Fair Trade fortnight and MK Food Bank concert

The rain did not dampen the spirits of those who gathered on Sunday afternoon for the Fair Trade and Food Bank Concert. SMSG Band and Handbells played a variety of old favourites, new tunes and food related songs to raise money for Traid Craft and received donations for MK Food Bank. The Food Bank basket was filled and donations of £82.75 will be send to Traid Craft which will be match funded by the Government.

We were delighted to welcome a couple from Birmingham who happened to be visiting Stony Stratford this weekend, some Handbell Ringers from Camp Hill and children who had come for the first time to a live concert and joined in with some percussion.

Thanks once again to all who played, rang and helped in any way – a celebratory end to Fair Trade Fortnight.

by Lesley Salter, photos by Kieran Salter and Anna Page

Handbell ringers concentrating

SMSG church handbell ringers

Flute trio – Alison, Sally, Anna

the band watch the handbells

SMSG church band

SMSG church band with Dave

The bulging basket of MK Food Bank donations

 

 

Autumn Concert 2013

Kath and Lesley did it again! Every year they carefully choose the music and coax the vast group of performers through 7 or 8 weeks of rehearsal which culminates in an afternoon of musical fun for all ages.

The Parish Singers, the church band and handbell ringers were joined by St Mary & St Giles Junior school orchestra, choir and handbell ringers, and some of the younger church children singing songs they have learned on Sunday mornings. The school choir, which was formed earlier this year, had their second performance of the year in this concert and did very well. The school orchestra, which was a little smaller this year than in 2012, played two pieces to great audience approval.

The Autumn concert musical programme is always a mix of secular and sacred, for the Parish Singers this gives an opportunity to sing pieces which are not sacred, as most of the year we concentrate on music for church services. The band played some new music well enough to inspire the school orchestra to demand one of our pieces for themselves! The history of the St Mary & St Giles hand bells set was mentioned and it was great to see young and older performers getting great enjoyment from this form of music making.

We raised £197.81 for the organ fund from refreshments at the concert. I’d like to thank all those who served refreshments during the interval, everyone who set up and tidied away afterwards, everyone who performed and most of all Kath and Lesley for making the Autumn concert such fun.

The programme:

Morning Hymn (Sound of Music) – choir & handbells

We have all the time in the world – choir

Divinum Mysterium, How Great Thou Art and Londonderry Air – Church Handbells

Hosanna, from The Last Week – choir

Sanctus (Schubert) – choir

Pollywolly doodle – band

Goldfinger – band

Congratulations – band

Non Nobis Domine  (Doyle, for Henry V) – choir

Yesterday once more – choir

School handbell ringers – Peal of Bells and Tallis’ Canon

People get ready – School choir

Interval

German Tune and Here we go again! – School orchestra

Wherever you are (Mealor) – choir

Unchained Melody – choir

Cross over the Road and To Love is Good – Church children

I’ll fly away – choir

Amazing Grace – choir, band, handbells, school choir, church children

Morning Hymn from Sound of Music

SMSG handbell ringers

The band plays Goldfinger

Band closeup

The school choir

Audience appreciation

School orchestra

Kath conducts

Church children sing

Amazing Grace finale

Playing Rhythm of Life after the concert