On Sunday 11th May 2025 we welcomed the Cecilia Singers to OLSD for a wonderful concert. This is a ladies choir whose members love to perform a varied repertoire of choral music whilst raising money for charity. The choir is named after St Cecilia, patron saint of music and musicians. Many of the choir members are ex-pupils and current or former staff of local Catholic school, Farnborough Hill. The idea for the concert came from parishioner, Nicole Kirby, who is a member of the choir. She reports:
Our St Cecilia’s concert saw our church packed in spite of Aldershot FC reaching a final at Wembley for the first time in 99 years!
Thank you to everyone who came and shared a sunny Sunday afternoon enjoying the music and post-concert refreshments. It was a brilliant opportunity to make new friends and catch up with old friends.
Our Music Director, Karen Phillips, used to be Head of Music at Farnborough Hill where she worked alongside our super-talented pianist/organist, Stuart McSweeney, who is now Head of Music at Farnborough Sixth Form College.
The choir performed a varied programme of choral pieces some light-hearted, some sacred. The full programme is reproduced below:
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The choir loved the warm atmosphere of our parish and everyone enjoyed a Sunday afternoon social. Sharon and Cameron provided an impressive cheese and charcuterie spread.
Many thanks to Mary also for assisting in the kitchen, Michelle for helping to clear the decks post-concert and all who helped to make the concert such a success.
The retiring collection raised £459.39 (after expenses) and will go towards the OLSD 50th Jubilee church refurbishments. A big thank you to Karen Phillips and the Cecilia Singers and to all who came and contributed so generously. Â
