LMVC successfully took part in the annual Cottingham Methodist Church Musical Festival. The festival covering all aspects of music runs for 12 Fridays and Saturdays from the end of January to mid February. LMVC entered in five sections of the ’Choral and Singing Classes’ held on the last day, winning 2 trophies and coming second in the other three.

Snacks before the start

As tends to be the case, most choirs were not in their first throes of youth (LMVC being no exception) but there were two outstanding young choirs, the first, East Riding Youth Choir of teenagers, quite rightly beat LMVC into second place in one of the classes with an outstanding version of Bring Him Home from Les Misérables for which they won the overall prize for the best piece of the combined classes. The second was Acapella, a quartet of 20 something’s who sang Madrigals, who knows what would have happened if they had been in any of our classes! LMVC won The George W Cockerline Trophy for the class ‘Choirs, Open Age Male Voices’ with Irvin Berlin’s Alexander’s Ragtime Band and Kurt Bestor’s Prayer of the Children, the last piece obtaining distinction marks.

Cottingham Methodist Church, 2012

In the  next class, ‘Choirs, Open Age, Any Voice, Choir Recital’ LMVC came joint second with Driffield MVC with the Maori  Songs From The Land Of The Long White Cloud, arranged by Gwyn Arch  and, Robbie William’s & Guy Chamber’s,  Angels. LMVC also came second in the ‘Choirs, Open Age, Any Voice, Sacred Music’ with Alan Simmons’s arrangement of Amen and Mansel Thomas’s arrangement of Deus Salutus, sung in Welsh. The third second place was in the ‘Songs From The Shows, Open Age, Any Voice’ class with Hey Look Me Over from the musical Wild Cat, arranged by Clay Warnick and Seasons Of Love from Rent,  words and music by Jonathan Larson.

Cottingham Music Festival, 2012

The second win, was The H & M Chew Memorial Trophy, in the ‘Spiritual, Any Voice’ class with an outstanding opening solo, by 2nd  Bass, Russ Harrison, commented on by the adjudicator Marilynne Davies who again awarded the choir distinction marks, with the choir’s rendition of Down By The Riverside, arranged by Gwyn Arch. Davies also complimented LMVC’s accompanist, Gwyn Law, calling him a ‘wizard’ suspecting someone might try to steal him, but Gwyn also occasionally sings 1^st Bass, so hands off.  The final thanks must go to Graham Burrell, the choir’s musical director, whose steadfast determination and musical direction got us there.

Grace Alexander winner of the 2011 Young Musician of the Year with Brian Wood (LMVC) and Councillor Mrs Pauline Watson.

Pianist Grace Alexander won the 21st East Lindsey Young Musician of the Year award organised by Louth MVC on Saturday 12th November at Nichol Hill Methodist Church.  Grace, a pupil at KEVIS (King Edward VI Grammar School) who studies with Mrs Kim Manners, played a varied programme, starting with Lowside Blues composed by Joanna Mac Gregor followed by Debussy’s Clair de Lune and finally Sonata Op. 13 in C major by Kabalevsky. Placed second in the senior section was Emma Brown (Oboe) and in third place was Lili Barras-Hargan (Saxophone). Last year’s winner Alex Guthrie was invited back and played a number of piano pieces.

The Adjudicators for all stages were Graham Burrell, Musical Director of LMVC and Sue Baker, Music Participation Co-Ordinator, North East Lincs. Council. Joing them for the final stage was Amanda Broomfield, music teacher at Lacey Gardens Junior School. Presenting the prizes was Councillor Mrs Pauline Watson. The Trophy for the Young Musician of the Year was jointly presented by Brian Wood who was the Chairman of the Choir the year the competition was inaugurated. Comprehensive result of the Young Musicians competition are:

Further details of the competition and past winners

Seniors (under 18 years of age)

1^st      Grace Alexander  (photo above) (Pianist)   (Winner of the Brian Wood Trophy

and East Lindsey Young Musician of the Year)

