CAVATINA Singers, Penarth presented "From Byrd to Broadway", a fantastic concert in support of Parkinson`s UK, last Saturday, November 8, at All Saints Church, Penarth.

Musical director, James Bingham, compiled a programme of music for the concert that spanned the ages and the continents, from the music of British composers such as Thomas Tallis, William Byrd and Vaughan Williams to the works of such American greats as Aaron Copland, culminating in a rousing medley from Rodgers and Hammerstein`s "Oklahoma!" The choir were expertly accompanied by James Bull and joined by two marvellously talented young soloists from The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, soprano Aoife O`Connell and bass baritone Emyr Wyn Jones.

Emyr, from Aberdare, South Wales, treated the audience to a beautiful selection of songs taken from "Songs of Travel" by Vaughan Williams whilst Aoife, from Co Wicklow, Ireland wowed the audience with her performance of "Laurie`s Aria" from "The Tender Land" by Aaron Copland and "Glitter and be Gay" from "Candide" by Leonard Bernstein.

The soloists joined the choir for the finale with a beautiful rendition of the duet "People Will Say We`re In Love" from "Oklahoma!"

Representatives from Parkinson`s UK addressed the audience during the interval and, in total, the concert raised £164 in support of the charity`s excellent work. Cavatina Singers would like to thank the following sponsors who so generously gave raffle prizes for the event, Mr Nick Whiting, associate leader of the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, The Fig Tree Restaurant, Penarth, Waterloo Gardens Teahouse, and New U Nails and Beauty, Holton Road, Barry.

Over the Christmas period, Cavatina Singers will be singing at the Christmas Tree Festival at St. Augustine`s Church, Penarth (December 6), Albert Rd. Methodist Church`s Advent Service (December 7) and the RNLI Christmas service at St. Augustine`s Church (December 10). Cavatina rehearse on Tuesdays 7.30 - 9.30 at Albert Road Primary School, Penarth. A warm welcome awaits prospective members and further details about the choir can be obtained from the hon. secretary Tom Dawkes, e-mail secretary@cavatinasingers or from the website www.cavatinasingers.org.uk.

Angela Burd