www.inspirationuk.com

The massed voices of Inspiration present

Raise your voicewith The Orchestra of Opera NorthA sensational concert featuring all your favourites from the worldof musical theatre – Sister Act, Les Misérables, Sunset Boulevard,My Fair Lady and more...

6 March 2011, 4pm, Leeds Town HallBox office: 0113 224 3801www.leedsconcertseason.com

Saturday 27 November 2010Leeds Town Hall

Musical Director: Gary Griffiths

Rejoice!Inspiration and the Orchestra of Opera North present

Merry ChristmasThank you once again for joining us all in our celebration of Christmas. Hasn’t it

come round fast? In this concert you will hear many of your Christmas favourites,

all given our special treatment. You will even get a chance to join in!

A lot has happened since our last concert here in the summer, most

momentously of all our first international event. As many of you will know, we

have in our repertoire a medley from Disney’s ‘Hunchback of Notre Dame’, so in

the summer we (nearly 400 of us) went to Paris. We sang to a standing room

only audience in Église Saint-Eustache, then the following day we performed

twice on the main Castle Stage at Disneyland Paris. On the final day we got on

a boat. All of us, on one boat. On the Seine. Sailing past the Cathedral of Notre

Dame. Singing Hunchback! The whole weekend was quite memorable and I know

it was the first of many.

We continue to take our singing out into the community to raise money for many

charities including Helpline Victim Support, MacMillan Nurses, St. Gemma’s and

St. Oswald’s Hospices and many church restoration funds. We really look forward

to expanding our outside events as they mean a lot to us.

I am so proud of the commitment and dedication these singers give me. I think

we are definitely proving that we can sing anything!

And to you of course, thank you for your support, and the support I know a lot

of you give the singers away from rehearsals.

Gary

Joy To The WorldFirst published in 1719,

‘Joy to the World’ continuesto be popular today and is the

most published Christmascarol in North

American history.

Gary GriffithsInspiration Musical DirectorGary was born in 1966 and educated at

Wolverhampton Grammar School where he first

started to sing in choirs and also started to play

oboe and percussion. Eventually he became

principal oboist of Wolverhampton Youth Orchestra

and principal percussionist of Wolverhampton

Concert Band.

He went on from Wolverhampton to York University

to study music, continuing to play oboe and

percussion and of course singing. He played or sang in most of the department’s

ensembles and also sang in the Yorkshire Bach Choir under the inspirational

directorship of Peter Seymour.

He graduated in 1988 and stayed in York to live, working as a Songman in the

choir of the beautiful Minster. With the Minster Choir he sang in many of the

world’s great cathedrals and churches in the USA and Europe and many of

the major concert halls in the UK. The Choir has made numerous recordings

and broadcasts.

Whilst at university he discovered his love of musical theatre. Eventually he joined

York Light Opera Society, first as a playing chorus member, later becoming their

Chorus Master. He also became Musical Director for Pickering Musical Society

and Sing Live. It was orchestrating ‘Annie’ for Pickering that led him to start his

own business, arranging and orchestrating for local groups.

On the non-musical side, Gary is an excellent cook

and is also a member of the Rollercoaster

Club of Great Britain.

Andy BoothAccompanistAndy Booth is a professional musician hailing

from Chesterfield who is the founder and principal

conductor for FONO Productions, a professional

entertainments management company with

in-house full symphonic orchestra and bands.

When not in this role, Andy can be found as a

professional freelance MD/Conductor and has

recently worked with Evolution Pantomimes

(Sheffield 2009: Snow White and the Seven

Dwarfs), Sheffield Theatres (The Crucible re-opening night 2009 – The Crucible

Awakes), USO Productions (Blackburn 2009 – The Last Night of the Proms), and

most recently Croft House Operatic Society (Sheffield 2010 – Fiddler on the Roof).

As a pianist Andy can be found playing for Orchestras, Big Bands and Soloists.

