2001
This was the 12th St David's Praise Event, the first one being way back in 1989. We at Cambrensis HQ wonder each time one event is over, "Where do we go from here?" "How can we keep the same level of expectancy and excitement, the mix of music, the traditional, the new, the looked for, the unexpected?" Saturday 19th May proved that it IS possible and a packed house yet again experienced an evening of praise, worship and celebration of God's love and goodness through music of many kinds. Ably led as ever, by Kelvin Thomas who over the past few years has been joined at the baton by Jeffrey Howard.
The beat of African drums called us to worship and the choir invited the audience to "Come and Praise their Maker," with "Uyai Mose," a traditional African song, followed by the well known "Siya Hamba" ("We are Marching in the Light of God.").
The first half continued with some modern hymns and songs, "Shout for Joy and Song," Kendrick's "Come Let Us Worship Jesus" and the Vicki Cook Celtic version of "Before the Throne of God Above," which is fast becoming a "hit" in churches throughout the land. The first half ended with Jeffrey Howard's rousing arrangement of "And Can it Be" featuring Jeff himself on the organ and culminating in a full orchestral backing.

Some quieter moments were provided by a couple John Rutter pieces sung by the large choir (which again had singers from over 50 churches) and by Cambrensis, who also sang a group of American songs later in the programme.

Jonathan Davies and Anne Brown's worship song arrangements and Anne's arrangement of the old hymn "Mine, Mine, Mine," were also moments of reflective worship, contrasting with the loud and exuberant pieces such as Zadok the Priest and "Now Thank We All Our God."

Orchestral contributions included a Brahms Hungarian Dance and a stirring arrangement of "A Mighty Fortress" by the American composer Camp Kirkland. The special guest was guitarist John Gerighty who not only played some his own compositions and arrangements but played the famous slow movement of the Rodrigo Guitar Concerto, a great experience to be part of. John was half of the well known duo Simeon & John, who were our guests back in the 1996 St David's Praise and it was good to have him back as a solo artist.

Before the performance can take place, months of planning, practices, and praying reach their climax in an afternoon's hectic rehearsal.

And while the audience prepared to enter the auditorium the Cambrensis Wind Band delighted listeners as they played on Level 3.

Meanwhile inside it was time to welcome the newest member of the Howard family - Oliver Rhys.
Jeff is renowned for his mastery of the St David's Hall organ - for those of you who like to know the details: It's made by Peter Collins and has three manuals and fifty-five stops
And what do you do in an interval? Well there's the Cambrensis stall to browse, or be amazed at the work of Support Romania, or just mingle with friends.

A good time was had by all, as they say and we now start planning St David's Christmas Praise which is on Saturday Dec 1st - and the next May event is May 18th 2002. See you there!

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