Carole Taylor, News Editor of "The Dursley Gazette", writes of the Choir's concert ...

"Choir's Charity Triumph

EVERY cloud has a silver lining, they say, and there is no doubt that the old adage proved true on Saturday (5th February 2005)

Dursley Male Voice Choir's concert in aid of the Tsunami Earthquake Appeal was an event everyone wished was not necessary. But given the fact that the world's worst natural disaster had occurred and relief funds were needed, the choir and its loyal fans responded instantly.

All 400 tickets for the charity concert in Dursley's Lister Hall were sold almost immediately and organisations throughout the area offered generous raffle prizes.

The evening raised £6,560 with every penny going to the appeal. Everyone gave their services free and all set-up costs were met by the choir.

Winner of the main raffle prize - a holiday in Spain, donated by Rover European Travel - was Choir member Roy Nicholas. The other 14 prizes included a week in a Cornish holiday cottage, a £150 voucher for decorating services and a new bathroom suite up to the value of £250.

Because the concert was arranged at short notice, it comprised many of the Dursley Male Voice Choir's old favourites. After opening with the cheerful Alexander's Rag Time Band, there was the gentle Colin Lawrence arrangement of If I only Had Time, Memory from the Lloyd Weber musical Cats and the toe-tapping Hava Nagila. Then there was the choir's popular Andy Williams Medley, arranged by musical director Barrie Cooper, and the poignant and very appropriate Let there be Peace on Earth.

Soloist was the talented Cornetist Kevin Robbins, who played an interesting selection including the theme from the television series Groundforce.

In the second half we were treated to When the Saints, followed by Cavatina, an Allan Simmons medley called Kings of Swing and a selection from Les Miserables.

There was much applause for the return of Kevin Robbins who showed his virtuosity with The Harmonious Blacksmith and Carnival of Venice.

There was a rare chance to hear Barrie Cooper's skills as a pianist before the grand draw and the finale - Puccini's glorious Nessun Dorma.
Of course an encore was demanded and the choir came up trumps, inviting any former choir members and members of other male voice choirs who were in the audience to join them in When I survey the Wondrous Cross.

This concert was yet another triumph for Dursley's incredible choir. It will remain a memorable one - for more reasons than one."

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