Saturday 4th April

Cheerful voices greeted each other at breakfast following the previous day’s unfortunate tiring circumstances. A short coach journey to the Montclair Corps left the songsters in awe at this wonderful new building and the facilities it offers. Equipped with gymnasium, library, eight classrooms and a wonderful acoustic designed main chapel gave each person an inspired lift for the day ahead.

A musical workshop was given by Ian Hammond using the songsters as demonstrators, centering his theme on ‘communication’. There then followed a charming session where Ian took the Montclair Youth Choir for a tutorial lesson. To see the youngsters under the spotlight of everyone’s view, delivering Ian’s exact requirements was encouraging to see.

Following refreshments the songsters slipped into automatic gear with their pre concert routine and then to a fine congregation delivered their first programme of the tour. Soloists and the songsters delivered their usual high standard programme, but this was not simply about Derby Songsters but the fusion of two army cultures separated by the Atlantic Ocean. Montclair Band brought items to the evening and impressed the songsters with their talent and sound. The writer, as a bass player particularly enjoyed listening to a very accomplished quintet of basses supported by a traditional sounding bass trombone. The songsters evening programme culminated in the song ‘Resurrection’, in preparation for the commencement of Holy Week. Massed songsters concluded by singing Storm the Forts conducted by the composer Lt. Col Norman Bearcroft.

Finally the whole corps and the songsters were given a Saturday Supper, this was an Italian style sit down meal allowing the songsters to sit with their American hosts and enjoy Christian fellowship. An excellent start to the 2009 USA Tour.

By Wendy and John Jordan