Singing for Salix Homes

We were privileged to be asked to sing at the Salix Homes Award Ceremony held at the Imperial War Museum on 27 September 2013. The Awards are for people who make a real difference to the area in which they live, always put others first or who have shown exceptional bravery.

We were the act that greeted everyone as they arrived.

The Imperial War Museum is not the easiest place to sing in. The sound disappears and it’s difficult to hear anyone but yourself and the person right next to you. We were very much the background music, too, and couldn’t do anything like what the speakers that fill that large space normally achieve.

And yet. Everyone who passed by was appreciative. Our good friend Alan Clague, the Ceremonial Mayor of Salford, tarried a good while to listen and was photographed with us. We performed one that he likes as much as we do: Deep River.

Yes, it was certainly a challenge, but this is where effort at rehearsals and the good warm-up sessions pay off.  We know what to do and we get on with it. We worked hard to support each other and it paid off.

Other songs performed included: The Way We Were, Let’s Do it, Kiss the Girl, Love is th4e Sweetest Thing and The Long and Winding Road.   

From what we could tell, the evening for Salix Homes got off to a good start.  

Singing for the Mayor

Ordsall A Cappella Singers at Ordsall Hall with the new Ceremonial Mayor, Cllr Alan Clague.

Singing for Alan Clague, Ceremonial Mayor of Salford, at Ordsall Hall

We continue to get to sing in some delightful places. Ordsall Hall was always beautiful but after its massive refurbishment, which was completed in 2011, it is truly splendid. The Victorian veneer has been removed and it now looks as it probably did when it was first built. The garden has been restored too and how fabulous that the purple of the flowers in front of the main entrance to the hall match our outfits.  

The very first time I attended a rehearsal was also the first time the group rehearsed in Ordsall Hall. Ah, those were the days, when I used to be an alto and sometimes worried that I’d be the only one. Those days are long gone: today there were seven tenors and goodness knows how many altos and sopranos – though we could do with a few more bases. I remembered those early days as I drove in today.

We are immensely touched and honoured that Cllr. Alan Clague invited us to sing at his ceremony. He’s been attending some of our rehearsals too and that has felt very supportive. As the new Ceremonial Mayor and his parade arrived in the Great Hall we welcomed them with Deep River and Wonderful World. It was so good to sing in that fine acoustic space again. We didn’t see any of the ghosts, though, but they may have been listening. Who knows?    

Later, we sang outside, including:

Kiss the Girl

Nellie the Elephant

How much is that Doggie

Memories

Blue Skies

Imagine  - solo by Louisa Park       

The weather was kind to the new Ceremonial Mayor, to his guests and to us. it was good to be able to sit outside in the lovely garden. And we felt a little as if we had come back home. Ordsall Hall is an old and revered friend.