Despite the heat and the resurgence of COVID, Launceston Choral Society (pictured) at last succeeded in giving its “Gloria” concert in which it performed settings of “Glory be to God” by Vivaldi and John Rutter both of which featured returning guest soloists Dawn Felton (soprano) from Exeter and Shelley Coulter-Smith (mezzo-soprano).

Mary Mazur Park played the organ accompaniment conjuring up a whole brass section for the Rutter with rehearsal pianist Liz Jones, providing percussive support on the piano.

Musical director, Jonathan Mann played Herbert Howells’[ reflective Psalm-Prelude Set 1 Nº1 on the organ and the choir also sang Ralph Vaughan Williams’ arrangement of the Old 100th hymn tune as well as giving a taster of the music for its autumn concert on November 12 with “Adiemus” by Karl Jenkins, part of his “Symphonic Adiemus” for mixed adult voices.

The concert was given to celebrate the lives and wonderful contributors to the society’s music making: of regular bass soloist Ian Hardy, and assistant musical director and alto soloist Margaret Parfitt, both of whom died before the epidemic hit and members of Margaret and Ian’s families were in the audience.

The retiring collection for Rare Dementia Support raised a gratifying £841.50 for the charity which supported Ian at the very end of his life.

A truly glorious evening for choir and audience alike.