Billingham Choral Society Blows The Roof Off At St Cuthbert’s!

Uplifting, emotive and beautiful musical talent was enjoyed by a vibrant community crowd as the Billingham Choral Society enjoyed the perfect acoustics of St Cuthbert’s Church for its autumn spectacle.

The historic church, on Billingham Green, was host to a wonderful evening of music and singing on Tuesday 24^th October 2023. Being a ‘non-religious type’ myself, I wasn’t sure what to expect for the event but I was welcomed by many members of the church and the warm glow of communal chatter. Soon the performance began and was I in for auditory treat!

Under the accomplished fingers of accompanist Alex Evans and conductor Margaret Pringle, the Choral Society kicked off the evening at 7.30pm with a truly eclectic mix of songs. From the hauntingly beautiful melody of ‘My Heart Will Go On’ – the famed theme from Titanic, to the uplifting ‘Let the River Run’ and the timeless sentiment of Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’, the ensemble’s show was well performed and uplifting by design!

Solo performances by Lisa Harding and flautist Pamella Burdess injected additional layers of complexity into the already rich auditory blend. Harding’s vocal solos offered an emotive counterpoint to the broader choral narratives, while Burdess’s flute pieces added a lovely three-dimensional quality, elevating the music further.

Not just content to let the music do the talking, conductor Margaret Pringle entertained the crowd with a fabulously comedic reading of ‘Moses and the Children of Israel By a Geordie Lay Preacher’. The moment was a perfect interlude, adding a different flavour to an evening steeped in musical richness.

After the concert, Margaret said, “I introduced the song ‘As Long As I Have Music’ to the choir, because we’ve all gone through tough times in our lives, and that really keeps me going!”

Margaret told me about the history of the Choral Society as well as her long history in music in the area. It is clear to see where the Choral Society get their drive and love of music from.

“They performed well and I’m pleased with the turn out this evening,” she added.

I also caught up with Janet Turley, owner of local business, Posh Frocks, who shared her thoughts. “It was absolutely fab,” she said, “and in this iconic building, the sound was just brilliant, the acoustics were perfect and just look at all of the people who’ve turned out. It was just perfect!”

Vicar, Mahalha Wachepa, was visibly moved by the evening’s performances.

“The event tonight has been really uplifting, the gathering of people and the music itself, was just wonderful,” she said. “They sang beautifully and the words from the songs were really touching.”

Amongst the flurry of community chatter, there was a very clear happy feeling in the large hall, epitomising the local spirit that makes such gatherings invaluable. I spoke to numerous audience members who agreed with me that it was a wonderful community-enriching evening with beautiful voices! If tonight was any indication, Billingham Choral Society is more than just a musical institution, it’s a community pillar, integral to the area’s cultural fabric.

Vicar Wachepa, who presided over the evening, drew upon her upbringing, where music and movement were integral parts of daily life. She expressed her delight at the evening’s proceedings. “The performance was wonderful,” she added, “and it was lovely to see the community really turn out for the event.”

As the evening concluded, attendees were treated to refreshments and engaged in uplifting conversations that reflect the very essence and buzz of community spirit.

Billingham Choral Society has been running since 1951, with Mrs Pringle being its conductor since 1976. Margaret’s first big concert as conductor was for the 25th anniversary and she seems to still be doing the society proud many years later!

From watching them, it is clear that Billingham Choral Society is more than just a choir… it’s a unifying force in the local cultural landscape and tonight’s performance was a testament to that.

For those looking to catch the choral society in action again, Margaret shared the details of their upcoming performances:

• Tesco Leeholme Road Billingham on Saturday 2nd December 2023
• Ormesby Hall on Sunday 3rd December at 12pm & 2pm
• Coulby Cathedral at 2pm on Saturday 9th December
• St Columba’s Church on Sunday 10th December for a carol service
• Wolviston Court Women’s Institute on Thursday 14th December