His more notable work includes The Isle of Man Promenade Concerts 2005

(Falla – Nights in the Gardens of Spain, Mozart – Piano Concerto No. 21, Concert

Orchestra of Europe), The Rightful Owners of the Song Project (Guest Leader –

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra) and regularly plays for ‘Inspiration’

the superb Leeds/Newcastle based choir, the contesting UK teams in the Waterford

International Light Opera Festival and for many jazz artists, which in itself, has

taken him from Keswick to Barletta (South Italy) over the years.

Besides all this, Andy still finds time to be the Chair and Musical Director of the

Barlow Annual Promenade Concerts, a prestigious village festival in the heart of

Derbyshire culminating in June each year, run his own mini

jazz club (Mister B’s), conducts, accompanies and

consults for a number of choirs, music groups

and festivals (Ripley and Alfreton Musical

Theatre Company, The Lindrick Singers,

The Holmebrook Valley Singers and so on)

and he still continues the family tradition

as Musical Director of The Carolare Choir

(Chesterfield).

Silent Night‘Silent Night’ was sung

simultaneously in French,English and German by troopsduring the Christmas truce of1914, as it was one of the few

carols that soldiers onboth sides of the front line knew.

I Wish It Could BeChristmas Every Day

First released in 1973 byglam rock band Wizzard,

‘I Wish It Could Be ChristmasEvery Day’ was beaten to the

UK number one spot thatyear by Slade’s ‘Merry

Xmas Everybody’.

Inspiration teamChristine RowlandsChristine has been singing and dancing since

an early age and has been singing in and

choreographing for adult choirs for over ten

years. She was delighted when Gary asked her

to be involved in Inspiration both on and off stage.

Christine’s other passion is for musical theatre

and she can often be found performing with

LAOS at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and

The Grand Theatre, Leeds.

Barbara SumroySinging carols one Monday evening in September

was an unusual way of starting off rehearsals for

our ‘Rejoice!’ concert, but even more unusual is that

I have had the tree and all the decorations up and

been eating mince pies ever since (so I blame Gary

for all the extra weight I have gained!). I hope you

enjoy this evening’s performance as much as I have

enjoyed rehearsing for it and would like to wish

everyone a very happy and peaceful Christmas.

Jane LarderJane has always enjoyed singing, but it wasn’t until

she met Gary that she had the chance to do more

than sing in the church choir. She looks forward to

greeting her Inspiration family each week and

sharing their laughter and tears.

The last few months have seen great changes in

her life and she is now settling into her new home

and learning to respond to a new name. Who

knows what next year, and her bus pass, will bring.

Liz GreenNarratorLiz Green is delighted to narrate today’s concert

with Inspiration and The Orchestra of Opera North.

Multi award-winning journalist, radio and television

broadcaster Liz Green is based in Leeds and has

broadcast for the BBC for 15 years. She hosts the

lunchtime radio news and current affairs interactive

show on BBC Radio Leeds Liz Green Live, followed

by One On One, an hour in conversation with the

people who make West Yorkshire what it is.

Liz broadcasts for BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio 2 and is a contributor

to Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4. Liz regularly interviews leading politicians,

captains of industry, news makers and commentators as well as being

acknowledged as being a great communicator with her audiences regionally,

nationally and internationally. Her programme allows her audience to question

those making the news every week day lunchtime between 12 and 2.

Her skills as a journalist in the broadcast media have won her the coveted radio

Sony Gold award twice; the highest accolade the industry can offer. She is also a

past winner of the Yorkshire Young Achiever Award for Personality of the Year.

Liz was also nomianted in this year’s Frank Gillard Awards for Radio Presenter

of The Year.

Born in Huddersfield, Liz is a proud Yorkshire woman. A huge fan of Inspiration,

she is honoured to be able to narrate this concert.

She says this: “Community singing at this exceptionally high standard is a pure

joy to hear. Inspiration are remarkable. Combined with the Orchestra of Opera

North, today represents the very best of the arts and the community coming

together, for a very special event. For me, it symbolises the very best Yorkshire

can offer.

I am looking forward to the music, the power of these voices and I shall be trying

not to leap out of my seat and start dancing! I challenge you to do the same –

in fact, when the music takes over, let’s just raise the roof! Good luck to everyone

involved today.”

