Hornsea Music Society is looking forward to a slightly different concert in November. Catherine Terry began her training in music and dance in Hull, before moving on to the Royal Ballet and Birmingham Drama School. She made her West End Theatre debut in Hello Dolly! and played Phyllis Dale in the original cast of 42nd Street (Theatre Royal, Drury Lane), where she also appeared in the Royal Variety Show. She starred as Sally Smith in Me & My Girl, Young Sally in Follies, Helga in Budgie, the Musical with Adam Faith and Anita Dobson, and as Jennyanydots/Gumbie in Cats. She has played the coveted lead role of Louise in Gypsy, followed by Ado Annie in Oklahoma! Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors, Mrs. Fezziwig in Scrooge, Elvira in Blithe Spirit, and the leading role of Phyllis Owen in Babes in Arms (Chichester Festival Theatre), amongst many other roles. Catherine joined the New Shakespeare Company at the Open Air Theatre in Regent’s Park as Assistant Choreographer, and played the comedy role of Evelyn in A Connecticut Yankee, and Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew, which then toured the Middle East. She travelled the world for three seasons on P&O’s state of the art cruise ships, as Principal Performer in The Stadium Theatre Company. She also has her own cabaret business – Songtime Entertainment, which performs nationally and internationally. Catherine regularly broadcasts for BBC Radio. Her TV credits include Casualty, The Bill, Doctors, Family Affairs and 2.4 Children. She played Jacko’s football-crazy girlfriend, Lynn, in the BBC’s hit comedy series, Brush Strokes with Karl Howman. She also presented the Children’s BBC TV series Playdays for four years. Catherine teaches drama, and is well known as a Presentational Speaker, performing her autobiographical 60 minute Presentation, ‘Catherine Terry – A Life Treading the Boards’ for clubs and organizations around the country. The concert will be at Hornsea United Reformed Church on Saturday 18th November, starting at 7.30 pm. Tickets are £10 each and are available from The Town House in Newbegin, Hornsea, or the Tourist Information Centre in Beve Hornsea Celebration Concert Review The Oxford English Dictionary tells us that celebration can mean: 1. To acknowledge a significant or happy day or event with a social gathering or enjoyable activity, 2. To honour or praise publicly. 3. A box of chocolates full of treats with something for everyone. OK, I made the last one up but all these definitions give a flavour of the Hornsea Music Festival Celebration Concert on 30th September at the United Reformed Church. What a treat for the full house who had come to listen to the trophy winners from this summer’s Hornsea Music Festival. Whilst space does not allow details of every performance, I can definitely say that each was a highlight in it’s own right. The concert got off to a wonderful start with the young musicians of the Holderness String Orchestra led by Becky McKee of the East Riding Schools’ Music Service, ably supported by the Music Teachers of Hornsea School and Language College. They played two pieces showcasing the warm, rich tones of massed stringed instruments, with rhythmic guitar and percussion accompaniment; this an ensemble that gets better and better. Strings featured throughout the concert either in solo performances or in duets. One of the beauties of the Music Festival is that it is open to beginners and very experienced performers alike and so we had Megan Little and Lucy Braham, both younger players delivering confident performances and showing their potential for the future. There was a very engaging duet aptly titled ‘Celebration Duet,’ with Sofiya Shevchenko on violin and Tyler Wood on ‘cello. Lines of music from each instrument weaved in and out to create a tapestry of melody and harmony. We were treated to Luke Ball on ‘cello, who impressed greatly with a performance of ‘Robot’s March,’ a very demanding piece requiring great control of the instrument. Usually, the Celebration Concert showcases not only the winners of individual competition classes but also the overall winner of the Festival, in other words the individual performer who got the most points of all classes. Well, this was not a usual year – maybe it was fitting that this year, the Festival with over 450 entrants had thrown up two competitors with identical points. With no winner of the Golden Jubilee Trophy this summer, two young men with 90 points competed to become the next name to be engraved on it. The judge with this difficult decision was our friend and esteemed adjudicator, Marilynne Davies. First up was Renjay Chong, an 11 year old violinist who plays with musicianship well beyond his years. Renjay played two contrasting pieces, one slower and melodic, the other more rhythmic and dramatic, making full use of the instrument’s potential. Later came Liam Constantine, though 13, something of a veteran of the Festival. He is a fine musician, equally at home on violin, drums and tuned percussion, with piano thrown in for good measure. On this night he played a very difficult and impressive piece on a very impressive marimba, it’s exotic sound resounding around the URC. Both performances had the audience rapt, but there could only be one winner and that was Renjay Chong; congratulations to Renjay on a wonderful winning performance. More treats lay in store, Helin Zivar on piano playing ‘Hungarian Rhapsody’ in a way which belied her youth, Jasmin Carter with strong performances of ‘Tango per una Cubera’ and the lilting ‘Changing Tides,’ and Emma Duffus who sang ‘The Owls’ and ‘God Be In My Head;’ spellbinding.. Two local ensembles provided musical skill and entertainment in equal measure; Hornsea Ukelele Group with Peter, Paul and Mary’s ‘500 Miles’ and ‘Boxcar Blues,’ and Hornsea Choir, expertly conducted by Chris Ashmead, singing the spiritual medley ‘Round The Riverside,’ the shanty ‘Whip Jamboree,’ and a superb performance of ‘Rhythm Of Life’ from the musical ‘Sweet Charity.’ Congratulations to Daisy Waite who won the trophy for the highest points for an entrant from Hornsea singing ‘Just Around The Riverbend’ from the film ‘Pocohontas’ with real clarity and feeling. The evening came to end with Marilynne Davies leading all in a rousing performance of ‘Jerusalem’ filling the URC with music one last time. Thanks must go to all the performers and their families, the audience, the URC and all who helped, including Leonie Cresswell who accompanied the performers so sensitively on piano and Keith Robinson who introduced the performers; many apologies to anybody I have missed out. Another Celebration concert may be completed, but don’t worry, the 2018 Music Festival will be upon us before we know it! Graeme Appleton

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