Parliament Buildings, Stormont, was host to Grosvenor and distinguished guests on Saturday 18th May, for a celebratory recital and dinner to mark the choir’s twentieth year.
The evening featured a short programme of works ranging from the ancient, Cantate Domino, by Pitoni, to modern, with I Am The Great Sun by Chydenius. The choir painted scenes of tranquility in Stanford’s The Blue Bird, and Hungarian feasting, dancing (and more!), in Túrót Eszik A Cigány by Kodály, as well as popular songs from the 20th century, accompanied by Stephen Hamill, piano, and Gordon Cobain, percussion.
Dinner followed the recital, with speeches given by Edward Craig, musical director, and choir members who have sung with Grosvenor for the full 20 years (and continue to!), presenting an opportunity to reflect on the choir’s heritage and debt to Ronnie Lee, in whose memory the choir was formed, as well as to look to the choir’s exciting future under Edward’s directorship. Video messages of support were received and displayed from former choir members across the world, local composer and broadcaster John Anderson, Christine and Audrey Lee and Lady Eatwell, Suzi Digby OBE.
The evening was not the only birthday celebration, however, as there will be a special 20th Birthday Concert on Saturday 19th October 2013 at 7:30pm in May Street Church, Belfast. More details and tickets will be available on our website soon.
A full range of photographs from the evening is available on Flickr.
Watch an impromptu after-dinner song: