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www.inspirationuk.com
The massed voices of Inspiration present
EverywhereChristmas Tonightwith The Orchestra of Opera NorthA spectacular Christmas concert featuring many seasonal favourites, all given the unique Inspiration treatment, including a fabulous tribute to the Christmas magic of Henry Mancini.
18 December 2011, 4pm, Leeds Town HallBox office: 0113 224 3801www.leedsconcertseason.com
Saturday 9 July 2011, 7.30pmLeeds Town Hall
Musical Director: Gary Griffiths
Your SongInspiration and The Orchestra of Opera North present
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Keeping everyoneon their toesThis term has been so much fun. The huge range of songs and styles has kept
everybody on their toes, switching from Rutter to the Beatles, from Madonna to
Verdi, in the blink of an eye. I am so proud of these singers, with their flexibility
and talent. They really do rise to anything I throw at them, embrace it, take it to
their hearts and then perform it for you. What a treat it is for me to work with
them every week.
We continue to perform in the community as well, with charity concerts and
school choir workshops. These extras are important to us, as we take our love of
singing out of the concert hall. We are also growing in numbers too, and we are
having to move to new rehearsal venues, both in Leeds and Newcastle, as there
just isnt enough room for us all where we are!
I hope there is something special for you in tonights concert. These songs have
hit a lot of nerves in rehearsal, taking singers back to times in their lives they had
not thought about for a while; this is the power of music, of whatever style.
Thank you as always for your support, on and off stage. I know a lot of singers
would not be able to sing in Inspiration if it wasnt for the support of loved ones
at home.
Gary
Sgt. Peppers(Beatles Opening)
Recognised as one of themost important albums in the
history of popular music,Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts
Club Band was one of the firstpop albums to include the
full lyrics on itsrecord sleeve.
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Gary GriffithsInspiration Musical DirectorGary was born in 1966 and educated at
Wolverhampton Grammar School where he first
started to sing in choirs and also started to play
oboe and percussion. Eventually he became
principal oboist of Wolverhampton Youth Orchestra
and principal percussionist of Wolverhampton
Concert Band.
He went on from Wolverhampton to York University
to study music, continuing to play oboe and
percussion and of course singing. He played or sang in most of the departments
ensembles and also sang in the Yorkshire Bach Choir under the inspirational
directorship of Peter Seymour.
He graduated in 1988 and stayed in York to live, working as a Songman in the
choir of the beautiful Minster. With the Minster Choir he sang in many of the
worlds great cathedrals and churches in the USA and Europe and many of
the major concert halls in the UK. The Choir has made numerous recordings
and broadcasts.
Whilst at university he discovered his love of musical theatre. Eventually he joined
York Light Opera Society, first as a playing chorus member, later becoming their
Chorus Master. He also became Musical Director for Pickering Musical Society
and Sing Live. It was orchestrating Annie for Pickering that led him to start his
own business, arranging and orchestrating for local groups.
On the non-musical side, Gary is an excellent cook
and is also a member of the Rollercoaster
Club of Great Britain.
Andy BoothAccompanistAndy Booth is a professional MD and Pianist
from Chesterfield who runs his own productions
company, FONO Productions, and has recently
worked with Evolution Pantomimes (Sheffield
2010: Peter Pan, 2009: Snow White), Sheffield
Theatres (2011: Happy Days), Strictly Come
Dancing (2011/10: Tour Band), Croft Musical
Theatre Company (Sheffield Lyceum 2011:
Sweeney Todd), and Kenwright Productions
(2011: Tour Annie).
As a pianist Andy can be found playing for Orchestras, Big Bands and Soloists.
His more notable work includes The Isle of Man Promenade Concerts 2005
(Falla Nights in the Gardens of Spain, Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21, Concert
Orchestra of Europe), The Rightful Owners of the Song Project (Guest Leader
The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra) and regularly plays for Inspiration
the superb Leeds/Newcastle based choir, the Nick Ross Orchestra, Strictly Come
Dancing, the contesting UK teams in the Waterford International Light Opera
Festival and for many jazz artists, which in itself, has taken him from Keswick
to Barletta (South Italy) over the years.
