The Lord Mayor of York’s Charity Gala, York Barbican, Sunday THIS could easily turn into a list of names and for once in a review that would be better than any analysis.

So, firstly, thank you Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Ian Gillies, for having the idea of showcasing the city’s diverse talent in its biggest venue, the York Barbican.

 

York Press:

Picture: Yellow Mustang Photography

Thank you to the tireless Graham Bradbury for doing the nitty gritty organisation, to Molly Newton and Tom Marlow for handling large singing groups and musical forces alike, to Barbican technical manager Drew Hunter and stage manager Adam Laird and his backstage team from Norton College and Archbishop Holgate School for their sterling work.

Especially to Drew for meeting the challenge of making the sound system work for solo acoustic singers and a 100-piece orchestra alike. In the favourite word of the night of witty, informative compere Jonathan Cowap: “brilliant”.

York Concert Band opened with Adele’s Bond theme tune, Skyfall, making it sound more than ever like the work of John Barry, even though it wasn’t. York Civic Youth Choir, filling fully three rows on stage in matching red T-shirts, premiered Water Cycle, ensemble hand motions et al, and York Civic Orchestra combined with Tchaikovsky and The Magic Ball Man, alias York’s “contact juggler” Steve Bullen, to cast a spell indeed.

 

York Press:

Picture: Yellow Mustang Photography

Two more of the city’s prominent jugglers followed –America-bound sweet-toned singer, guitarist and cool trumpet player Leo James Conroy in his York farewell and folk singer Rachel Croft, swapping woollen hat and jeans for party frock dress, for Old Climbing Tree.

York Civic Youth Choir’s Seniors closed the first half, whereupon the Sam Johnson Big Band escaped from their University of York lair to announce themselves as a hot, hot talent to herald part two. Archies Boys Aloud went Rolling In The Deep. Two Reasons Why more than justified their Wild Card selection from The Press’s competition with Lucy Williams’ thrilling voice. Ish Herd’s comic singing at the piano was a joy and the Grand Old Uke Of York had perky fun with a couple of George Ezra numbers.

Everyone who had sung, played or juggled gathered for the finale, led by Hope & Social’s Rich Huxley for the Le Grand Depart theme, A Big Wide, but not before Cllr Ian Gillies had a big wide grin in announcing the target had been reached for both his charities, York Against Cancer and York Hospital’s renal unit. As Jonathan Cowap said: “Brilliant”.