Elmslie Memorial United Church was enveloped Tuesday night with the melodic sounds of trumpets, violins, clarinets and horns, provided by a wide variety of talented musicians, and the blended voices of soprano, alto, tenor and bass singers.
The Cayman National Choir and Orchestra was hitting high notes for the festive holiday season during the first of its ‘Deck the Hall’ Christmas carol concert series Tuesday. The second and final Christmas concert will be held on Thursday, 14 Dec.
Some 80 vocalists and musicians performed popular arrangements of holiday favourites, including ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’, ‘While Shepherds Watched’, ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’, ‘The First Noel’ and ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’.
The two-hour concert featured unique twists to beloved classic holiday songs, including ‘Sleigh Bell Polka’, which was led by the orchestra, along with accompanist Fran McConvey. It was an upbeat piece which featured an interesting ‘dialogue’ between the brass and strings section. Another special treat was a ‘Deck the Hall’ calypso rendition. Attendees, young and old alike, were invited to sing along.
“This is my first experience with the CNCO, and it’s been absolutely incredible,” said Alina Mahkina, musical director (orchestra) and head of music at St Ignatius Catholic School.
“These people are such fantastic musicians,” she said, “and what’s particularly impressive is that we have professionals playing alongside carefully selected students, and this whole ensemble, just coming together and working as one breath, on one wavelength… it’s just incredible. I’m really lucky to work with them.”
The concert series has been running annually for more than 30 years.
Chairperson Sydney Coleman said it is a tradition and a really happy one.
“It’s great to have people coming to this ‘spiritual home’ time and time again,” he said. “The Cayman Islands can afford to be full of joy. In other parts of the world, it’s challenge, strife, and not so much fun for them, in fact, not fun at all for many places.”
“It’s a joy to do this every year,” said Sue Horrocks, executive musical director, who has been a part of the programme for 25 years. “It’s such a tradition, and I’d like to think it can mean a lot to everybody for whatever tradition they’ve been brought up with or used to.”
For Horrocks, what she loves about the CNCO is everybody is a volunteer. “It’s not auditions, it’s a community choir. Everybody puts their all into it.”
Thursday’s night’s Christmas carol concert begins at 7.30pm.
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