On Sunday 10th March some of the choir set off to London to see Karl Jenkins 80th Birthday concert at the Royal Albert Hall (RAH).

We left Syston at 8am and after a comfort break we arrived at the RAH at 11am.  We had some free time before the concert started at 3pm.  Some took the opportunity to go to the Science Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, meet up with family and friends, have a wet walk round Hyde Park or lunch in a local pub.

We met up again at 3pm to enjoy an amazing concert.  Karl Jenkins conducted The Armed Man - A Mass for Peace and other favourite pieces including Palladio, Adiemus and extracts from Sir Karl's new album - One World.  He was joined by the Philharmonia Orchestra and Crouch End Festival Chorus.

It was a brilliant experience, made even more special by the surroundings of the RAH.

We had a very wet journey back to Syston but were in the safe hands of Paul our driver from Paul Winsons Coaches.  I think we all agreed it was a very successful day.

We continue our 30th Anniversary Celebrations with a Dinner at Brooksby Hall.  Many of the choir members attended, we were able to invite past members of the Chorale to join us.  A fantastic evening was had by all, Sue the chair gave us a brief history of the Chorale and talked about the many MD's we have had over the 30 years.  The food was delicious, and there was a great opportunity to socialise.  It was a fine summer's evening that we were all able to enjoy.

To mark the end of the Summer Term we gathered again as a group, this time in the magnificent garden of Alison and Harry in Cossington.  Armed with picnics we were comfortably seated and treated to the best of 'Ratcliffe Chorale's got Talent' - hidden talent until that evening!  We all enjoyed the very varied acts and managed to finish the show just before the weather started to turn wet! 


Thanks very much to our hosts for making us so welcome and, of course, to the entertainers - your efforts were really appreciated!

As Christmas fast approaches, it's time to look back on another busy Autumn term for the Ratcliffe Chorale. December always seems a long way ahead when we start rehearsals in September but the pressure of concerts is never far away and, once again, we held an informal concert at the end of October - a 'home fixture' in Syston Methodist Church where we entertained our families and loyal local followers, raising funds for The Church and The Chorale.

We began the Christmas concert season with a last-minute change of venue; our original booking for 1st December fell through but we found an alternative venue, back at St Michael's in Thurmaston. At our summer concert there we had to contend with torrential rain and this time we arrived to find the church with no power - not ideal on a gloomy afternoon in December! Undeterred, with phone torches in hand, we managed to start the concert and, most uncannily, the emergency electrician managed to get the lighting on again at the end of the rousing last verse of 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing' - or was it the sopranos descant that did the job? The audience was most appreciative of our efforts and £460 was raised for Church funds - I hope that not too much of that was spent on the emergency electrician.

A week later we performed in the lovely old church on the Brooksby Collage campus. This is always a popular venue with our members, and of course this has nothing to do with the delicious refreshments that are served during the interval! We squeezed into our allotted areas in the church - which helped to keep us warm - and enjoyed a good sing to an appreciative audience.

A very pleasing £290 was raised on the night.

And so to the 'biggie'! Once again, in our 3rd and final Christmas 'gig', on a very, very wet December Wednesday evening the Chorale joined with several other of Simon's groups for the LOROS Christmas Concert, performing in Leicester Cathedral on 18th December to a sell-out audience.  Approximately 140 choristers made a wonderful sound as we all sang a wide range of Christmas music, and we were complimented by a talented ex-Chorale bass on our performance of 'Down in Yon Forest' (a composition of Paul Cox our talented accompanist) he thought our 'solo' was the piece of the night!  What a great way to end our Christmas season!