Macapello Community Choir

On Monday 30 April, Macapello sang a variety of a capella songs for the Mayor's Civic Award Ceremony at Melksham Town Hall. We had originally been asked to sing at the Mayor's Reception in March, but it was cancelled because of heavy snow. This time we went ahead despite forecasts of inclement weather. It was a short performance, but a sweet one: the Mayor, Councillor Adrienne Westbrook, congratulated us on 'a wonderful performance, which provided a warm welcome to the member

Twenty members of Macapello sang in St George's Chapel, Bristol last Sunday 22 April for the eighteenth annual Choir Convention. We had a great time learning and recording new songs with Nickomo, Dee, Nick and Ali leading 500 singers in choirs from all over the South West, and hopefully we might include some of the songs in our regular repertoire. In the evening we were first up on the stage to sing Bells of Norwich and I got shoes. As Lisa said, another fantastic, profession

We sang a selection of carols old, new, familiar, exciting and exotic on Friday December 8th in the garden at Blenheim House Care Home from 6.30 pm. We sang several favourites that people joined in with, (wordsheets were provided), despite the bitter cold. Eventually we adjourned indoors to finish the set. Thanks to Blenheim House for the hot dogs, mince pies and mulled wine: much appreciated by hungry singers! On Wednesday December 20th we sang again at Blenheim from 7.30pm

Macapello sang another Summer Concert on July 19th at 7.30 at the United Church in Melksham (SN12 6JU), which featured many of our favourite songs old and new. The concert was a fundraiser for the ‘Winston’s Wish’ charity, a counselling service which works with families and children who have suffered bereavement. Lots of fun songs, deeply felt spirituals, songs from the heart and for the feet – something for everyone! Tickets in advance were £6.00 or £7.00 on the door. #Maca

Once again Macapello attended the Community Choir Convention in Bristol in the fabulous acoustic and ambience of St. Georges, Brandon Hill, on April 2nd. The Community Choir Convention is a day-long annual gathering of choirs from all over the South-West, where we share songs, learn new ones en masse and then perform them in a Big Sing, mingle with the other choirs – and sing one or two of our own Macapello songs to everybody else! It’s great fun and richly rewarding. This y

Just before Christmas we sang a selection of seasonal songs to an audience of friends and family, fuelled by mulled wine, mince pies and various other scrummy and succulent delights! We used the event as a fundraiser for Cancer Research, and raised £155.00! – much more than we had anticipated. Thanks to all who came, and all the hard work put in by choir members making food and drink, making the hall look beautiful, publicising and liaising. #Macapello #fundraising #Christmas

A fantastic ‘Winter Concert’ where we sang with the Shepton Mallet Acapella Choir (SMACC), was held in the elegant surroundings of the United Church. We also held small summer concerts at St Andrew’s Church, raising money for charities. One of our most memorable and meaningful outings was at ‘Maxfest’, where we sang ‘Three Little Birds’ (‘Don’t worry about a thing’) in tribute to a local man who lost his life tragically young; and then, in 2015, we held a small Summer concert

Here’s Macapello singing in the lovely setting of St. Andrew’s Church where we gave a full charity concert in aid of Syrian refugees on July 20th. This was Dave and Lisa’s debut concert running the choir. #Macapello #StAndrewsChurchMelksham #charity #concert #Syrianrefugees #fundraising

After the 2016 Choir Convention Guy said goodbye to Macapello after nurturing the choir from its inception. We welcomed Dave and Lisa as our new directors. They have led community choirs in the area for many years – and Dave sings with Guy in the B Naturals! #Macapello #choir #BNaturals #GuyWilson #DaveandLisa #DaveKing #director

For the 2016 Choir Convention Macapello once again paired up with SMACC and debuted the song that we in Macapello wrote together, ‘When Will I See The Sun?’ Here’s a snippet: #Macapello #ChoirConvention #WhenwillIseethesun #Macapellosownsong #aspiration #elation #inspiration #celebration

Since those early days, we have sung at each of the Bristol Choir Conventions – we love the ‘Big Sing’ where we learn a few new songs alongside the other dozen or so choirs who attend. We also really enjoy the buzz that comes once the final note of our individual performance dies away and the other choirs clap with genuine pleasure and support. The songs we have performed range from 1960s pop songs to Serbian songs to traditional English folk tunes that we know were sang in W

We gave an end of term concert – more like a free showcase for about 100 friends and family, held at Melksham House. We sang 12 songs, and a few of them really rocked. The audience loved it all; possibly they could not quite believe that these folk whom they’d known for years could actually sing! Together! Tunefully! Suffice it to say, we were all dead chuffed with ourselves. #Macapello #concert #Summerconcert #StAndrewsChurchMelksham #MelkshamHouse #songs

A lot of nervous, but excited, singers responded to a newspaper invitation from Choir Director Guy Wilson to join him to create a brand new choir. The first evening was exciting and exhilarating and we went home very happy and humming some new tunes. Our choir name (a mixture of Melksham and ‘a capella’) was created by one of our original members and voted for by the whole choir. On Sunday 2nd December we gave our debut performance in the cloisters of the beautiful Lacock Abb