From Southwell, with love ~ a night to remember

About Wednesday night…

In near-criminal heat and humidity, the FLC had the great honour of performing at Cancer Research UK's Evening of Summer Music at Southwell Minster.

We were delighted to be invited to provide part of the soundtrack to an evening celebrating the charity's incredible scientific breakthroughs over the last 120 years, while recognising the inspiring journeys of cancer survivors. It was a privilege to play a part in such a special event, and we were determined to rise to the occasion.

Stepping into the spotlight...

We’d worked hard to perfect our Songs Through the Decades setlist. The harmonies and key changes have become second nature (almost!). But as we gathered on stage, excitement was joined by a few butterflies.

This was our first away game – and what a venue to cut our teeth on. Would the sheer scale and acoustics of the Minster swallow us alive?

The phenomenal string quartet performing before us did nothing to settle the nerves. As our moment edged closer, encouraging smiles flew between us.

Then it was time.

Our pianist Jane played the opening chords, and every eye was fixed firmly on our Musical Director, Kev, as powerhouses Cherrelle and Kirstie, and Jo and Abby, delivered fabulous opening duets to Ain't No Mountain High Enough. We took our lead from them and we were off!

As it turned out, we'd underestimated ourselves.

Far from eating us alive, the Minster worked with us, and we soared through that first number. The sound seemed to lift around the building. The audience loved it, and so did we.

Finding our feet...

Encouraged by such a strong start, we launched into Queen's Don't Stop Me Now. Kev's trademark humour found its way into his conducting, helping us relax and enjoy the moment. We carried that energy into our Cyndi Lauper and Whitney Houston mash-up, Girls Just Want to Dance, and had an absolute blast.

A change of pace came with Metallica's Nothing Else Matters, a long-standing choir favourite. Within the Minster, the choir's soul and stunning harmonies took on a whole new dimension. It was a special moment for us.

An unforgettable finale...

But Fight Song was something else entirely.

Rachel Platten's anthem was a perfectly fitting close to such a moving evening. Soprano Anna's opening solo was spellbinding, her beautiful voice filling the Minster before the rest of the choir joined with precision, passion and heart. To say it was emotional hardly does it justice. We gave everything we had, and the echo of our final line hanging in the Minster was enough to undo more than a few of us. As the audience erupted there may have been the odd tear!

One look at Kev's face said it all.

We'd smashed it!

Together, and for each other.

With Kev and Jane’s patient guidance and unwavering faith in us, we'd not just been good – we’d been excellent. The euphoria afterwards was intoxicating; it's a night we'll never forget.

It’s not just about the singing...

Our choir WhatsApp group was still buzzing into the early hours. Members shared favourite moments, congratulated one another and thanked everyone who had helped make the evening so special.

More than anything, though, the messages reminded us what being part of our crazy choir family really means. It's a place where you can be yourself, discover strengths you never knew you had, and share unforgettable experiences with an incredible group of people.

Who knew walking into a village hall one Wednesday evening to try something new could lead to singing in one of Nottinghamshire's most iconic venues?

If you've ever wondered whether a community choir might be for you, perhaps this is your sign. We'd love to welcome you! Find out more about joining us here.