Besides all this, Andy still finds time to be the Chair and Musical Director of the
Barlow Annual Promenade Concerts, a prestigious village festival in the heart of
Derbyshire culminating in June each year, run his own mini jazz club (Mister Bs),
conducts, composes, accompanies and consults for a number of choirs,
music groups and festivals (Ripley and Alfreton
Musical Theatre Company, The Lindrick Singers,
The Holmebrook Valley Singers and so on)
and he still continues the family tradition
as Musical Director of The Carolare Choir
(Chesterfield).
Fiddler On The RoofWith over 3,000 performances
Fiddler On The Roof wasBroadways longest running
show, until it was surpassed byGrease. Nearly fifty years afteropening it is still Broadwaysfourteenth longest-running
show ever.
Keeping The Dream AliveDespite selling millions of
albums throughout EuropeKeeping The Dream Alive isGerman pop and rock band
Mnchener Freiheits only hitin the UK, reachingnumber 14 in 1988.
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The Orchestra of Opera North is the only ensemble in the country to have a
year-round dual role in the opera house and concert hall.
It has important relationships with Leeds International Concert Season and the
regions choral societies, and is the resident Orchestra for the Leeds Conductors
Competition, the National New Composers Forum and the orchestral concert
seasons in Kirklees.
The Orchestra has a strong commitment to education work and many of the
players are outstanding teachers with several holding professorships at the
Royal Northern College of Music and at Universities within the region.
It has received international recognition for its recordings, with releases on
Chandos, Collins Classics, Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, Hyperion and Naxos,
and has toured abroad both with the whole Company and independently to
many European countries and regularly performs at venues throughout the UK.
First ViolinsDavid Greed (Leader)Andrew Long (Associate Leader)Stephen Shulman*Michael Ardron*Eileen Spencer* Brian ReillyTamsin SymonsClaire Osborne
Second Violins Katherine NewMaria Vericonte*Anita Chidsey*Catherine Baker*Wendy DysonAlison Dixon
Violas David Aspin Vivienne Campbell*Anne TrygstadVince Parsonage
CellosSally PendleburyAnna MowatJudith BurginAndrew Fairley*
BassesPaul Miller*Claire Sadler
Flutes David Moseley*Jennifer George
OboeRichard Hewitt
Clarinets Colin HonourJohn Robinson
BassoonDavid Baker
Horns Andrew LittlemoreMax Garrard
Trumpets Murray GreigMichael Woodhead*Matthew PalmerJim Bulger
TrombonesRob Holliday Robert Burtenshaw*
Bass TromboneRichard McVeigh
TubaBrian Kingsley*
TimpaniMarney OSullivan
PercussionGraham HallTim Williams
HarpAisling Ennis
PianoAndrew Booth
KitMatthew Dabs
Electric GuitarDanny Maddocks
Bass GuitarRichard Dodd
Chorus and Orchestra Director:Douglas ScarfeOrchestra Manager: Hattie GarrardLibrary Manager: Andrew Fairley*Librarian: Victoria BellisStage Manager: Christopher LaddsOrchestra Attendant: Jordan SeniorMusic Secretary: Helen Stephens** Opera North Company member for 25 years or more
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Beatles OpeningMcCartney, Lennon and Harrison
ShineBarlow, Donald, Orange, Owen and Robson
Cry Me A RiverHamilton
Penny Wilson
If Ever I Would Leave YouLerner and Loewe
