Local musicians Beenham Wind Orchestra and The Cecilia Consort are again joining forces for an unmissable Christmas concert at St John’s Church on Sunday 8th December at 4.30pm.
The concert is titled ‘A Merry Minor Christmas’ - a reference to David Lovrien’s ‘We Come a-Darkly Caroling’, an audience favourite reprised from a joint concert two years ago. This is a combination of well-known carols transposed from ‘happy’ major keys to ‘dark’ minor keys and sprinkled with wit and humour.
Together with well-known seasonal favourites like ‘Sleigh Ride’, the programme also includes the powerful ‘Angelic Fanfare’ for orchestra and organ on the theme of Christmas angels; and James Curnow’s sparkling arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker suite. There’s also a chance to join in the singing with some congregational carols so you can get into the Christmas spirit!
Jointly conducted by Janet Coxwell and Victoria Benjamin, this wonderful combination of accomplished players and voices is the perfect start to the Christmas period. Tickets are £17 for adults, £2.50 for 5 - 16 year olds (free for under 5s). Each ticket includes a mince pie and a drink, and can be purchased in advance on this page and from our Store.
Review by Fiona Bennett
14th December 2025 Newbury Weekly News
West Berkshire’s music fans flocked to St. John’s Church, Newbury on Sunday 8th December, to hear two of the county’s most popular ensembles perform together. Beenham Wind Orchestra and The Cecilia Consort joined forces to bring us all our Christmas favourites and it really was an uplifting afternoon of festive music making.
Beenham Wind Orchestra sounded fabulous in the lovely acoustic of this stunning church and the bass instruments, in particular, sounded amazing, cutting beautifully through the overall sound throughout. A slightly smaller Cecilia ensemble than usual, was on top form, under the direction of their long standing Musical Director, Janet Coxwell and it was a real treat to hear them in the run up to Christmas.
Tunesmith, John Rutter featured during both halves of the concert and the audience loved Star Carol, All The Stars Looked Down and the Shepherd’s Pipe Carol, the final one showing off the choir’s amazing accompanist, Steve Bowey, to perfection with its frilly, fast moving piano part.
There was plenty of audience participation as we stood to sing several of our favourite carols and a very funny version of The Twelve Days of Christmas, complete with actions. We copied the choir during this one and watching them mimic Six Geese a’laying is something I won’t forget in a hurry!
In among the fast, fun pieces, there were a few magical highlights too. Coventry Carol with its ominous undertones, never fails to move me; the choir’s performance was very special indeed and Last Silent Noel never fails to bring tears to my eyes, two touching and beautifully performed pieces.
Victoria Benjamin brought out the best in her orchestra and the overall sound was full and majestic. The choir opened the well-known 16th century carol Gaudete and a wonderfully boisterous and lusty sounding orchestra took over the reins from Verse 2 onwards. Victoria gave the horn section a well-deserved ‘stand up’ at the end.
David Lovrien’s Minor Alterations is nothing short of genius and hearing all the well-known Christmas tunes in minor keys with some hilarious lyrics is laugh-out-loud funny, we loved it.
Showstoppers included Stephen Bulla’s The Proclamation of Christmas (a brilliant way to close the first half) and the Trepak and Troika medley was a huge hit too. No Christmas concert would be complete without Leroy Anderson’s Sleigh Ride with Andy Smets’s impressive trumpet horse whinny ringing out from the back of the orchestra to make us smile. These joint concerts work so well. Congratulations to Janet, Victoria, CC and BWO – a very special afternoon indeed.