Christmas Choral Concerts

The very first performance of any sort we hosted at Kentwell was a Christmas Choral Concert in 1976. A few weeks before a friend said "Why not hold a Christmas Choral concert ?" We said 'we don't know how'. He said 'I'll find a choir, you find an audience'. So we both did. Since then we have held such a concert every year, even when there was scaffolding in the Hall and works were afoot (or should I say, above) !

Rapidly the concerts adopted their own form - a variety of singing inter-mixed with readings, often light-hearted.

So 2007 will see our 32nd Christmas Concert - how time has flown !

Christmas decorations

We have always had the Hall decorated for Christmas with our own 24ft Christmas tree dominating the room. We hope that the evening will kickstart everyone's Christmas Celebrations.

The Choirs

We have had just four choirs over the 30 years, one for 15 years. Each very different and bringing to the evening their own way of singing, own programmes and individuality. We like having the same choir each year as it brings a familiarity which fits in well with our country house theme. For this, their sixth year, we welcome once again our friends who form Ex Choralis.

Ex Choralis

Comprise singers who sing with other distinguished Choirs. They are led by the rare talents and enthusiasm of Ruth Shepherd and Anna Winton. They have a very distinctive programme approach which we like and hope our audience does too. They are also quite anarchic so we never know if the programme we jointly put together will be faithfully followed. That engenders some unusual diversions.

The Supper

A three course appropriately festive meal. The supper is served during the Interval which lasts a good hour. This is why tickets are sold inclusive of supper as we would not know what to do, during the Interval, with any who wanted to come just for the Concert.

Lighting & Sound

After 30 years it seems appropriate for us to move with the times. We have acquired some suitable lighting and also amplification especially for solos and readings but not for the choral numbers. The Great Hall has a wonderful acoustic but some quieter single voices may need a bit of help.