The Orchestra of Opera North is the only ensemble in the country to have a

year-round dual role in the opera house and concert hall.

It has important relationships with Leeds International Concert Season and the

region’s choral societies, and is the resident Orchestra for the Leeds Conductors

Competition, the National New Composers Forum and the orchestral concert

seasons in Kirklees.

The Orchestra has a strong commitment to education work and many of the

players are outstanding teachers with several holding professorships at the

Royal Northern College of Music and at Universities within the region.

It has received international recognition for its recordings, with releases on

Chandos, Collins Classics, Deutsche Grammophon, EMI, Hyperion and Naxos,

and has toured abroad both with the whole Company and independently to

many European countries and regularly performs at venues throughout the UK.

First ViolinsAndrew Long (Leader)David Riley*Stephen Shulman*Michael Ardron*Eileen Spencer*Brian ReillyTamsin SymonsClaire Osborne

Second Violins Katherine NewDamon FlanaganAnita Chidsey*Catherine Baker*Helen GreigWendy Dyson

Violas David Aspin Vivienne CampbellHoward Breakspear*Shelagh McKail

CellosAnna MowatJudith BurginJessica HayesZoë Long

BassesPaul Miller*Claire Sadler

Flutes David Moseley*Jennifer George

PiccoloJennifer George

OboeCatherine Lowe

Clarinets Colin HonourJohn Robinson

BassoonDavid Baker

Horns Robert Ashworth*John Pratt

Trumpets Murray GreigMichael Woodhead*Matthew PalmerJim Bulger

TrombonesDuncan WilsonRobert Burtenshaw*

Bass TromboneChris Stearn

TubaBrian Kingsley*

TimpaniSarah Stuart

PercussionChristopher Bradley*Graham Hall

HarpEleanor Hudson

PianoAndrew Booth

KitMatthew Dabs

Bass GuitarRichard Dodd

Chorus and Orchestra Director:Douglas ScarfeOrchestra Manager: Helen WilsonLibrary Manager: Andrew Fairley*Librarian: Victoria BellisStage Manager: Christopher LaddsOrchestra Attendant: Jordan SeniorMusic Secretary: Helen Stephens*

* Opera North Company member for 25 years or more

Shout For JoyRicketts

O Come All Ye FaithfulReading and Wade

O Come O Come EmmanuelTraditional

Breath Of HeavenGrant and Eaton

Penny Wilson

O Holy NightAdam

HeirloomsFarrell, Bannister and Grant

Lynne Hegarty

The First NoelTraditional

Rejoice With Exceeding Great JoyRouse and Kirkland

Christmas Isn’t ChristmasOwens and Owens

Linda Dredge with Rita Roberts,Sue Tootell, Clare Swindell andElizabeth Hawkhead

Hark The Herald Angels SingMendelssohn and Wesley

Little Drummer BoyDavis

Hallelujah ChorusHandel and Jennens

Rejoice!Ames

Vicky Swift, David Isaacand Company

White ChristmasBerlin

Geoff Walker

I Wish It Could BeChristmas Every DayWood

The Christmas Song(Chestnuts Roasting)Tormé and Wells

Pam Jagger

Away In A MangerTraditional

Pam Jagger and Company

Silent NightGruber and Mohr

Let There Be Peace On EarthMiller and Miller

Angels We Have Heard On HighTraditional

Joy To The WorldMason and Watts

Rejoice!Part one Part two

O Holy NightIn 1906 Reginald Fessendenbroadcast the first AM radioprogramme which included

him singing and playing‘O Holy Night’ on the violin.

It was therefore the firstpiece of music to bebroadcast on radio.

White ChristmasWith estimated sales in

excess of 50 million copiesworldwide, Bing Crosby’s

version of ‘White Christmas’is the best selling single

of all time. The Christmas SongOriginally subtitled

‘Merry Christmas To You’,‘The Christmas Song’ was

written in 1944 by Tormé andWells during a blistering hot

summer in an effortto keep cool.

