The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

​A wonderful evening was enjoyed by all at All Saints' Church in Milford on Sea on Saturday night, with a truly special programme filled with festive favourites.  We were thrilled to be joined once again by the very talented Total Voice Chamber Choir, and our fabulous audience also raised the roof singing along to our swinging medley of Christmas songs as Musical Director Ieuan displayed words up on the big screen for all to follow. 

We were delighted to accompany two very talented soloists; singing Mozart's beautiful Exultate Jubilate was soprano Sally Prince, and our very own leader Alan Ford put down his violin to give a moving performance of Vaughan-William's Fantasia on Christmas Carols. 

The orchestra were kept busy with the fast and furious Dance of the Tumblers by Rimsky-Korsakov and Tchaikovsky's magical Nutcracker Suite. The evening ended with a very special - and rather unusual - piece, 'A Musicological Journey through the Twelve Days of Christmas' by Craig Courtney.  Words to the traditional 'Twelve Days of Christmas' song are set over twelve pieces of music that take the listener on a journey through time and place, beginning with Gregorian Chant in 6th century Rome and finishing up with the Stars and Stripes Forever March in 19th century America.  The orchestra and choir were thrilled to receive cheers and a standing ovation from an audience that seemed to enjoy the evening as much as we all did.  Following the concert we received some wonderful emails including the below - feedback like the below means the world to us... 

Thank you so much for a wonderful evening on Saturday... lovely singing and such a lively programme, particularly the 12 days of Christmas... the gentleman sitting next to Joan and me was chortling with delight... as were the party sitting behind us.  Well done and many thanks... the Orchestra goes from strength to strength!

Thank you to all that joined us - and from all at the New Forest Orchestra, have a very merry Christmas!