PAST EVENTS
A collection of John's events
During the celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the battle of Trafalgar, John sang on HMS Victory as the soloist in one of the inaugural events - and a wonderful event it was. He was accompanied by Roy Storrs.
The pictures on the right shows Tewkesbury Abbey, where John gave a recital entitled 'Songs of the Sea', accompanied by Margaret Crompton.
The pictures below were taken at a celebrity concert at St Martin-in-the-Fields, where John sang as guest soloist in aid of the Dame Thora Hird memorial fund, in the presence of HRH the Countess of Wessex.
Funds from the concert went to John Grooms Association for the Disabled, to enable them to create more independent homes for disabled people.
John has sung as guest soloist in a number of concerts with the Gotherington singers, pictured above, whose founder and Musical Director is Margaret Crompton, (www.gotheringtonsingers.co.uk). Margaret also accompanies John regularly in musical events. The Choir wins frequent awards, including the Gold Cup in the Cheltenham Festival of Performing Arts .
He made a recording of 'Music for a summer evening' with the Cleeve Chorale, and has also sung Faure's Requiem with them, and the Judge's part in 'Trial by Jury'. He has also sung as guest soloist with the Charlton Kings Choral Society, Dursley Male Voice Choir and the Churchdown Male Voice choir.
Here John is singing a selection of comedy and popular dance songs at a dinner-dance to celebrate our friend Sue Wilson's special birthday. Here Sue is dancing with her Dad to his favourite song Unchained melody : a very poignant occasion as he sadly died a few months later.
Other past events include:
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A Proms concert at the Three Counties showground Malvern entitled "Around the world in 180 magical minutes". John sang operatic solos and patriotic duets alongside Jane Gilchrist, winner of Channel 4 TV's 'Operatunity' competition, accompanied by the English Symphony orchestra, conducted by Stephen Roberts.
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A Proms concert for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.
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Many fundraising concerts for charities on themes like 'Music for a summer evening' , 'Springtime Serenade', 'Musical Fun and Frolics', themed Music Halls, Gala concerts for special anniversaries - including a lovely event at Elkstone Church in aid of their restoration fund, accompanied by David Groves. Also a fundraising 'Musicathon'
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Soloist in Oratorio and other sacred music, such as Messiah, Elijah, Faure's Requiem, Carl Jenkins The Armed Man, Vaughan Williams' Five Mystical Songs, Britten's Rejoice in the Lamb, Finzi's Lo, the full final sacrifice, Bernstein's Chichester Psalms - also 'from scratch' events.
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Christmas concerts - often alongside other singers, musicians or choirs.
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the role of Aeneas in a production of Purcell's Dido and Aeneas with the Chippenham Cantata.
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Concerts to support Rotary - including a full-house concert in the Colston Hall, Bristol.
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Music Halls and Variety Concerts, with other soloists and community singing - with themes like Dad's Army and Wild West
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Songs and duets with Amber Smith at the Patesian Players performance of Noel Coward's Private Lives, accompanied by Ian Higginson, at The Playhouse, Cheltenham.
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Songs of the 50s, 60s and other 'easy listening '.
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Frequent duets and ensembles with other family members. John's wife Una performs comedy duets and duologues with him (although she claims she can't sing). Daughter Katherine accompanies on the piano, duets with son Alastair and brother Terence. Terence has twice been winner of the coveted Cleveland Medal award (and it is thanks to him that John is a singer).
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Many performances, duets and ensembles with musical friends, including Margaret Crompton, David Groves, Denise Groenewald, Vivien Nicholson, Amber Smith, Barrie Cooper, Jane Field, Diane Atkinson, Tony Sheppard.
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Shakespeare Society - songs from Shakespeare's plays.
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Comic songs and generally embarrassing material at Katherine Qualtrough's special birthday party on the River Thames, alongside Una, Alastair, Claire and Terence, accompanied by Katherine and Roy.
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Songs from around the world : Italy, France, Germany, USA - and Britain, of course!
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Floral songs at prize-givings of the Up Hatherley in Bloom competition.
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Regular performances of Scottish songs at Burns Night and St Andrews Night dinners.
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Songs for friends' events such as weddings, anniversaries and funerals.
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Several concerts in commemoration of WW1 and WW2.
John has an excellent network of musicians - singers and instrumentalists - who are willing to participate in concerts and other musical events, or to put complete events together.
They can provide excellent references for their work.