2^nd   Emma Brown (Oboe)

3^rd    Lili Barras-Hargan (Saxophone)

Intermediate (under 14 years of age)

Gawtham Ravivaruman

1^st    Gawtham Ravivaruman (Pianist)  (Winner of Henry Brown Memorial Trophy)

2^nd    Willow Mickel (Singer)

3^rd     Rose Broughton (Singer)

Junior (under 11 years of age)

Florence Hand

1^st    Florence Hand (Singer) (Winner of the Arthur Gilbert Memorial Trophy)

2^nd   Courtney Clare (Singer)

3^rd    Nadine Hartzenberg (Pianist)

Friday 20^th April – Homestart Concert, Skegness Methodist Church

Sunday 22nd April - R.A.F. Association (Hemswell Veterans), Petwood Hotel,
Woodhall Spa

Friday 4^th May  – St. Edith’s, Grimoldby

Friday 18^th May – Save The Children, Elsham Hall

Tuesday 5^th June – Fotherby Jubilee Outdoor Concert

Friday 15^th June  – St Leonard’s, South Ormsby

Saturday 23^rd June  – St James Louth, with Reading M.V.C.

Saturday 14^th July  – St. James Louth, concert supporting Anne Fridal

St. Clement's, Sutton-on-Sea

Rehearsals - Charles Jude, John Hards & Paul Firth

Nearly everyone can sing well enough to become a valuable member of a choir.  We do not expect much of new recruits – no need to read music, for example.  Why not turn up at one of our rehearsals – 7.30pm on most Tuesday evenings at the Mansion House on Upgate - and see if you like it?
If you enjoy the experience and would like to join us we will expect you to turn up regularly and learn from our excellent musical director.  If you have any questions before you decide whether or not to give it a go please give Alan John a call on 01507 605071.
Men already in the choir say they do it for a wide variety of reasons: because it is fun;  the emotional buzz from performing and being part of great sounds and emotions;  provides a sense of purpose;  learning the words is a valuable mental work-out;  gets me out of the house;  singing is good exercise;  the choir is the best club in town and very friendly.
If  you think any or all of these reasons have relevance for you, may we look forward to hearing from you?

Alexander Guthrie 2010 Young Musician of the Year with Cllr Terry Aldridge, Children's Champion for East Lindsey DC.

Pianist Alexander Guthrie won the 20th East Lindsey Young Musician of the Year award organised by Louth MVC on Saturday 13th November at Nichol Hill Methodist Church.  Alex, from Ludford, a pupil at KEVIS who studies with Mrs Kim Manners, played a varied programme including a movement from a piano sonata by Beethoven, Mussorgsky’s Gopak and Lowside Blues by Joanna McGregor.
Previous winners were invited to this special anniversary occasion and three of them demonstated that their performing skills continue to improve.  Rebecca Chambers (1990), Stephanie Shucksmith (1998) and Amy Baker (2009) all played for the appreciative audience at the finals competition and concert.
Other previous winners present included Linda Lowing (nee Broadwell, 1989), Paula Constant (1993), and Amy Kent (2003), all of whom assisted the adjudicators, Graham Burrell, musical director, Louth MVC, and Sue Baker.  Other previous winners were unable to attend because of commitments including: preparing for a panto (Michelle Grierson, 1992); playing baritone, alto and soprano saxophone with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (Naomi Sullivan, 1996); rehearsing at St David’s Hall, Cardiff (Clare Hurrell, 2006); and conducting church services (Father Andrew Moughtin-Mumby, Rector of St Peter’s, Walworth, 1995).
Comprehensive results of the Young Musicians competition are:

Seniors (under 18 years of age)
1st and Young Musician of the Year: Alexander Guthrie, piano
2nd: Keren Newlove, piano
3rd: Liliane Barras-Hargan: saxophone

Intermediate (under 14 years of age)
1st: Rowena Firth, violin
2nd: Gawtham Rivivaruman, piano
3rd: Charlotte Page, cello