Craig conducting MKYC
Milton Keynes Youth Choir and their guests MK Youth String Orchestra gave a very enjoyable Christmas concert during the afternoon of Saturday 7 December 2019 in St Mary & St Giles Church. Craig McLeish conducted the youth choir, with Penny Miller at the piano, while Julian Pentz conducted the string orchestra.
Some pieces were performed by both groups, four members of String orchestra played their debut concert as Bevardis Quartet, and there were pieces sung by smaller groups of the youth choir. The most local piece was 'Christmas bells' by Rod Hall, which featured places in and around Stony Stratford.
First sopranos and Craig
Programme
MKYC
- A child is born in Bethlehem - Peter Moorse
- Say where is He born? (from Christus) - Felix Mendelssohn
- The Place where lost things go - Marc Shairman and Scott Whitman
Second sopranos
String Orchestra
- The Capriol Suite: movements 1, 2 and 6—Peter Warlock
1. Basse-Danse, Allegro moderato, D minor
2. Pavane, Allegretto, ma un poco lento, G minor
6. Mattachins (Sword Dance), Allegro con brio, F major
MK Youth Chorale 1st Sopranos
- The First Nowell - Trad Arr. Gladys Pitcher
MK Youth Chorale 2nd Sopranos
- What child is this? - Trad Arr. Gladys Pitcher
MK Youth Chorale
- This Little Babe (from Ceremony of Carols) - Benjamin Britten
- Seasons of Love (from Rent) - Jonathan Larson, Arr Craig McLeish
Altos and some sopranos
MKYC
- Beyond the Horizon - Craig McLeish
MKYC & String Orchestra & Audience
- The Sussex Carol - Trad Arr. Craig McLeish
Interval with refreshments
MKYC
- A Christmas Blessing - Philip Stopford
- Christmas Bells (from the Living Archive Songbook) - Rod Hall
Penny conducting MK Youth Chorale
String Orchestra
- Rigaudon (Allegro con brio) Finale (from The Holberg Suite)- Edvard Grieg
Tamara Oakley-Holton
- The Christmas Song - Mel Torme
Bevardis Quartet
- Minuet & trio (from String Quartet No. 17 in B flat K458 ‘The Hunt’) - W.A.Mozart
Altos
MK Youth Chorale Altos
- It came upon a Midnight Clear – Trad Arr. Gladys Pitcher
MKYC
- How Beautiful are the feet (from Messiah) - G.F. Handel
- Give us Grace - Joanna Forbes L’Estrange
Craig playing guitar for Christmas Bells
MKYC & String Orchestra
- Veni Emmanuel - Trad Arr. Anne Dudley adapted by Craig McLeish
MKYC & String Orchestra & Audience
- All I want for Christmas is You - Mariah Carey
The young musicians gave a heartwarming and assured performance of a wide variety of musical styles and periods.
Words and photos by Anna Page
Very large audience joining in the singing
MKYC new banner at the concert