Company Tenors and Basses
One Day Like ThisGarvey
Brian Fletcher and Company
Keeping The Dream AliveZauner, Briggs, Touchton and Strobel
Softly As I Leave YouShaper and De Vita
Jim Cunliffe and Ensemble
Like A PrayerMadonna
Rachel Stroud, Sarah Jane Foxton,Christine Rowlands, Jude Hill, DavidIsaac, Brian Fletcher and Company
Bohemian RhapsodyMercury
Battle Hymn Of The RepublicHowe and Steffe
Company and Pam Jagger
Dies IraeVerdi
The Lord Is My ShepherdRutter
In TrutinaOrff
Pam Jagger
Fiddler On The Roof MedleyBock and Harnick
Conquest Of ParadiseVangelis
Orinoco FlowEnya and Ryan
Company Sopranos and Altos
This Is The MomentWildhorn and Bricusse
Richard Aldham
For As Long As I Have MusicBesig
Youll Never Walk AloneRodgers and Hammerstein
Penny Wilson, Ensemble and Company
I Have A DreamAndersson and Ulvaeus
Your Song/It Was Your SongJohn, Taupin and Brooks
Beatles MedleyMcCartney, Lennon
Your SongPart one Part two
EnsembleSoprano 1Dorothy Swallow, Helen Spencer, Rita Roberts,
Pam Jagger, Elizabeth Hawkhead, Diane Kershaw,
Jean Bishop and Margaret Howard
Soprano 2Linda Dredge, Rowena Dobson, Lynne Hegarty,
Jackie Campbell, Michaela Greasley, Helen Duke,
Sarah-Jane Foxton, Marie Dillon, Sally Moore,
Tamsin Martin and Jan Hunter
Alto 1Katie Groves, Christine Rowlands, Janice Weldon,
Suzanne Jones, Jo Hemsworth, Janice Eastwood,
Clare Swindell, Val Tetchner, Maralyn Adey and
Carol Horwood
Alto 2Penny Wilson, Sue Wilson, Christine Flecknoe,
Kathy Lawn, Rita Lindsay, Paula Lister, Barbara
Martin, Christine Bottom and Susan Day
TenorBrenda Adams, David Isaac, John Hurst,
Jim Cunliffe and Peter Duke
BassMark Drummond, Graham Standring, Neil Clarke,
Richard Aldham, Peter Dredge, Mervyn Flecknoe,
Ernest Pollard, Tom Holloway, Chris Folkard,
Adrian Greenwood and Steven Emery
Conquest Of ParadiseVangelis Conquest Of
Paradise is taken from RidleyScotts epic 1992 film of the samename. Starring Grard Depardieu
it tells the story of Columbusdiscovery of the New World
and its effect on theindigenous people.
Bohemian RhapsodyReleased in 1975, this Queen
classic is unique in that it doesnot include a chorus. Instead thesong consists of six sections, withabrupt changes in style, tone and
tempo. It also includes over120 vocal tracks layered
together using a 24 tracktape machine.
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Our singersBrenda AdamsJudith AdamsMaralyn AdeyPat AinleyJanet AldhamRichard AldhamDeAnne AmblerAnne AustwickClaire BakerRosemary BallJennifer BalmforthCatherine BarracloughPat BassanoBarbara BedfordBetty BedfordJean BishopAlan BlackSally BlackJoan BlackburnChristine BlomfieldAllan BlueJanet BlueRosalind BodsworthCarolyn BoothChristine BottomSheila BouldAlison BoyeHelen BretonVanessa BridgeMollie BrumfittHetley BurnhamBettie BushMarilyn BushAngela ButcherJulie ButtersPat ByrneAngela CadeMaria CameronNick CameronJudith CarterGaynor ChaplinPauline ChidseyBarbara ClarkNeil ClarkeSheila ClarkeShirley CliffKirsty CobbSusan CooksonRob CopeHelen CourtmanMargaret CouzensDebbie CowlingGraham Croll
