FOLLOWING their Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat concert in May of last year, Teign Choral Society, presented a uplifting performance of a varied programme of both traditional and more unusual Christmas pieces last month.

The audience themselves contributed immensely to the evening’s atmosphere at St James’in Teignmouth by their enthusiastic singing of well loved carols, culminating in an inspiring performance of Oh Come All ye Faithful.

The researches of Music Director David Bowles had led him to a work by Ariel Ramirez that uses rhythms and melodies of rural Latin America in telling the Christmas Story Navidad Nuestra (Our Nativity). The story was told in 6 movements, some joyous, some wondrous but eventually leading to a vivid evocation of the steadfast flight from the butchering Herod.

The Society’s next concert in May will, in part, be a tribute to the really significant composer Karl Jenkins in his 80th year.

The society will be singing his Motets a set of intimate and spiritually uplifting choral works that feature new works but also movements from his most popular works, including The Armed Man, his Requiem, Adiemus and the Peacemakers.

And after the success of May 2023 we will be returning to the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber together with the pithy lyrics of Tim Rice in a suite of songs from Phantom of the Opera.

Pianist Carol Massey is an inspiring accompanist who also brings a great sense of humour to our rehearsals.

Anyone thinking of joining the Society would be warmly welcomed and are invited to come along and see if it is what you’re looking for. There are no auditions and rehearsals take place at 7.15pm on Wednesdays at St James’ Teignmouth.

► For more details contact Nigel Berryman on 01626 773286