Wednesday 13 July 2022

COMMUNITY CHOIR REVIEW: The Kaleidoscope Choir: Singing Together - The Methodist Church, Buxton.


As part of Buxton Fringe Festival, The Kaleidoscope Choir, a local amateur community choir, through their being a part of Platform 3 - the Learning And Engagement side of Buxton's Opera House - gave a concert inside Buxton's Methodist Church this afternoon.

This 18-strong ensemble [15 females and 3 males], took us through a range of styles and tempi in their hour-long concert. Starting with a joyous German Baroque 'Viva La Musica', we went through Gospel, pop, contemporary, African, jazz, and we were even treated to a Ukrainian lullaby (in recognition of that country's current situation), finishing with 'The Chattanooga Choo-Choo'.

Introduced by the choir's conductor, we were also asked to provide some audience participation in a couple of the songs. We were given a few vocal warm-up exercises favouring the listen-and-repeat technique. This might have worked better had the audience been more numerous, I don't know; however, this did feel very much like I was back in Primary School at a school assembly being talked down to by the headmistress, and felt rather exposed due to the fact that there were only about 12 people in the audience! 

The repertoire was a mixture of a-capella singing and using various forms of accompaniment, from a solo drum, a guitar, and backing tracks. I did feel that a couple of the songs performed this afternoon would have benefitted from more rehearsal time, but it was clear that the choir were enjoying themselves and giving everything they had to the concert - and surely that is the spirit of a community group! Well done all!

Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 12.7.22

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