“I sang with the WI Choir at the concert in the Town Hall yesterday. It was a very long day as we had to be there at ten o'clock in the morning for a rehearsal. Aled joined us just before lunch to rehearse Silent Niight and O Holy Night. After a quick lunch it was time for the afternoon performance. The concert began with 'Jerusalem which of course raised the roof !! Then we all sang 'Hark the Herald Angels Sing' This was followed by three pieces played by Premier Brass which were most entertaining. The Choir then sang 'It's the most Wonderful Time of the Year' and 'O Christmas Tree'. The audience and Choir followed this by singing 'In the Bleak Midwinter'. James Brown - organ soloist - then played the Overture to 'Die Meistersinger'. The Choir followed with 'A Stable in Bethlehem' and 'The Holy City' . We then heard a recording of the soprano voice of Aled Jones singing 'Walking in the Air' and half way through this Aled walked onto the stage singing tenor with the recording, what an entrance !! The audience loved it (and so did we ). He then sang a selection from his recent albums which was followed by audience and Choir singing 'O Little Town of Bethlehem' After the interval 'Joy to the World' was followed by the Choir singing 'My Little One' a song written for the"lost children" of Romania and 'Christmas Around the World'. Then it was the turn of Premier Brass Quintet again who entertained us with three Christmas pieces. The audience (well warmed up by now !!) singing with the Choir sang 'Angels from the Realms of Glory'. Then Aled sang 'O Holy Night' and 'Silent Night' accompanied by us - the Gloucestershire WI Choir - for me one of the highlights of the evening !!
So the afternoon performance was rounded off by raising the roof with a rousing rendition of 'O Come all Ye Faithful' accompanied by Premier Brass and finally God Save the Queen. Wow what a memorable concert !!
Heartfelt thanks to all who made it possible - Aled Jones, James Lloyd Smith wonderful Soprano from Gloucester Cathedral - well done James, also James Brown organist, Premier Brass, our lovely conductor Ian Fox who kept us in tune and amused us with little stories during our rehearsals, Jill Beddoe our able accompanist.
What a fantastic performance and oh, we had to do it all again in the evening ! no wonder Aled said he had a feeling of deja vue !!”

“I went along to a lovely WI which is closing. I feel sorry for them (committee) too much paperwork this is very ageist.
This may have been a good night but help the floundering WIS.”

“I was there and I thought the performance was a bit 'frosty' !!”

“I was at the concert and it was brilliant, cmpletely amazing.”