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.
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