Singing Company at the home of the Proms
A members account of the day the Singing Company performed at the Royal Albert Hall (29 November 2009).
Wow!
Saturday had already provoked our excitement, and left us with a feeling of anticipation about the long-awaited concert to come. The prospect of the Royal Albert hall beckoned before us – bringing both nervousness, but also the biggest of thrills…
We awoke in the morning to gloomy weather, which dampened our ideas about the evening we were soon to enjoy. But when we arrived at the Salvation Army, with the whole of the Singing Company gathered together, our initial excitement was reignited with the reality of where we were about to sing. The Great Albert Hall!
Though the coach journey was considerably long-winded and served as a bit of a disappointment, which seemed to put out the formerly bright spirits of the Singing Company members, voyaging through London was a memorable experience for all of us. We were able to witness intriguing sights and become acquainted with some of the most famous London landmarks. Even the renowned London Eye could be spotted in the distance! This allowed us to reflect on the reasons for travelling to the Royal Albert Hall – not for our own indulgence, but to praise God.
As the Royal Albert Hall came into view there were squeals from several Singing Company members, delighted to be part of the whole experience. Personally, I was shocked at the grandeur and stunning exterior of the building, and was fully anticipating a great concert in such a beautiful location!
We were taken to our allocated dressing rooms where an afternoon of excited conversation and socialization, leading up to the event itself, was enjoyed, with many children discussing their enthusiasm for the soon-coming concert. Eventually, after a pleasant lunch and with the concert growing ever closer, the anticipation of singing at such a splendid theatre finally kicked in bringing a sense of unity seemed amongst the members of all the participating Singing Companies. We were all gathered for the same reason – to praise God. This feeling of unity and a sense of unbreakable strength seemed to whisper throughout the dressing rooms, assuring all that there was no need to be nervous – the concert was going to be a success, and God would hear our praises. This was a great boost for the many members who were becoming increasingly anxious, and soon the feeling of trepidation passed to leave the dressing room truly relaxed and cool.
As we had previously had a thorough rehearsal of our songs (Ain’t it good, We are the children of the world, Let there be peace on earth), everyone was assured of a good performance in the real concert. Therefore the afternoon was peacefully enjoyed, and hours were spent ensuring a professional appearance for the performance. I wasn’t surprised to see every dressing room occupied with a member of the Singing Company attending to their make-up!
When the hour of the concert itself arrived, the former sense of euphoria which had surrounded each member returned, beckoning us into the somewhat welcoming, yet almost intimidatingly large show-hall. As we filed in the Christmas layout of the RAH came into view, with the stage designed to mirror a festive ice-rink. Detail had been used to emphasise the festive atmosphere – with mystical blue lighting, Christmas trees peppered with fake snow and a believable icy stage. The seating was virtually full, and a sea of engaged expressions greeted us as we took our seats on the platform.
the full stage
During the performance, we were able to indulge in the beautiful performances from the International Staff Band and Songsters alongside special acts such as a trumpet solo from Philip Cobb, duets from Kerry Sampson and Nicholas Lester, and a group of talented actors (one of which was a very fit guy – and kept the back row members of the Singing Company riveted!). The evening was hosted by ice-skater Robin Cousins, with famous actors including Jenny Agutter, June Whitfield and Nathaniel Parker reading selections of Bible passages relating to the Christmas story. The audience was also engaged in the performance by the invitation to sing traditional Christmas carols.
Of course the stars of the show were the massed Singing Companies singing two thought-provoking and moving songs, together with the more upbeat “Ain’t It Good” as a triumphant finale which proved to be a roaring success and left every child shattered.
the ‘stars’ of the show
The visit to the Royal Albert Hall was a memorable experience which will linger in the minds of the Singing Company members for many years to come.