Our singersBrenda AdamsMaralyn AdeyPat AinleyJanet AldhamGloria AllawayEnid AllinsonDe’Anne AmblerAnne AustwickRosemary BallJennifer BalmforthJan BarracloughPat BassanoRosemary BayfordBarbara BedfordBetty BedfordJean BishopDorothy BlackbandRosalind BodsworthChristine BottomSheila BouldHelen BretonVanessa BridgeRachel BrooksMollie BrumfittHetley BurnhamBettie BushMarilyn BushAngela ButcherPat ByrneMaria CameronNick CameronVanda CameronJackie CampbellFiona Campbell HallJudith CarterAnn ChamberlainGaynor ChaplinPauline ChidseyBarbara ClarkNeil ClarkeSally ClarkeSheila ClarkeShirley CliffKirsty CobbHelen CourtmanMargaret CouzensDebbie CowlingGraham CrollJanice CurtinCatherine DakinDoromie DaviesJenny DavisMarian Davis

John DawSusan DayGeoff DickinsonVal DickinsonMarie DillonRowena DobsonMilly DonaldsonKaren DouglasLinda DredgePeter DredgeMark DrummondPam DrysdaleHelen DukePeter DukeJane DunneCelia EasthamJanice EastwoodSteven EmeryPauline FarnworthBrenda FinchettSheila FitzgeraldJo FlanneryChristine FlecknoeMervyn FlecknoeChris FolkardLynne FolkardElizabeth FordHazel FordhamWendy ForrestSarah-Jane FoxtonSue FoxtonLiz FranklinChris Gale Dot GallagherSheila GibbsCaroline GibsonMarilyn GillisNancy GlaisterAlison GlewMary GorneyHelen GraceMichaela GreasleyLynne GreepRita GriceKatie GrovesPatricia GwynneSusan HaighMarie HallSue HallRaymond HallamCarol HallsworthSusan HallsworthStephanie Hansell

Janet HardwickRaymond HardwickSally HarrisonSue HarrisonPat HartleyMargaret HarveySheena HastingsElizabeth HawkheadFiona HayLynne HegartyDiane HensonRobert HensonAnne HeyhoeDavid HeyhoeElaine HillKath HinchcliffeChristine HodgsonTom HollowayBarbara HolmesCarol HorwoodMarilyn HoughDerek HowardMargaret HowardDerek HudsonJoan HudsonRose HudsonJan HunterJohn HurstTricia HutchinsonFreda IllingworthIsabella InmanTina IrvingDavid IsaacBernie JacksonPam JaggerLiz JarrattJonathan JohnsonMavis JohnsonMichelle JohnsonSuzanne JonesSue KeenFelicity KennedyMargaret KerinsDiane KershawPauline KettlewellAnne LangleyJane LarderKathy LawnPatricia LawrenceHelen LaycockJayne LaycockJim LeathleyCaroline Ledgard

Hazel LeeRainy LeeValerie LeeDania LeslieBob LewisEion LindsayRita LindsayPaula ListerVictoria LittlewoodPatricia LloydDeborah LongAnne LovellJack LyttleAllison McCrackenBeth MagnierJulia ManderPenny MansonVera MarkovicCarol MarshallFay MarshallBarbara MartinTamsin MartinAndrea MasseyJosie MedvedCarly MitchellTess MooneySally MooreJ Marian MoranDavid MorlandCatherine MorleyJoan MoseyMaureen MyersJulie NewellHelen NewmanJanet NewsomeWendy NewsomeRachel NixonJan OddyJudith PaxtonNadine PembertonLynne PickersgillErnest PollardFreda PollardCarmel PotterKaren PotterElaine PowellPatricia PrattJulie PriestleyJean PurcellVerity RandallSandra RawdingDi ReynoldsMalcolm Roberts

Rita RobertsTrudi RobertsDianne RobinsonIan RobinsonPauline RobinsonJudith RowanChristine RowlandsCarole SaulJill SaundersCharlotte SayerAnne SeagerLynn ShadfordJulia ShawLiz SibsonSusan SilkstoneBeverlie SmithJen SmithJulie SmithJulie SmithPamela SmithAnne SpearsHelen Speight

