Prom praise sounds fill every inch of Norwich hall

 

A hugely popular church orchestra from London consumed every 'inch of space' in St Andrews Hall, Norwich, on March 13 with a heart-beating, foot-tapping mixture of secular and sacred music.

 

Under the direction and baton of Noel Tredinnick, the All Souls Orchestra thrilled a packed auditorium with pieces by Eric Coates, Rossini, Bizet, Boeliman and Haydn Wood among others.

 

It was almost impossible to pick a favourite item from a wide and varied selection but the beautiful voice of Sarah Vander Ploeg, an American lyric soprano singing Eagles Wings and Oh who am I?, just nudged top spot from saxophonist Sarah Lawson playing Glazounov's Concerto and organist Richard Lennox' rendering of Toccata from Suite Gothique.

 

An attractive feature characterising this concert was the involvement of local singers. The combined choir of over 100 voices drawn from 20 different churches in the Greater Norwich area tackled with distinction choral music, which included classics by Mozart and Haydn and modern writers Stuart Townend, Graham Kendrick and Roger Jones.

The All Souls Orchestra is part of the Langham Arts Trust and the proceeds from the concert are in support of the Prom Praise for Schools Project.

 

The programme was compered by Hugh Palmer, currently Rector of All Souls Church, but formerly a Curate serving under Canon Gordon Bridger at Holy Trinity Church in Norwich.

Pictured above is the All Souls Orchestra performing in Norwich.