2017 Review
Highlights of 2017
The highlight of the year was Beyond the Trenches, a concert that Philip and Bryan were commissioned to put together for Bentley Priory Museum. The concert featured songs from the first world war alongside songs from 1900-1920, plus two new songs written by the 'dynamic duo'.
The concert was a huge (sell out) success at the Museum and then went on to the historic and impressive Royal Hospital Chelsea.
We recorded a CD of the concert and that is now on sale. This was the second commission from the Museum after Fighter Command (2015) and the third commission (for the RAF centenary) is complete and has just gone into rehearsal.
Despite a decision to reduce cabaret work, Philip and Bryan were still persuaded to do a handful of professional gigs, mainly at birthday and anniversary celebrations.
Tonic Choir continues to run well. Four base choirs meet weekly and Tonic Extra meets for additional work and projects.
Tonic photos from the year (and previous years)
January
65 Tonic singers drawn from all the Tonic choirs entertained over 200 members of the Radlett U3A with songs from the movies.
March
Tonic 4 (based in Totteridge) entertained residents and staff at the Betty and Asher Loftus Centre, Friern Barnet.
April
Over 100 members drawn from all the Tonic choirs entertained at the Winston Churchill Theatre, Ruislip, with songs from the movies. The ambitious programme included a talk from a film director, and a set from Philip and Bryan. About 250 in the audience.
June
At the half way stage in putting together Beyond the Trenches, Tonic Extra gave two performances to small invited audiences.
July
A choir drawn from all the Tonic choirs contributed a set of songs from the movies to the St Luke's Summer Prom at the Harrow School Speech Room. Philip and Bryan sang a set of songs as well.
August
About 100 Tonic singers joined a workshop in the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms season. The highlight was being able to sing in this historic building, albeit without an audience.
Philip was one of the subjects in a Tonic Choir Desert Island Discs programme. His choices can be found here.
September
Philip and Bryan ran a series of Songs from the Seventies workshops for Tonic
October
Over 70 Tonic singers drawn from all the choirs joined 8 other choirs at Voices for Hospices in the Harrow School Speech Room. Each choir sang a short programme before all sang together in a very moving afternoon event. Over 300 singers and a further 150 audience raised a considerable sum for our local hospice.
November
Following a third preview at the Mill Hill U3A, Tonic Extra performed Beyond the Trenches at the Bentley Priory Museum, on November 11, as originally scheduled. The two shows were both sold out and the choir excelled. Tears were shed by choir, audience and conductor (Philip) in this emotional show. We had previously recorded the songs and the resultant CD was on sale.
Two weeks later we took the show to the Royal Hospital Chelsea to entertain some of the Chelsea Pensioners. Another highly moving event.
The highlight of the year was Beyond the Trenches, a concert that Philip and Bryan were commissioned to put together for Bentley Priory Museum. The concert featured songs from the first world war alongside songs from 1900-1920, plus two new songs written by the 'dynamic duo'.
The concert was a huge (sell out) success at the Museum and then went on to the historic and impressive Royal Hospital Chelsea.
We recorded a CD of the concert and that is now on sale. This was the second commission from the Museum after Fighter Command (2015) and the third commission (for the RAF centenary) is complete and has just gone into rehearsal.
Despite a decision to reduce cabaret work, Philip and Bryan were still persuaded to do a handful of professional gigs, mainly at birthday and anniversary celebrations.
Tonic Choir continues to run well. Four base choirs meet weekly and Tonic Extra meets for additional work and projects.
Tonic photos from the year (and previous years)
January
65 Tonic singers drawn from all the Tonic choirs entertained over 200 members of the Radlett U3A with songs from the movies.
March
Tonic 4 (based in Totteridge) entertained residents and staff at the Betty and Asher Loftus Centre, Friern Barnet.
April
Over 100 members drawn from all the Tonic choirs entertained at the Winston Churchill Theatre, Ruislip, with songs from the movies. The ambitious programme included a talk from a film director, and a set from Philip and Bryan. About 250 in the audience.
June
At the half way stage in putting together Beyond the Trenches, Tonic Extra gave two performances to small invited audiences.
July
A choir drawn from all the Tonic choirs contributed a set of songs from the movies to the St Luke's Summer Prom at the Harrow School Speech Room. Philip and Bryan sang a set of songs as well.
August
About 100 Tonic singers joined a workshop in the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms season. The highlight was being able to sing in this historic building, albeit without an audience.
Philip was one of the subjects in a Tonic Choir Desert Island Discs programme. His choices can be found here.
September
Philip and Bryan ran a series of Songs from the Seventies workshops for Tonic
October
Over 70 Tonic singers drawn from all the choirs joined 8 other choirs at Voices for Hospices in the Harrow School Speech Room. Each choir sang a short programme before all sang together in a very moving afternoon event. Over 300 singers and a further 150 audience raised a considerable sum for our local hospice.
November
Following a third preview at the Mill Hill U3A, Tonic Extra performed Beyond the Trenches at the Bentley Priory Museum, on November 11, as originally scheduled. The two shows were both sold out and the choir excelled. Tears were shed by choir, audience and conductor (Philip) in this emotional show. We had previously recorded the songs and the resultant CD was on sale.
Two weeks later we took the show to the Royal Hospital Chelsea to entertain some of the Chelsea Pensioners. Another highly moving event.