Jim CunliffeCatherine DakinDoromie DaviesJenny DavisMarian DavisJohn DawSusan DayGeoff DickinsonVal DickinsonMarie DillonRowena DobsonMilly DonaldsonKaren DouglasBeryl DoyleLinda DredgePeter DredgeMark DrummondHelen DukePeter DukeJane DunneCelia EasthamJanice EastwoodSteven EmeryPauline FarnworthBrenda FinchettClaire FittonSheila FitzgeraldJo FlanneryChristine FlecknoeMervyn FlecknoeBrian FletcherChris FolkardLynne FolkardElizabeth FordHazel FordhamSarah-Jane FoxtonSue FoxtonLiz FranklinChris Gale Sheila GibbsCaroline GibsonNancy GlaisterHelen GraceMichaela GreasleyAdrian GreenwoodLynne GreepRita GriceKatie GrovesPatricia GwynneJenny HaighMarie HallSue HallRaymond Hallam
Colin HallewellCarol HallsworthSusan HallsworthJanet HardwickRaymond HardwickElaine HardyShona HarringtonSally HarrisonWilliam HarrisonPat HartleySheena HastingsElizabeth HawkheadLynne HegartyJo HemsworthDiane HensonRobert HensonAudrey HerrouAnne HeyhoeDavid HeyhoeAbbie HillElaine HillJude HillKath HinchcliffeDenise HirstMaureen HirstChristine HodgsonTom HollowayBarbara HolmesCarol HorwoodMarilyn HoughDerek HowardMargaret HowardDerek HudsonJoan HudsonLisa HudsonRose HudsonJan HunterJohn HurstTricia HutchinsonFreda IllingworthIsabella InmanJean IrvinDavid IsaacBernie JacksonPam JaggerLiz JarrattMavis JohnsonSandy JohnstonSuzanne JonesSue KeenFelicity KennedyMargaret KerinsDiane Kershaw
Pauline KettlewellLindsey KnightSarah LangliJane LarderKathy LawnPatricia LawrenceHelen LaycockJayne LaycockKatie LazenbyJim LeathleyCaroline LedgardHazel LeeRainy LeeValerie LeeDania LeslieEion LindsayRita LindsayPaula ListerVictoria LittlewoodDeborah LongPeter LoweJack LyttleAllison McCrackenAmanda McNicholasPenny MansonVera MarkovicCarol MarshallFay MarshallBarbara MartinTamsin MartinAndrea MasseyJosie MedvedTamsin MellorSally MooreDavid MorlandCatherine MorleyJoan MoseyBrian MunnochMaureen MyersJulie NewellHelen NewmanJanet NewsomeAde NicholsonAlice NicholsonTracy NicholsonJan OddyJudith PaxtonNadine PembertonLynne PickersgillMaryline PineauErnest PollardFreda PollardCarmel Potter
Karen PotterPatricia PrattJean PurcellSandra RawdingMalcolm RobertsRita RobertsTrudi RobertsPauline RobinsonChristine RowlandsHelen RowneyCarole SaulCharlotte SayerLynn ShadfordRuth ShakespeareJulia ShawClare ShoesmithJill ShoesmithLiz SibsonDaniela Simonato
Beverlie SmithGaynor SmithJohn SmithJoy SmithJulie SmithJacqueline SomersideHelen SpencerGraham StandringPatricia StandringAndrina StanislawskiAnne SteadJannine StewartJames StockEvelyn StoreyRachel StroudCarole SullivanBarbara SumroyDorothy SwallowClare Swindell
Catherine TausneyDani TaylorHelen TaylorVal TetchnerPenny TharrattSue ThistlethwaiteSue ThorpSue TimmeRosa TopleySimon UnderwoodSusan WaineLesley WalesChristine WalkerLiz WalkerAlison WarrenJanice WeldonAndrea WellsLisa WellsDorothy West
Alison West-LaySue WhelanSue WhitelawSandra WhitsonGill WildeTony WillettSheila WillisAnn WilsonKim WilsonPenny WilsonSue WilsonYvette WindowsElaine WormwellCathy WrigglesworthSheila WrightCarole YeomansRobin Young
Your SongThis Elton John classic wasoriginally released in 1970 inthe US as a B-side. Due to its
popularity, it eventually replacedthe A-side Take Me To The
Pilot, becoming a hit inboth the US and
UK charts.
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Inspiration teamChristine RowlandsChristine has been singing and dancing since an early
age and has been singing in and choreographing for
adult choirs for over ten years. She was delighted when
Gary asked her to be involved in Inspiration both on
and off stage.
