The Dukeries Singers enjoyed a packed house at Jubilee Hall, Ollerton for their summer concert this year. The Concert was also a ‘Bon Voyage’ event for their Musical Director Vicki Melling, who performed some solo numbers including Big Spender, made famous by Shirley Bassey.
Ann-Marie Argile compèred proceedings and there were other notable solo and duet performances by Ashley Argyle (Boogie and Blue Suede Shoes), Danny Twomey (Paddy ‘n the Bricks), and Penny Wolley and Elizabeth Winter (Evening Hymn).
Notably, Dukeries Singers accompanist Janet Otter also delighted the audience and the other performers with an impressive rendition of Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni. A soothing melody displayed her remarkable talent on the piano.
The legendary buffet met all expectations.
The program from Dukeries Singers included This Little Light of Mine, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, I’ll Be There, When I’m 64, Hallelujah and culminated with The Prayer.
Vicki Melling, the departing Musical Director conducted and performed solo verses in the finale – You Raise Me Up.
Dukeries Singers were, again, very well supported by The Gentlemen with their well-versed male-voice harmonies which brought enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Special guest Councillor Rowan Cozens (Newark and Sherwood District Council) presented Vicki Melling with a thank you and a farewell bouquet and wished her well in her new role at Northamptonshire.
Coming up for Dukeries Singers
- 7th August: Choir Practice, Methodist Church, Ollerton 7.00pm
- 28th August: Choir Practice, Methodist Church, Ollerton 7.00pm
- 28th September: Harvest Festival, St Paulinus, Ollerton 7.00pm
- 22nd November: Ollerton Christmas Lights switch-on
- 28th November: Edwinstowe Christmas Lights switch-on
- 7th December: Christmas Concert, Jubilee Hall, Ollerton 7.00pm
- 14th December: Carol Singing, LifeSpring Church, Ollerton 6.00pm
- 15th December: Concert, Edwinstowe Village Hall 2.00pm
- 21st December: Carol Singing, Wellow Church 3.00pm
The Dukeries Singers is keen to welcome new and additional singers to the male and female inclusive choir. Their new Musical Director, John Pope, now has the baton and is establishing a new way forward in consultation with the choir committee and its singers.
Non-members who want to see and hear the Singers practising can go along to one or two of their regular practice sessions to discover if it all appeals to them. Light refreshments are usually available.
Contact the Chair John Banbury with any queries by phone or text at 07759 086132.
And if you need a bit of convincing, here’s the poetic thoughts of new chorister Janet Robinson:
To anyone out there, who is like me,
Thinking should I, shouldn’t I?
No. No, not me.
Then again, just maybe, I couldn’t possibly.
What I say is, have a try.
Give, it a go, otherwise, you’ll never know.
You don’t need to read music,
Or be good or great,
Just enjoy singing – that’s all it takes.
It can be quite scary
Walking through the door,
To see faces you have never seen before,
Thinking, what have I done?
Maybe I shouldn’t have come.
Please don’t turn and run;
Then you may find…
It will be fun!