It's Show Time as choirs take centre stage at hall

The theme for this year’s WI Choir and Music Festival was musicals and It’s Show Time saw seven singing groups present a varied programme of music spanning the decades.

“It was has been a fantastic evening and just shows the wealth of talent within the WI,” said Chris Morgan, chairman of the Lincolnshire North Federation.

The event was organised by former federation trustee and North Kelsey WI member Angela Tubb.

Each choir could choose two songs to perform from musicals of their choice.

Nettleham’s Ladies in Harmony opened the evening, taking the audience from Oklahoma to Aspects of Love.

Rallentando, from Louth, performed two songs from Mary Poppins, before Sutton on Sea Choir took the stage for Bali Hai from South Pacific and Tomorrow from Annie.

The Decibelles, from South Reston, sang I know him so Well from Chess, before getting into character for Oliver! favourite, Food Glorious Food.

The Trentside Singers chose Carousel favourite, You’ll Never Walk Alone, before getting their tongues around words for Rhythm of Life.

The first half was rounded off by the Somercotes Singers, with the Les Miserables classic Bring Him Home, followed by a compilation of Andrew Lloyd Webber songs.

In between the main choirs, soloists and duets - Anne Beckett, Phillipa Fairburn, Gabriella McCree and Lisa Statham - performed, as did the a capella sextet Papillon.

Over the past few months, the choirs had also been learning three pieces to sing as a massed choir - Singing in the Rain, I Dreamed a Dream and Lullaby of Broadway.

These were fine-tuned in the afternoon as the choirs came together for the first time under conductor Anne Osborne and accompanist Lynda Hepburn-Booth.

The evening was rounded off with audience participation of songs from The Sound of Music, as well as the WI anthem, Jerusalem.

“Thank you to all the ladies who have made this possible - Anne, Lynda and, of course, the singers themselves,” said Mrs Tubb. “It has again been a wonderful event - they say singing is good for the soul and this has proved it.”