Helen SpencerGraham StandringPatricia StandringAndrina StanislawskiAnne SteadPaul SteadWilliam SteadJannine StewartJames StockEvelyn StoreyCarole SullivanBarbara SumroyAntony SuttillMargaret SuttillDorothy SwallowVicky SwiftClare SwindellManolina TaggHelen TaylorVal TetchnerPenny TharrattSue Thistlethwaite

Jules ThomasGloria ThompsonRuth ThornSue ThorpSue TimmeSusan TootellKrystyna TrybulaJane TurnerDavena VittaLance VittaHelen WadeSusan WaineGeoff WalkerTrish WalkerAlison WarrenRalph WatsonJanice WeldonAndrea WellsLisa WellsAlison West-LaySue WhelanAlan Whetton

Zenna WhettonSue WhitelawSandra WhitsonGwen WigginsGill WildeKaren WilkinsonTony WillettSheila WillisAnn WilsonKim WilsonPenny WilsonSue WilsonYvette WindowsElaine WormwellCathy WrigglesworthAnne WrightMargaret WrightSheila WrightCarole YeomansRobin Young

Away In A MangerFirst published in 1885 in

Philadelphia, this carol wasranked joint second in the

1996 Gallup Poll to findthe most popularcarol in Britain.

As well as enjoying the beautiful sights of Paris, Inspiration performed four

concerts in three wonderful and contrasting venues throughout the city, including

the magnificent Église Saint-Eustache and the magical Castle Stage at Disneyland

Paris. Our final performance was aboard a cruise boat on the Seine on which we

performed our ‘Hunchback’ medley, whilst sailing past Notre Dame Cathedral!

You can find out more about our trip by visiting the Inspiration website

www.inspirationuk.com, but here’s what a few people had to say:

“So many great flashbacks of the river cruise keep appearing before my mind’s

eye: the incomparable views of the city, the heart and soul on the face of every

singer; the way the sound swirled about the boat and soared above it; the

startled, delighted faces of passersby on banks and bridges; the emotion as we

neared Notre Dame and told the story of Hunchback; and Gary’s face, overcome

by happiness that a cherished dream had been realised. We all wanted to cling

to that special feeling of togetherness and fulfillment.”

Sheena Hastings

“It was Saturday afternoon and whilst the group came

to Saint Eustache for their rehearsal I was setting up

my camera equipment. They started to sing ‘Non Nobis

Domine’ and I had to stop what I was doing as I got

goose bumps and shivers down my spine. As I stopped

to listen to the beautiful sound that was coming from

the choir, I found myself welling up. That was only the

rehearsal – I couldn’t wait for the full concert!”

Fran Bridges, Rayburn Tours

“What a fabulous time was had by all in Paris.

The happiness and joy on everyone’s faces on

the bateau was a sight to behold. It overflowed

to the people on the banks and bridges of the

Seine, who joined in our pleasure with cheers

and applause. Paris can never have experienced

such joie de vivre en masse en bateau!”

Val and Geoff Dickinson

Inspiration would like to thank everyone who helped make this trip such asuccess. To Sue, Janice, Judith, Chris, Andy, Mark, Rich, Matt and RayburnTours. We all just have one question. Where next?

Inspiration hits Paris!Many months ago Gary had the idea of taking Inspiration to Paristo sing our much loved medley from Disney’s Hunchback of NotreDame. In the early hours of 27 August 2010 this idea was realisedwhen nearly 400 Inspiration singers and supporters headed toParis for a five day tour of the city.

An interview with…If you’ve been to one of our concerts before you will obviouslyrecognise Inspiration’s Founder and Musical Director, Gary Griffiths.Gary founded Inspiration in 2008 with the simple ethos thateveryone can sing. He has sung in and conducted choirs all his lifeand truly believes that singing in a large group is life-affirming andfulfilling in a way that few other activities can be. Here Gary answersa few questions about Inspiration’s two choirs and life off theconductor’s podium.

