A PRESTIGIOUS Newquay choir has brought the celebration of its golden anniversary to a spectacular finale.

Newquay Male Voice Choir staged a ‘Grand Gala Charity Concert’ in St Michael’s Church, which was enjoyed by a packed and appreciative audience.

Under the direction of Richard Braebrook, supported by guest accompanist, Clive Ellison, Newquay Male Voice Choir started the evening in fine voice.

Members performed a set of songs that spanned the male voice choir repertoire with pieces ranging from Tibyay Payom from the Slavonic Liturgy to Bohemian Rhapsody and from the evocative romance of The Rose to the full-on magnificence of American Trilogy, complete with both piano and organ accompaniment.

Featured in the choir’s programme was a performance of Music on the Water, composed by Nick Hart and commissioned by the choir to mark their anniversary.

Three guest artistes helped Newquay to celebrate the golden anniversary milestone during the evening, each one contributing something extra special to the evening.

Anna Burford-Magor, internationally renowned mezzo soprano and granddaughter of the late Roy Magor, a former musical director of the choir, delighted the audience, moving from grand opera to Cole Porter’s lighthearted, The Tale of the Oyster.

Canoryon Lowen, a mixed choir from East Cornwall, offered a master class of ensemble singing. Their musical director, Nick Hart, was struck down by illness and at the last minute their accompanist, Kate Rogers stepped into the breach, which spurred on the choir. Naomi Kennedy stepped up to the podium to lead the audience in brewing up a thunderstorm to support a performance of Toto’s Africa.

However, a lasting memory for many will be the performance of a traditional African piece, Wana Baraka, accompanied only by Kate on a boom box.

Performer Alastair Taylor was introduced to the audience as someone whose reputation was as big as his personality.

Alastair gave both the piano and organ the kind of work out that both would have rarely received before. His performance of the Warsaw Concerto on the piano was “something to behold” as his fingers flashed flawlessly over the keys.

Jim Christophers, the co-chairman of Newquay Male Voice Choir, said: “It was an absolutely wonderful evening of music and song to celebrate the choir’s golden anniversary.

“All present agreed that it was a concert the like of which had only rarely been seen before in the church.

“The icing on this anniversary cake was provided by two things. “Firstly, the number of former members and associates of the choir who were able to attend and secondly, the presentation of a cheque to Phil Tearle representing Prostate Cancer UK, the choir’s chosen charity for the year.

“A cheque for £6,000 was presented during the concert with a further £867.65 being raised in a retiring collection at the end of the evening and at a raffle held shortly afterwards.

“The choir thanks everyone who supported them during the year and helped them to raise such a worthwhile amount.”