REVIEW: Plenty to applaud as 100 singers raise thousands for charity

A sensational musical event took place on September 19 at the 550-seat King’s Centre, Burgess Hill, when Susan Fleet presented ‘A Night of 100 Voices.’

More than a hundred singers took part in an extraordinary night of fine singing to remember Rick Peckham (step-father to Zoe Ball) and to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

The audience embraced the occasion whole-heartedly, creating a wonderful family atmosphere, and applauding at every opportunity.

And there was much to applaud, as the huge choir under the expert baton of Richard Haslam (and impeccably accompanied at the piano by Tim Nail) gave us their all.

Particularly impressive was the double chorus from Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Yeomen of the Guard, in which the diction was crystal clear.

Many a choir master would have been proud of the disciplined singing displayed in numbers like ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic’ and ‘Home Fires Burning’ not to mention the medleys from Les Miserables and Oliver!

The concert was compered by TV’s Charles Metcalfe, who kept tight control of the proceedings, and never confused the names of the excellent soloists. Too numerous to mention individually, they all acquitted themselves well in this very varied programme. Special mention must be made of Mark Yexley, who, working with Megan Roberts, nearly stopped the show with his rendition of ‘Master of the House’.

We also enjoyed young Laura and Emily Loutit who sang the duets ‘Flight’ and ‘Falling Slowly’, and Susan Fleet and Belinda Sharp who delighted us with the ‘Cats’ Duet’. However, the biggest cheers were reserved for operatic tenor Andrew Rees, who thrilled us with his renderings of ‘Maria, O Sole Mio’ and ‘My Dearest Dear’.

The evening concluded with community singing conducted by Matt Roberts, and speeches from MNDA representatives and Julia Peckham.

The Mayor of Burgess Hill, Cllr. Anne Jones MBE thanked those who had taken part in the concert, which raised £7,500 for the MNDA.

It had been, she said, “a splendid occasion – but then everything Susan does is splendid!” Hear, Hear!

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