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In the summer of 2016, Fiona Kenward retired from her post as music teacher at Boughton Monchelsea Primary School. Jayne Martin persuaded her that she had the skills, the personality and now the time to lead an Adult Choir. Notices were posted around the village inviting anyone interested to turn up to a mobile classroom at the school on the evening of Monday 12th September 2016.

 

About 20 brave souls turned up and, as the word spread, numbers grew. The choir soon progressed to songs for soprano, alto and baritone. By 12th December they were ready to sing at Carols on the Green and then, on 18th December, at the Candlelight Service in St Peter’s Church.

 

There were no auditions and the choir grew to 50 members with four strong sections, soprano, alto, tenor and bass. The first BMCC Concert was on 1st April 2017 and was a mixture of choir songs, solos, group pieces and instrumental performances from two of Fiona’s former pupils.

 

Having outgrown the mobile classroom at the school, rehearsals transferred to Boughton Monchelsea Village Hall.  The choir performed at a variety of venues and events including weddings, the Village Fete, nursing homes, Friendship Circle and WI Lunches, at a restaurant and a Golf Club and at a German Fair in Ulcombe Church. They were regulars at the St Peter’s Church Rose Festival, Carols on the Green and the Candlelight Carol Service.

 

From their various performances, the choir were able to make substantial donations to local charities. Two or three choir meetings each year ended as social gatherings with tasty snacks and quite a lot of Prosecco.

 

Fiona kindly invited the choir to her birthday party in Ulcombe Village Hall in November 2019. One of the songs already in the Choir repertoire was “I’d Like to Teach The World to Sing”. After a secret rehearsal, the choir were able to perform “I’d Like to Teach This Choir to Sing” at the party*.

 

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Then Covid arrived and, like other organisations, the choir were unable to meet. Some choirs closed but Fiona and her husband, John, rose to the challenge of lockdown and the Community Choir met weekly on Zoom, maintaining a spirit of support and friendship. The choir resumed regular meetings in April 2021 but were not yet able to use the Village Hall. Tony Williams of The Musket Brewery kindly allowed the choir to use his giant beer tent and it would have been rude not to sample his wares.

 

In 2021, Fiona informed the choir that she and John would be moving to Dorset in May 2022. A Choir Committee was formed to consider how to find and recruit a new choir leader. After advertising and interviewing possible candidates, two people were invited to each lead the choir for an hour so that all members could see if they had any preference. Karen Hill was a clear favourite and the choir were pleased to offer her the appointment of Musical Director. Sarah Geering was offered the post of Accompanist.

 

On the 8th April 2022 Fiona Kenward conducted her last performance at a concert with BMCC in St Peter’s Church and on the 11th April the choir said farewell to the Kenwards at a party in the Village hall.

 

On the 25th April 2022, Karen Hill took her first choir rehearsal with Sarah Geering on the piano. During the following year it became apparent that the choir had made absolutely the right choices with these two inspirational musicians. The choir continues with a varied and engaging repertoire and new members have been attracted by the friendly and welcoming ethos of our choir.

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Visit some of our past programmes and our next concert where you can book tickets.