Singing obviously gives many people from all walks of life a lot of pleasure.What is it about the singing experience that encourages your choir to keepcoming back for more?

Now this needs a book to answer properly. Singing is by far the most personal of

all the music-making skills. It is only you and your body making that sound, and

when you do that in a group of 300 or more people, it can be quite overwhelming.

I have sung in choirs all my life, and there is no better feeling than when it all

feels right. I also like to think that my approach to rehearsals helps. We have so

much fun that sometimes we don’t realise how hard we are working, and I try

very hard to make singers feel safe. One knock back or cruel word (spoken

without cruel intentions) can be devastating for a singer, and once confidence

is lost it can be hard to get back. The development of each concert is very

rewarding as well; from first rehearsal through to concert is a thrilling journey.

Gary, you have been described as a talented cook and a rollercoaster fan, so Ihave two questions. What would you describe as your signature dish? Whichrollercoaster has been the most thrilling so far and which one is on your wishlist for the future?

Well I like to think I can turn my hand to anything, but I suppose one of my

favourites is a proper steak and kidney pie, with a suet crust. I also do a mean

chocolate mousse, which is a bit strange as I don’t have a sweet tooth at all!

I would much rather see a decent cheeseboard than a sweet trolley. As for

rollercoasters – easily my favourite, and considered one of the best in the

world, is Nemesis at Alton Towers. The genius of the design and the speed

and smoothness of this is remarkable. And the one I’m looking forward to

most is the one in my head, when I dream.

I have always wondered if you can tell the difference between the twoInspiration choirs – although we are all ‘Northerners’, we do speak differentlybut do we sound different?

This is a fascinating question. The difference between the two choirs is most obvious

at the beginning of each term, before the work on vowels really kicks in. During

warmups we do try to get a uniform sound for all our vowels, but if you haven’t sung

for a few weeks, then the regional accents can come through. The two choirs each

have their own personality too, but I couldn’t possibly declare a favourite.

If you weren’t involved in music, which other career path do you think youmight have taken?

I would have loved to have been an actor. I did a lot of serious drama at school,

and deferred university for a year to play the title role in Brecht’s Life of Galileo,

which I adored doing. Once at university though, music completely took over. As

an oboist, percussionist and singer, I was in all the university ensembles, choirs

and orchestras and loved every second. I do miss playing in an orchestra, but it is

such a joy to be allowed in front of players of the calibre of Northern Sinfonia and

The Orchestra of Opera North.

You can keep up to date with Garyand all the Inspiration singers byvisiting the Inspiration website at www.inspirationuk.com.

Angels We HaveHeard On High

The words of this song arebased on a traditional French

carol known as ‘Les Anges dansnos campagnes’ which literally

translates as ‘Angels inour countryside’.

Dates for your diary‘Raise Your Voice’ with Inspiration and The Orchestra of Opera North6 March 2011, 4pm, Leeds Town Hall

Box office: 0113 224 3801www.leedsconcertseason.com

‘Raise Your Voice’ with Inspiration and Northern Sinfonia2 April 2011, 3pm and 7.30pm, The Sage Gateshead

Ticket office: 0191 443 4661www.thesagegateshead.org

Hallelujah Chorus,Messiah

The World Record for anunbroken sequence of annual

performances of Messiah is heldby the Royal MelbournePhilharmonic, who haveperformed it annually

for 157 years.

Programme designed by Penny Wilson E: pw@penny-wilson.co.ukProgramme printed by Media Solutions E: info@mediasolutionsplus.co.ukPictures courtesy of Penny Wilson, Rayburn Tours (Francesca Bridges), Michelle Bedell,Sally Harrison, Geoff Dickinson and Yorkshire Post Newspapers.

Thanks to…Thanks as always to everyone who helps with the smooth running of Inspiration.

To Barbara (Sumroy and Sheehan) Jane and Jan, Peter and Linda, Andy (without

whom it wouldn’t be possible), Judith, David, Chris, Penny, Sue (my driver) and of

course Dougie and all at Opera North.