REVIEW: All sorts of joyful songs at lively charity concert in Cuckfield

In a packed Holy Trinity church scores of people in the aisles joined in as the Singing Allsorts sang and danced their final number, ‘Let’s Twist Again’ – and won a barnstorming encore.

Community choirs are rocking in Mid Sussex.

No wonder this all-female choir and its musical friends raised not only the roof but £2,000 for Sussex Cancer Fund and Tearfund.

Earlier the Allsorts’ movement and rhythm pulsated in an animated reprise of the medley that delighted the Pope in the movie Sister Act. Under Jane Haughton’s inspiring, joyful direction they were equally effective and moving, singing in three parts, in lower tempo offerings ranging from Purcell, Pachelbel and Orlando Gibbons to Gershwin.

The choir’s friends also made memorable contributions to this sunny summer concert. Ensemble Reza’s Hannah Carter (cello) delighted the audience with contrasting pieces – Saint-Saens’ Swan and van Goens’ Tarentelle – and ever-dependable Philip Sear (piano accompaniment) was also on top form.

As a well received bonus two bright young talents stole many hearts with polished performances. Martha Clayton sang Schubert’s An die Musik with mature expressiveness and Dominic Clark (piano) displayed sure-footed engagement in Lewis’s Django and Shearing’s Lullaby of Birdland.

When one concert has you swaying to the ‘Shoop Shoop Song’, enchanted by ‘Cheek to Cheek’ and ‘Summertime’, entranced by ‘One Love’, soothed by a ‘Canon of Peace’ and twisting in the aisles you know why they’re called the Singing Allsorts and have 50 ladies on their waiting list.

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