiful performance in this lovely central location, including a world premiere of Jonathan Rathbone's Corpus Christi Carol, Education Chairman Ronald Corp's setting of There is no rose and Holst's arrangement of Personet Hodie.
There was ample opportunity for audience participation with favourite carols such as O Come All Ye Faithful and God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, while Richard Stilgoe's wonderful readings included The Night Before Christmas and a Sonnet on a World Without Music.
The event proved enormously popular, with pews entirely filled by supporters of the Musicians Benevolent Fund and fans of the Vasari Singers. Extra chairs had to be recruited from every available location at the eleventh hour to cater for the swelling crowds.
The large numbers were to benefit not only of the marvellous atmosphere of the occasion, but also to the funds raised for the MBF through the sale of Christmas Cards, donations for refreshments at the interval and a bucket collection at the end. Nearly £600 was raised through these alone, which has delighted everyone involved in the event.
Our thanks go to Richard Stilgoe and the Vasari Singers for their hard work and a thoroughly memorable event.