Solent Area Fellowship Band Charity Concert

On Friday, 21 May 2010, the Solent Area Fellowship Band (Bandmaster Chris Kennett) joined with guest soloists Kayte Harding (vocal) and Julian Poore (cornet and trumpet) to present a Charity Concert in aid of the Rosehill Evangelical Mission. The Mission supports orphanages and people with leprosy in Rajahmundry, in the Andhra Pradesh area of India. The concert was held at the Portsmouth Citadel Corps.

The concert commenced with the band playing the march Rosehill (Albert Jakeway). Major Geoff Chape, the Fellowship Band’s executive officer, welcomed everyone to the event, offered prayer and invited the audience to join with the band in the song “He Who Would Valiant Be.”

Bandmaster Kennett then led the band in the festival arrangement Let There Be Praise (arr. Barrie Gott). This was followed by two solos presented by Kayte Harding, O Mio Babbino Caro (Giacomo Puccini) and The Love of My Lord (Leslie Condon).

After the band played William Himes’ arrangement of Whiter than the Snow, Julian Poore contributed his first solo of the evening, Rhapsody on Negro Spirituals (Ray Steadman-Allen).

Trevor Austin gave a presentation outlining the work of the Rosehill Evangelical Mission before a collection was taken. The band concluded the first half of the concert with the air varié The Old Wells (Eric Ball).

After a short interval, the band began the second half with Troika (arr. Alan Fernie). Kayte Harding, who was returning to her home corps for this event, then sang The Hallelujah City (Norman Bearcroft).

Another item from the band, Ray Steadman-Allen’s arrangement of I Vow to Thee, My Country was next. Julian Poore then returned to the stage to present the first British performance of When Morning Gilds the Skies (Laudes Domini), arranged by Gregory Pascuzzi.

Major Derek Smith read words from Scripture before the band played the meditation My Comfort and Strength (Brian Bowen). Major Chape then thanked every for their attendance and announced that the event had raised £1,000 toward the work of the Rosehill Evangelical Mission. The band concluded the concert with Flag of Freedom (Bramwell Coles) and Major Chape pronounced the benediction.