Junior FR – 2020

We had a great opportunity this year to sing with two adult choirs in a joint concert “A not so Silent Night” with Fascinating Rhythm and Bristol A Capella. It was in a fabulous venue in Bristol – The Victoria Methodist Church.

We really enjoyed The Big Sing this year, which was in aid of Syrian Refugees in Lebanon and Iraq.

We perfected our “Shopping centre” singing this year raising funds for The Jessie May Trust. This was the most raised by any choir during December.

Prior to the Eisteddfod this year we were able to preview our entry by taking part in a concert for Thornbury Youth Music Trust.

The Thornbury Eisteddfod saw a great performance from all the girls and the U11 regained their trophy for a second year running.

Then like the rest of the world Covid-19 stopped everything, but you can’t keep a choir down and we started online performances and learnt a few songs and worked on our solo performances.

We then managed to put together a fantastic YouTube video based on “Being a Kid in Lockdown too”

Junior FR – 2019

We have had a very busy year, we had three Christmas gigs booked: Turnberries Christmas Market, followed by the annual Big Sing raising funds for Christian Aid and then The Clifton Down Shopping centre raining money for the Jessie May Trust, incredibly we had to learn 15 songs to fill a 45-minute slot.

This year we also took part in a massive concert accompanying Fascinating Rhythm to raise money for Chrohn’s and Colitis UK.

The Thornbury Eisteddfod saw our juniors win their section and the seniors came a well deserved second.

The Eisteddfod was celebrating 30 years of concerts and put on a special concert to mark the occasion and Junior FR were asked to open the show – what an honour.

Our next event was the May Day Concert and we had two slots one for the choir and one for the soloists and as ever were very well received with lots of lovely comments.

In the summer we then took part in the Choir Rocks festival in Yate once again everybody enjoyed our performance and we even received a letter from the Mayor.

The day before the Yate Choir Rocks festival we even sang at the Frampton Makers Fair with many of the choir singing all weekend.

Finally the last sing out of the year – The Proms. With the theme of “Popular Classics” – we spun that on its head and decided to sing “Classic Pop”. Queen – Abba – The Monkees – ELO.  The girls gave their best performance of the year. We worked really hard on ‘performance’ and everyone stepped up to the plate and performed brilliantly. 

Junior FR – 2018

Thornbury Eisteddfod was soon with us again, and this year we split the girls into Seniors & Juniors. A resounding success for all – Distinctions everywhere and first place for the Juniors. We also entered our first soloists and were rewarded with 1st, 2nd & 3rd placing’s. The soloists have entered again (for the first time) in the Bristol Eisteddfod, and we were so very proud of the girls, and their placing’s in a huge and challenging competition. 

Junior FR also performed at Frampton Male Voice choirs’ annual concert where they showed the Eisteddfod packages as well as songs, especially for this event.

Once again, Junior FR were invited back to sing at the Iron Acton May Day celebrations – performing on the side of a truck! There was a mix of solo, small group and full chorus performances, and the audience loved us!

Our last performance of the year was The Thornbury Carnival. We embraced the theme (1918 – 2018) learning seven songs in 7 weeks – and with props and movement! We sang about the Suffragettes, World War I and II plus songs from the ’60s, ’80s and up to the present day. The girls were amazing and even ended up appearing on the official video.

Junior FR – 2017

We competed for the first time at ‘The Longwell Green Eisteddfod’. Although we were the only chorus in the competition (and therefore gaining first place), we did win a trophy and received 87 marks (distinction)

In December our next big event was our production of ‘The Memory Tree’ with our very own Momma Joan as the lead role and Hannah, Alice, Anna and Lily playing her granddaughters. We were so pleased to produce a fantastic show with Fascinating Rhythm and raised money for our charity – Winston’s Wish.

This performance was quickly followed with us taking part in “The Big Sing” where we sang 3 Junior Fascinating Rhythm songs and helped raise a massive £1930 for Christian Aid.

At the end of the school term, we entertained Thornbury OAP’s with a singalong and Christmas number at Turnberries in Thornbury.

Junior FR – 2016

In January came success in the Pantomime Roald Dahl’s Cinderella.

Roald Dahl’s Cinderella character is a girl who knows her own mind and is determined to escape the cellar and the domination of her less attractive sisters. The Prince turns out to be less than charming – actually a bit of a psychopath. After he chops her sisters’ heads off, Cinders asks the Magic Fairy to find her someone a bit less challenging so she hooks up with The Jam Man, a simple man who helps with the cleaning and makes lovely sweet things to eat perfect!

In March Junior FR competed at the Thornbury Eisteddfod in the U14 section. The first song was ‘Midnight Tango’ It involves two verse melodies, each with interactions from the other part and then a two-part harmony chorus, arranged by JFR helper Kitty Davies. The final verse then mixes the two melodies together as a finale. The girls managed all of this with some fantastically evocative Latin moves which were executed with great style and synchronisation, providing a most entertaining and energetic performance.

Junior FR – 2015

March – competed in the U14 class singing a 3-part a cappella arrangement of ‘Who’s the Best’, and ‘Edelweiss’ accompanied by Jo Luddington on the piano – and won their class with distinction and an improved score.

Junior FR – 2014

There were many exciting things accomplished during 2014, including recording a song for Fascinating Rhythm’s CD ‘Listen to the Music’ and attending a singing workshop in September. More than 70 young singers from the area participated at this free workshop that was supported by grants from South Gloucester CC and Messrs Renishaw Ltd.

We were also delighted when Junior FR competed in their second Thornbury Eisteddfod in March coming 2nd, gaining 85 marks.

The annual Big Sing in support of Christian Aid saw the girls excel with many great comments.

Junior FR were also booked to sing at The Rotary Club Christmas Dinner.

We put together a whole set of songs including “Little Donkey”, “silent Night”, but finished with our favourite from The Sound Of Music “So Long farewell”

Junior FR – 2013

Proms in the Meadow at Iron Acton (stole the show again!)

Thornbury Eisteddfod: A small group made up of mothers and daughters from Junior FR and Fascinating Rhythm performed the Nursery Rhyme Medley that gained the junior chorus a distinction award.

They also featured in Fascinating Rhythm’s Winter show, performing two new songs – ‘Somewhere’ and ‘Twinkle Christmas.

Junior FR – 2012

The Junior choir joined Fascinating Rhythm for Proms in the Meadow at Iron Acton (stole the show.)