Christines other passion is for musical theatre and she
can often be found performing with LAOS at the West
Yorkshire Playhouse and The Grand Theatre, Leeds.
Barbara SumroyMonday nights are choir nights and, as the rehearsal
manager, I love greeting everybody as they come through
the door. Singing is like a drug, you end up wanting more,
especially when you get a comedy double act in the
disguise of Griffiths (Gary) and Booth (Andy). I dont
know why, but they remind me of Statler and Waldorf
from The Muppets:
Booth: They arent half bad. (talking about the choir)
Griffiths: Nope theyre ALL bad.
Anyway we are always kept chuckling, and thats what
keeps people coming back! Enjoy the concert as this is
Your Choice!
Jane LarderJane has always enjoyed singing, but it wasnt until she
met Gary that she had the chance to do more than sing
in the church choir. She looks forward to greeting her
Inspiration family each week and sharing their laughter
and tears.
Alongside many other Inspired singers she will be
joining the Race (Walk?) for Life tomorrow in recognition
of a challenge faced by many past and present
choir members.
Liz GreenNarratorLiz Green is delighted to narrate todays concert
with Inspiration and The Orchestra of Opera North.
Multi award-winning journalist, radio and television
broadcaster Liz Green is based in Leeds and has
broadcast for the BBC for 15 years. She hosts Liz
Green Live, the lunchtime radio news and current
affairs interactive show, 12pm to 3pm across BBC
Radio in Yorkshire. The show includes One On
One, an hour in conversation with the people who
make Yorkshire what it is.
Liz has just been named Yorkshire Media Personality of the Year by the Yorkshire
Society, an award of which she is very proud.
Liz has broadcast for BBC Radio across the networks and regularly interviews
leading politicians, captains of industry, news makers and commentators as well
as being acknowledged as being a great communicator with her audience.
Her skills as a journalist in the broadcast media have won her the coveted radio
Sony Gold award twice; the highest accolade the industry can offer. Liz was
nominated as Speech Broadcaster of The Year in the 2011 Sony Radio Awards.
She is also a past winner of the Yorkshire Young Achiever Award for Personality
of the Year and was awarded Silver in this years Frank Gillard Awards for Radio
Presenter of The Year.
Born in Huddersfield, Liz is a proud Yorkshire woman. A huge fan of Inspiration,
she is honoured to be able to narrate this concert.
She says this: Community singing at this exceptionally high standard is a pure
joy to hear. Inspiration are remarkable. Combined with The Orchestra of Opera
North, today represents the very best of the arts and the community coming
together, for a very special event. For me, it symbolises the very best Yorkshire
can offer. I am looking forward to the music and the power of these voices very
much. Enjoy the concert!
You can follow Liz on Twitter @lizgreenlive.
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LyricsI Have A DreamI have a dream, a song to singTo help me cope with anythingIf you see the wonder of a fairy taleYou can take the future even if you failI believe in angels, something good in everything I seeI believe in angels, when I know the time is right for meIll cross the streamI have a dreamI have a dream, a fantasyTo help me through realityAnd my destination makes it worth the whilePushing through the darkness still another mileI believe in angels, something good in everything I seeI believe in angels, when I know the time is right for meIll cross the streamI have a dreamIll cross the streamI have a dream
Programme designed by Penny Wilson E: [email protected] printed by Media Solutions E: [email protected] courtesy of Penny Wilson, Rayburn Tours (Francesca Bridges),Michelle Bedell and Yorkshire Post Newspapers.
Thanks toThanks as always to everyone who helps with the smooth running of Inspiration.
To Barbara (Sumroy and Sheehan) Jane and Jan, Peter and Linda, Andy (without
whom it wouldnt be possible), Judith, David, Chris, Penny, Sue (my driver) and of
course Dougie and all at Opera North.
Dies IraeVerdis Requiem was
composed in memory of Italianpoet and novelist AlessandroManzoni, whom Verdi much
admired. It was first performedin 1874 to mark thefirst anniversary ofManzonis death.