Thursday 9 December 2021 at 7.30pm
St James’ Church, Islington
Finsbury Park Singers conducted by Hannah Brine
Alcyona Mick pianist
For the safety of all audience and choir members, please wear a face covering unless you are medically exempt and keep your distance from anyone not in your household if possible. Audience capacity has been reduced compared to previous years so there should be plenty of room to space out. Please ensure your phone and any other electronic devices are switched to silent. Enjoy the concert!
This concert is given in support of the Elizabeth House Food Hub
Programme
Let it Snow Julie Styne, lyrics Sammy Cahn
Midwinter Bob Chilcott, lyrics by Christina Rossetti
Heartwood From The Lost Words Spell Songs arr. Colin Douglas
What a Wonderful World Bob Thiele & George David Weiss
Sung by Geoffrey Simmons
Silent night Franz Gruber
Sung by a soprano ensemble
Coventry Carol from the Pageant of the Shearmen and Tailors
River Joni Mitchell arr. Benny Lee
Make You Feel My Love Bob Dylan, arr. by Benny lee
Auld Lang Syne Traditional arr. Stephen DeCesare
Sung by Jennifer Howell and Lizzie Erickson
A few words about Elizabeth House food hub, the charity we are supporting this evening
Deck the hall
Deck the hall with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la la la la!
‘Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la la la la!
Fill the mead cup, drain the barrel,
Fa la la la la la la la!
Troll the ancient Christmas carol,
Fa la la la la la la la!
See the flowing bowl before us,
Fa la la la la la la la!
Strike the harp and join the chorus,
Fa la la la la la la la!
Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la la la la la la!
While I sing of beauty’s treasure,
Fa la la la la la la la!
Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la la la la!
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la la la la!
Laughing, quaffing, all together
Fa la la la la la la la!
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la la la la!
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
1. We wish you a merry Christmas
we wish you a merry Christmas
we wish you a merry Christmas
and a happy New Year!
Good tidings we bring, to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas
and a happy New Year.
2. Now bring us some figgy pudding
now bring us some figgy pudding
now bring us some figgy pudding
and bring some out here.
Good tidings we bring, to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas
and a happy New Year.
3. For we all like figgy pudding;
we all like figgy pudding;
we all like figgy pudding;
so bring some out here!
Good tidings we bring, to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas
and a happy New Year.
4. And we won’t go until we’ve got some;
we won’t go until we’ve got some;
and we won’t go until we’ve got some
so bring some out here!
Good tidings we bring, to you and your kin
We wish you a merry Christmas
and a happy New Year!
Sleigh Ride Leroy Anderson arr. Benny Lee, lyrics Mitchell Parish
Finsbury Park Singers
Finsbury Park Singers are a new mixed-voice community choir from North London who were founded in September 2018 . We have performed for Jeremy Corbyn at an open evening and at Fonthill Christmas Market. We kept busy during lock down, singing via the wonders of Zoom, creating several virtual choir videos, and continuing our charity fund raising efforts.
In 2019 we were honoured to take part in the BBC Proms performance of In the Name of the Earth by John Luther Adams, and in 2020 we graced the Barbican stage, together with the LSO orchestra and a massed choir to perform Andre Thomas’ Symphonic Gospel Spirit. Our spring term starts on Tuesday January 18th and new members are
always welcome.
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Hannah Brine
Originally from Leicester, Hannah founded Finsbury Park Singers, Kensington Singers, Victoria Park Singers and the ITV office choir. She coached the choir for, and sang with, Gary Barlow for his 2016 Royal Variety performance and his 2017 Olivier Awards, for which he was the opening act, and also performed with Gary on BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. Her session credits include Disney, Upstart Crow and various dance releases. She has taught at Mountview Theatre Academy of Performing Arts, as well as studying on the Estill Voice Model Certified Master Teacher programme with Anne Marie Speed. She has an LRSM distinction in choral conducting and in 2015 was named a BBC Unsung Hero for her work with choirs.
Hannah launches her EP A Piece of My Heart at The Pheasantry, Chelsea on January 21st. Her work over lockdown has seen her tracks feature on new British radio soap opera Greenborne, starring John Altman (Eastenders’ Nasty Nick Cotton). She can also be found composing for choirs. Her piece Winter Lark, written during the 2020 pandemic which was turned into a virtual choir release, was premiered on Scala Radio, and Ray of Sunlight was recently performed by the London Symphony Orchestra’s Discovery Youth Choir.
Alcyona Mick – pianist
Alcyona Mick is a British jazz pianist and composer. She has performed worldwide and worked with a wide array of artists in the UK and abroad, performing at major European, American and Canadian festivals, North Africa and the Middle East.
As a writer she has released several critically acclaimed albums and also trained as a film composer at the NFTS. She has written music for documentary, independent film, TV and silent film. She has also worked in Turkey performing for a music television series on TRT, and has won awards including best film soundtrack at the Anima Mundi International festival Brazil, the UK Promoter’s Choice jazz award, and a nomination for a Parliamentary Jazz award.
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Acknowledgements
A huge thanks to all the singers involved in tonight’s concert for their hard work. An especially big thank you goes to the team of volunteers from the choir who have helped make this event possible.
Thanks to the staff at Elizabeth House Community Centre and to you, our lovely audience, for supporting us.