Wycombe Orpheus Male Voice Choir performed a stunning set at Christ Church Flackwell Heath on February 15. Our reviewer Sandra Carter went along to watch.

In just three years Wycombe Orpheus Male Voice Choir will be marking its centenary.

Their charity concert on Saturday showed the group is still in great shape, singing their hearts out, clearly enjoying every minute, and giving their audience a melody-filled delight of an evening.

The programme included an eclectic selection of songs beginning with a swinging rendition of Cole Porter’s Another Opening of Another Show, through the more reflective One Moment in Time, to the jolly buffoonery of Eric Idle’s Always Look on the Bright Side of Life.

Both the choristers (35 of them in black with smart midnight blue brocade waistcoats) and their very talented piano accompanist, Rebecca Holt, rose to the challenge of performing Bohemian Rhapsody with swashbuckling energy.

This was the first concert led by the choir’s new Musical Director, Stephen Mitchell. Stephen, a consultant surgeon at Wycombe Hospital, attended their concert in October, joined the choir, and was appointed Musical Director last month.

He brings long experience in choral work as singer, director and composer and is clearly drawing the best out of the choir, judging by the enthusiastic response to his baton.

The choir is active in promoting local young musicians and invited Megan Cave to play some piano accompaniments and Vivek Dinesh to play violin solos.

Vivek, a 14-year-old local schoolboy, wowed the audience with his prowess, with comments overheard during the interval summed up as: “Isn’t he amazing?”

Wycombe Orpheus Festival of Young Musicians, organised by the choir each year, takes place on March 7 and 14, 9am to 6pm at Wesley Methodist Church, Priory Road, High Wycombe, when the public can enter free to watch young talent in competition.

The winners will join the choir at their annual concert at Wycombe Swan on June 20, Swan box office 01494 512000.