9 - Thetford Singers Perform

Thetford Singers Perform With Thetford Singers Perform With Katherine Jenkins

A group of Thetford Singers marked the Platinum A group of Thetford Singers marked the Platinum Jubilee in a very special way by performing Jubilee in a very special way by performing with Welsh superstar mezzo soprano Katherine with Welsh superstar mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins at Sandringham Royal Parkland. All Jenkins at Sandringham Royal Parkland. All the ladies sing in the Honington Military Wives the ladies sing in the Honington Military Wives Choir, who are celebrating their 10th year Choir, who are celebrating their 10th year of singing together, as the charity marks the of singing together, as the charity marks the 10th anniversary of their official formation.10th anniversary of their official formation. Military Wives Choirs (MWCs) exist to support Military Wives Choirs (MWCs) exist to support women whose lives have been impacted by their women whose lives have been impacted by their military connection, including serving personnel, military connection, including serving personnel, veterans, wives, widows, partners, mothers, veterans, wives, widows, partners, mothers, sisters, daughters and women employed within sisters, daughters and women employed within the military community. Their motto is Sing, Share, the military community. Their motto is Sing, Share, Support. It has grown to nearly 2000 women in Support. It has grown to nearly 2000 women in 72 choirs across the UK and internationally. They 72 choirs across the UK and internationally. They come together to celebrate a love of singing and a come together to celebrate a love of singing and a communal understanding that comes from shared communal understanding that comes from shared experiences of the Armed Forces. experiences of the Armed Forces. Back in December 2021, the charity was Back in December 2021, the charity was asked to perform alongside Katherine Jenkins asked to perform alongside Katherine Jenkins in Sandringham Royal Park over the Jubilee in Sandringham Royal Park over the Jubilee weekend. The individual choirs, Honington, Simon Long HP Advert 2018.qxp_Layout 1 13/09/2018 10:01 Page 1weekend. The individual choirs, Honington, Wattisham and Marham were contacted in March Wattisham and Marham were contacted in March 2022 and given a list of the songs that they would 2022 and given a list of the songs that they would

Honington Military Wives Choir, Thetford members L to R: Vicky Hall, Jo Cooper, Liz Reid, Julie Dean and Kelly Stretton

be performing. There was only one opportunity for a joint rehearsal the week before the concert, with Artistic Director, Hilary Davan Wetton and composer and pianist, Sean Hargreaves. The three choirs have previously sung together at Ely and Norwich Cathedrals and St Mary’s Church in Bury St Edmunds, and joined other choirs in Colchester to record their last album ‘Remember’. On June 3rd, the choir performed to over 3000 Simon Long HP Advert 2018.qxp_Layout 1 13/09/2018 10:01 Page 1people, their largest audience to date. The songs were a mix of core songs, some from the

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Military Wives film and their latest album. The Military Wives film and their latest album. The choirs had a 30-minute slot to sound check for choirs had a 30-minute slot to sound check for their own set, then a rehearsal for the finale song their own set, then a rehearsal for the finale song with Katherine Jenkins. Katherine and her team with Katherine Jenkins. Katherine and her team chose the final song, Dancing Queen by Abba, chose the final song, Dancing Queen by Abba, with the arrangement specifically written by David with the arrangement specifically written by David Harrington. This was chosen as a tribute to our Harrington. This was chosen as a tribute to our Queen who reportedly loves Abba. The choirs Queen who reportedly loves Abba. The choirs had great fun with this song and the audience had great fun with this song and the audience loved it. They finished off with a ‘Last Night of the loved it. They finished off with a ‘Last Night of the Proms’ mix of patriotic songs. Speaking about the Proms’ mix of patriotic songs. Speaking about the performance Jo Cooper said, “What an amazing performance Jo Cooper said, “What an amazing day! Katherine was very gracious, complimenting day! Katherine was very gracious, complimenting the MWC on how we all sounded and that she had the MWC on how we all sounded and that she had enjoyed singing with us. We were able to have enjoyed singing with us. We were able to have a photo opportunity with her during the interval; a photo opportunity with her during the interval; although there was no real opportunity to speak to her individually, she always had a smile or a wave. I feel very honoured to have been singing at Sandringham for the Platinium Jubilee with such an amazing group of ladies, Katherine Jenkins was the icing on the cake! Whenever I sing, it's for my dad and it can be so emotional; I know this would have made him proud.” Following the show, Honington MWC went straight into rehearsals for their next events, opening the Beer Festival in St Edmundsbury Cathedral, on 14th June and then St Albans Cathedral on 18th June with over 200 members of the Military Wives Choirs to celebrate the 10th Year Anniversary.

Below: The three choirs with Katherine Jenkins

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