NECOM's choirs and ensembles gave their only concerts this year to celebrate a very welcome return to singing and playing and to farewell a year like no other.
After this year of covid restrictions our students and parents embraced our new outdoor Christmas Concerts that offered an imaginative and entertaining alternative to our traditional auditorium concerts.
The Foundation Ensembles Christmas Concert on Tuesday 10 December was presented for the first time as an outdoor covid-safe performance in the NERAM Courtyard and the sound was fantastic! Parents viewed the Hinton Collection in the gallery before the concert that showcased NECOM’s Thunderbolt Percussion, Puddledock Strings, Tilbuster Winds and Booralong Strings. After many months of limited rehearsals, the concert was outstanding – congratulations to all our young musicians, conductors and accompanists for their exceptional performances
The informal setting was great fun and the students and audiences alike loved the experience – including the post-concert sausage sizzle. Thanks to NERAM for their hospitality and we hope to present more concerts with you in the coming year.
NECOM’s Christmas Choral Concert on Saturday 21 November was a huge hit with audiences and choristers. As an outdoor covid-safe performance, this was NECOM’s first family prom on the lawns of the Old Teachers College. Featuring our Minisingers, Cantilena and Cantilena Chorale, New England Singers and the New England Chamber Choir, the concert presented an incredible program of choral music to great acclaim from the audience.
The covid restrictions on singing presented immense challenges throughout the year but NECOM’s committed choristers, conductors, accompanists found innovative solutions to keep the music alive throughout these months and the one and only Choral Concert this year was a great success.
Our traditional mass choir finale of Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer featured tinsel, antlers and all the Christmas bling along with a visit from Santa and a surprise snow machine. The joy, laughter and delight of everyone hearing live singing and music again was amazing.
Thank you to the NECOM administration team, singers, conductors and accompanists for creating these unforgettable concerts to farewell 2020.