Off Centre returned to Our Lady of the Assumption, Fairfield Road, Bosham. We last sang there in 2011 when the church was raising funds for new toilet facilities (now built and in full working order). We were very pleased to be back.
Our concert was entitled "Oh I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside!" and had a bit of a watery theme.
We started with a selection of spirituals. After a reading of "The Owl and the Pussycat" by Penny we then had the "Seal Lullaby" and a couple of Elgar songs "as Torrents in Summer" and "The Shower". We had a solo rendition of "Summertime" by Mary who accompanied herself on her guitar and we finished with three late 20th century songs. There was then a brief interlude before a rousing version of "I do like to be beside the seaside" and the audience joined in with the chorus. The audience enjoyed it so much, we had to sing the chorus again (after the choir had put away their copies ready for the next songs!) which were two folk song arrangements by Vaughan Williams. We then had a reading of "The Lion and Albert" by Lesley before a set of Lennon and McCartney songs. Hilary then sang of her desires "I want to sing in opera" accompanied by Merryl on the piano before we finished with American classics of "My Evaline" and Shenandoah". Bruce, our compere for the evening then reminded us of why we were singing, to raise funds for Father Jo who is doing very good works in Kenya. Our final piece was Bob Chilcott's "Irish Blessing".
Everyone then had refreshments and the parishioners provided the choir and audience with a cornucopia of wonderful desserts (I had the chocolate, banana and cream tart which was stupendous) and by the comments received by the choir I think everyone had a good time.
Our next appearance will be at St Peter's, Selsey on 14th October.
Off Centre Choir, Chichester
Choir
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| Nicki |
Welcome to the website and blog of Off Centre.
Off Centre was a choir based in Chichester, West Sussex. Unfortunately, with great sadness it was decided to close the choir in early 2019
Our Director of Music was Nicki Bennison. Nicki was the music specialist and a class teacher at Central Junior School in Chichester. In 1990 her school choir, (Central Singers), won the televised 'Sainsbury's Choir of the Year' competition. Consequently, both BBC and ITV made programmes about the choir and Nicki's methods of teaching singing.
 The Choir |
The Off Centre choir began in January 1989 under the directorship of Nicki. The primary aim of the choir was always to entertain and to sing any style - hence its' motto: "We sing anything, to anyone, anywhere (locally!)" - raising money for a wide variety of charities. For example, we sang sacred and secular, serious and light-hearted, classical and popular pieces.
Monday 17 July 2017
Wednesday 19 April 2017
Sea of Songs 1st April 2017
The concert in the new Selsey Lifeboat Station was a huge success, raising £1675 for the Selsey Lifeboat.
The venue (not built for choral singing - but for housing the new Selsey Lifeboat) proved to have a lovely acoustic. Feedback we received from members of the audience was very positive and we have been invited back to sing again in the future.
We sang our usual mix of songs, ranging from "I do like to be beside the seaside" to a mix of traditional folk songs and spirituals. Audience participation was also encouraged as they joined us for some of the songs. As we were singing for the lifeboat, we ended with "Eternal Father".
The venue (not built for choral singing - but for housing the new Selsey Lifeboat) proved to have a lovely acoustic. Feedback we received from members of the audience was very positive and we have been invited back to sing again in the future.
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Source: Sue Lintott
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We sang our usual mix of songs, ranging from "I do like to be beside the seaside" to a mix of traditional folk songs and spirituals. Audience participation was also encouraged as they joined us for some of the songs. As we were singing for the lifeboat, we ended with "Eternal Father".
Monday 6 March 2017
Friday 3 March 2017
Sea of Songs
April 1st 2017 will be an exciting day for Off Centre and also Selsey Lifeboat Station. There is going to be the final launch of the Selsey Lifeboat down its slipway at 11am. You may be aware that a new station is being built and the well-known, one could almost say iconic, station will be demolished along with its pier. The Selsey RNLI are planning a full day (check out the Selsey Lifeboat website) but the day culminates with a concert by Off Centre in the new station house. Not only do you get to hear us singing, but you will be able to get inside the new building. The concert is "Sea of Songs" and as you may guess, will contain a number of water related themes. The concert starts at 7pm, but I suggest you buy your tickets in advance as there is a real buzz about this concert and you may not be able to buy on the door!
Wednesday 21 December 2016
Sunday 18 December 2016
Off Centre Christmas 2016 concert at St John's Church Chichester
On December 11th Off Centre joined their singing with a number of readings with a Christmas Theme at St John's Church in Chichester. The proceeds from this lovely festive afternoon, including mulled wine and mince pies went to our local charity for helping homeless people 'Stonepillow'. Included among the readers was Patricia Routledge, well known actress and local resident.
The Choir sang 'Il est ne le divine enfant' 'The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came' and 'Pat a Pan' all European carols giving the event an international flavour! In addition a number of traditional Christmas carols were sung by audience and choir, and a very enjoyable audience participation version of the 12 days of Christmas, preceding Miss Routledge's reading of John Julius Norwich's amusing series of letters imagining the chaos caused by such gifts!
A very enjoyable event with the added satisfaction of a contribution of £900 to Stonepillow.
Off Centre's next concert will be in aid of the RNLI and held on the 1st of April 2017 (yes really!) in the new Lifeboat House on the Kingsway in Selsey. Do come along and enjoy an evening of 'salty' and 'fishy' music to support the important work of the Lifeboats!
The Choir sang 'Il est ne le divine enfant' 'The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came' and 'Pat a Pan' all European carols giving the event an international flavour! In addition a number of traditional Christmas carols were sung by audience and choir, and a very enjoyable audience participation version of the 12 days of Christmas, preceding Miss Routledge's reading of John Julius Norwich's amusing series of letters imagining the chaos caused by such gifts!
A very enjoyable event with the added satisfaction of a contribution of £900 to Stonepillow.
Off Centre's next concert will be in aid of the RNLI and held on the 1st of April 2017 (yes really!) in the new Lifeboat House on the Kingsway in Selsey. Do come along and enjoy an evening of 'salty' and 'fishy' music to support the important work of the Lifeboats!
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| Our Leader! |
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| Many thanks to our accompanist Jan Lewis |
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| Our pre performance rehearsal |
Thursday 17 December 2015
Money raised from concerts in 2015
Summer Concert on 20 June
£400 for the Nepal Earthquake Disaster FundChristmas Concert on 6 December
£461.66 for Stonepillow, Chichester
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