Elmslie Memorial Church was overflowing with some of the audience actually standing last Monday (10) to appreciate the Cayman National Choir and Orchestra’s excellent Christmas Harmony concert.

The choir was in good voice and I particularly appreciated the difficult harmonies being executed with aplomb on O’Connell’s arrangement of “Variations on Deck the Hall”. Even choir/orchestra director and conductor, Sue Horrocks, remarked how difficult the piece was and gave the choir her personal clap.

I have listened to the Cayman orchestra get better and better from its humble beginnings soon after Sue took over as Musical Director. One would not recognise it from all those years ago, either by numbers, and most certainly not by musicianship. The sound has improved by leaps and bounds.

The huge audience was not disappointed by the performance and they showed it by their enthusiastic applause with a very long standing ovation at the end. I overheard many people say they were going to the encore performance on Wednesday (12) at Cayman Islands Baptist Church, Pedro Castle Road, Savannah.

The music performed included Angel Tidings, Gabriel’s Message, Christmas Canon, A Great and Mighty Wonder, The Lamb, Le Dernier Sommeil De La Vierge, Christmas Festival, O Holy Night, In the Bleak Midwinter, Sleigh Ride (with Sue banging her two blocks of wood at the end to much laughter), Walking in the Air, It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, and March of the Nutcracker and Trepak.

The audience had to join in too and with much gusto everyone stood and sang Once in Royal David’s City, O Come all ye Faithful, Away in a Manger, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Ding Dong Merrily on High and Hark the Herald Angels Sing.

If that didn’t get you ready for Christmas and in a truly thanksgiving mood, nothing will.

Many congratulations to everyone and especially the accompanist, Nicky White, who had to put up with someone standing immediately behind her and flashing his camera throughout the evening.  And of course ….  Sue Horrocks who is loved by all.