The Great Hall at the lovely old Sir John Moore School, Appleby Magna with its lofty ceiling and high windows proved an excellent venue for ROOTS Community Singers latest harmony singing workshop.
Forty participants flocked from local and not so local choirs to combine their talents in a superb day of uplifting songs under the leadership of Lester Simpson who is part of the internationally renown a cappella group, Coope, Boyes & Simpson.
Tackling the likes of Dona Nobis Pacem, The Almanac, Make It Mend It, Unison In Harmony, Cherokee Morning Song, (which proved a huge hit) and Down In The Broom meant a very full but hugely rewarding day.
There was no time to relax, however for once the workshop had ended The Sir John Moore Foundation kindly arranged a guided tour of the old school after which it was on to the local hostelry for some well earned refreshment!
Suitably replete, it was back to the school for the Lester Simpson evening concert where a scratch choir from the workshop put their memories to the test as the opening act. The rest of the evening featured Lester Simpson in top form treating the packed hall to a wide range of tunes, songs and anecdotes.
Even better … The Sir John Moore Foundation now has a fully equipped recording studio which was in action during the concert so all participants will have the opportunity to take away more than their memories of the day. Until then, here’s an amateur recording of the workshop participants singing the Cherokee Morning Song.
