I felt a stirring in my soul sitting in with the choir at St Mark’s on Saturday night as those unmistakable opening timpani rolls and triumphant trumpets in the Jauchzet, Frohlocket. After the flurry of last-minute ticket sales, seeing the rows filled with expectant faces made me want to dig down deep and give even more from within.
For me, the evening was truly spiritual. There is a specific kind of soothing quality that comes with Baroque music; hearing the choir rise to meet the brilliance of the English Pro Musica with Peter Siepmann’s harpsichord and the accomplished soloists were moments I will treasure. It wasn’t just a concert; it felt like a shared experience that stayed with us long after the final “Amen.”
I was also deeply moved by your response to our raffle. I’ve always known our audience was kind, but seeing the pile of tickets grow was wonderful. I am delighted to share that we raised £266 for the John Eastwood Hospice. Knowing that our music helped support such an essential part of the Mansfield community adds a whole other layer of meaning to what we do.
Now that the “Baroque Masterpieces” are behind us, I’m already looking toward July. I’ll be honest—I struggled to settle last night and I’m a little tired today, but I am certainly ready to take on the challenge of our next program. To our audience:Thank you.