In mid-May, the Fishpond Choir travelled to the town of Onzain in France’s Loire Valley to represent Darley Dale in a twinning exchange visit and concert. 

Over a wonderful activity packed weekend, our choir members were hosted by French families and had the opportunity to sample delicious home cooking, explore local towns and chateaux, sing in various beautiful locations along the banks of the Loire and even try folk dancing. 

To round off the visit, the we were privileged to perform to a packed audience of over 250 people in a fifteenth century hall, alongside a German choir from Flein, and the choir of Onzain.

Each choir sung a 30-minute programme of music and for the occasion, we chose to perform pieces inspired by British literature, history and composers.  These included Bob Chilcott’s ‘Skye Boat Song’, George Shearing’s lyric ballad ‘Who is Sylvia?’ and even the sizzling ‘Double Trouble’ chorus, composed for the Harry Potter film, ‘The Prisoner of Askaban.’

All three choirs then came together to perform two further pieces as the finale. 

The audience reception was fantastic and we were absolutely delighted to be invited to travel to Flein in Spring 2028 for an exchange visit.

It was a wonderful for our choir members to travel and spend time together as well as make new friends in France.  We are extremely grateful to the Darley Dale Twinning Committee, our French hosts and to our chairman, James Churchill for all the time they put into organising the trip.

Perhaps the highlight for many of our choir members, was singing Dmytro Bortnianski’s ‘Tibie Paiom’, standing in the vast space and ringing acoustic of the church in Onzain.  Twenty-three years ago this year, a large number of our long standing choir members sung this same piece on a previous Fishpond Choir tour here, standing in the same spot, and it is was a poignant moment for all to cherish.