HATHERLEIGH had plenty to celebrate at their ‘triple bill concert’ held at the town’s Methodist church recently.
In 2015 Hatherleigh Primary School was awarded a Waitrose Music Matters grant of £1,000. Part of their bid was about forming links with the community. Children were encouraged to try something new, so pupils had music lessons and played with Hatherleigh Silver Band, while others joined the Unity Gospel Choir. Children who joined the choir attended rehearsals with musical director Jon Bint.
At the school’s Easter concert the choirs sang together and was a great success, though the wider community was unable to attend and so the idea of the triple bill concert was formed.
The middle section was in celebration of the Tarka Young Farmer’s Choir. The choir of 15 young people aged 15 and 16 took part and came from Buckland Brewer, Woolsery, and Winkleigh YFC, joining to together as the Tarka area choir.
Earlier in the year the choir took part and won the local choir competition, then went to Weymouth in March to take part in the regional finals. Here they beat all the choirs from across the region. qualifying for the South West in the national finals at Blackpool last Sunday.
The Tarka choir was described as ‘truly amazing’ and recieved a standing ovasion after their performance of Hey, hey, hey, hey and One day more from Les Miserables.
The final section was to celebrate Hatherleigh Silver Band winning the West of England regional brass band contest at Torquay, earlier this year. Hatherleigh came out on top in the 4th section and will compete in the national finals at Cheltenham in September.
The band performed the piece that helped them reach the finals, The Journey of Phileas Fogg.
The chapel was packed, with standing room only at the back of the school room. Refreshments were served and a wonderful evening of celebrated music was had by all. £308 was kindly given — £158 will go to chapel maintenance, while £50 each will go to the choirs and the band.
l Members of the choirs and band are pictured above.