Fenscene | Community
Above: Witchford Voices have performed in more than 50 concerts over the past ten years.
“We have probably sung over 250 different songs, all of which are sung from memory. “You could ask every member
of the choir what their top five songs are, and from everyone get a different answer.” That said, notable favourites though include Africa, Hallelujah, The Movie Medley, Skyfall and Les Miserables Medley.
The choir has been lucky
to have been invited to many venues and countries. In Cambridgeshire, they have sung in a variety of churches. Other local venues have been The Maltings in Ely, The Junction in Cambridge and Ely Cathedral, all sold out in just a couple of days. They have also sung in
Cathedrals in Norwich, Bury St Edmunds and Dublin. Keith says: “Our trips away have included Belgium, where we sang at the Menin Gate, Ireland, and at the Llangollen International Eisteddfod in Wales. The Royal Albert Hall declined our request, but never say never.
“Ely Cathedral was right up
there, but I think most would agree that singing at the Menin Gate was the one that will live long in the memory, with some of the choir members children laying wreathes as we sang at the Last Post Ceremony.”
MUSICAL TRIBUTE
Witchford Voices simply could not happen without the selfless devotion of musical director, Naomi D’Cunha. A graduate from Canterbury Christ Church College, Naomi has taught music in schools around
Above: Singing for fun, Witchford Voices has been hitting high notes for ten years.
Below: Colorful performances have included a Sixties medley.
Cambridgeshire for many years. She also gets involved with local dramatic groups and bands, with a hands-on attitude, always encouraging people to get the most out of their music. Naomi believes strongly that everybody should be given a chance to enjoy singing, and welcomes everyone to step up and have a go. Keith pays a well-deserved tribute. “Naomi is one of a kind,” he says. “ She is, in mine, and in the choir’s opinion, musically unrivalled. “Naomi’s musical ear, passion, and dare I say it, patience, is extraordinary. We have been blessed to have an amazing musical director. “With all respect to choir ambassador Gareth Malone, we won’t be swapping him for her.” The choir management have announced Witchford Voices will take a break for a year after its 2019 concerts but promise to return for another ten years at least. “We have had ten glorious years, and now is the time to rest a while, reflect and then look at how the choir can advance for the years ahead,” explains Keith. “We have made huge strides in terms of quality over the year and we look forward to that continuing.”
The choir’s last performance
before that break will be at The Maltings when it will be joined by choirs from Witchford’s Rackham Primary School and Witchford’s Village College in a matinee and evening performance on Saturday November 23rd that is already sold out.
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