Tag: lavington community choir

Lavington Community Choir dazzles with The Pied Piper of Hamelin

Review by Karen Cannings. Photography by Gail Foster.

Market Lavington Community Hall was filled with music and applause on Friday 7th July, as Lavington Community Choir presented their summer concert under the direction of Paula Boyagis…..

The choir showcased their vocal skills and versatility in a range of jazz-inspired songs, accompanied by a talented jazz ensemble featuring Tim Price on piano, Tony Jones on flute, James Monckton on double bass, Henry Liebling on Sax, Nick Kingman on percussion/drum kit and Nick Hale on miscellaneous percussion.

The first part of the concert included some classic jazz tunes such as ‘Moon River’ and ‘The Way We Were’, arranged for choir by Bernard Wight. The choir sang with rich harmonies and expressive dynamics, creating a warm and engaging atmosphere. Jessica Phillips, Soprano, charmed the audience with her sweet voice in ‘Let there be Love’, while Paula Boyagis, Mezzo Soprano, delivered a rich and expressive performance of ‘Autumn Leaves’. Jim Donovan then entertained everyone with his rendition of ‘Mack the Knife’, complete with a trilby hat!

The second half featured a jazz cantata based on Robert Browning’s poem ‘The Pied Piper of Hamelin’, composed by accompanist Tim Price when he was only 16 years old as a student at Dauntsey’s School. The choir, soloists and jazz ensemble brought this humorous and whimsical story to life with catchy melodies, lively rhythms and colourful narration. The original director of music at Dauntsey’s School, David Price, was present in the audience to enjoy the revival of his former pupil’s work. The conductor of the cantata was Paula Boyagis, who also sang the role of the Piper (complete with flute solos) resplendent in a colourful costume of red and yellow.

Mark Wastell, sang and acted his role as the Mayor with great conviction.

The community choir welcomes new members who want to join them. Videos of the concert are available on YouTube.

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The Lavington Community Choir Brings the Pied Piper to Lavington

The Lavington Community Choir will stage a production of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, a musical cantata by Tim Price, on Friday 7th July at 7.30 at the Market Lavington Community Hall….

Written and 1st performed 35 years ago at Dauntsey’s School under the baton of David Price (no relation) when Tim was a 16 year old schoolboy, this wonderfully mature, jazz-inspired work remains as fresh and exciting today as it was then.

Conceived as a light-hearted adaptation of Robert Browning’s poem, the work combines humour and pathos, vividly illustrating this apocryphal, sinister and timelessly topical tale. Jazz riffs and toe-tapping melodies weave their magic as the story unfolds of a town plagued with rats.


The Townspeople debate, the pompous Mayor pontificates, the Piper makes a startling entry with a solution until the Establishment ‘rat’ on the deal that is struck. A lone lame child left behind tugs at our heart-strings with an ethereal tune, before the story concludes on a rare note of hope and peace.


The evenings music is accompanied by a jazz band, and the programme also includes Verdi’s Anvil chorus, and jazz standards: Moon River, Dream a little Dream, Mack the Knife and others, featuring guest soloist Jessica Phillips and conducted by Paula Boyagis.


Tickets £10 from Devizes Books, St. Arbucks, members of the chorus and
edwardsjean39@gmail.com
Bar available.