Our final Concert for 2024, which took place on Wednesday 11th December, saw the Society return to the Lecture Theatre of the Sixth Form Centre, Clitheroe Royal Grammar School. The near capacity audience were entertained to a rich kaleidoscope of musical genres from J.S. Bach to Jingle Bells.
The “Celloship of the String”, is a very talented local group of four professional cellists led by Margit van de Zwan, with Ilona Hepburn, Penny Holt and Bob Buller.
Formed just a couple of years ago, they have gained a growing reputation for their broad eclectic repertoire and skilled technique, fashioning a captivating and distinctive sound in some magical arrangements.
Their set list for the evening commenced with the ‘Brandenburg Concerto No 3’, followed by ‘Air on a G String’, ‘Winter’ from Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Mozart’s ‘Ave Verum Corpus’. Classical audience favourites such as ‘O Sole Mio’, ‘Greensleeves’ and Shostakovich’s ‘Waltz No 2’ featured in between lesser known works by Martin Jones and Julius Klengel. After the interval the mood changed with popular items including the James Bond and Pink Panther Themes. Towards the end of the evening inhibitions were banished as the audience sang along to Lennon and McCartney’s ‘When I’m Sixty Four’, ABBA’s “Abba dabba doo”, and a medley of Christmas songs and carols.
In summary, a wonderful evening of music making, which was guaranteed to provide something special for everyone, as well a joyous prelude to the forthcoming Christmas season.
From left to right standing, Bob Buller, Ilona Hepburn, Clitheroe Mayoress Cl. Olwyn Claydon, Clitheroe Mayor Cl. Donna O’Rourke and Penny Holt, and seated Margit van der Zwan.