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25th Anniversary Dinner
Tally Ho! 10 July 2006
Birmingham Choral Union enjoyed an excellent meal and evening at the Tally Ho,
Pershore Road, on Monday 10 July, organised by Marian Brevitt. Anne Nisar ran a very successful raffle –
thanks to all who donated prizes – and thanks to Berry Wedgwood for commissioning Colin’s gift.
At the Dinner, a surprise celebration for Colin Baines’s 25 years as Conductor of
Birmingham Choral Union, the Choir presented him with a signed original cartoon,
depicting many aspects of Colin, his sayings and his relationship with the Choir. Both he and his wife
Jenny also received flowers from the Choir. Among his other gifts was a copy of the first programme he
conducted in the 1981/82 season – Handel’s Messiah.
Marian's Speech.
Before presenting Colin with his gifts, the Chairman, Marian Dawes, gave a speech congratulating Colin. She
said that in 1981, we looked forward to many years of imaginative programme planning. Over the years, Colin’s direction
has inspired some very successful performances and extended the Choir’s repertoire. This included the first
performance in Birmingham of David Fanshawe’s African Sanctus which was performed in Birmingham Town
Hall with Kokuma Dance Group. Some other highlights include Mendelssohn Elijah with the Dutch Choir,
Brahms Requiem – also a favourite piece of Colin’s - and last October’s performance of Haydn
Nelson Mass, as well as the performances of lesser known or rarely produced works. Also, who in the
Choir will ever forget Verdi Requiem in Symphony Hall? These were truly inspirational performances
and Colin’s leadership and confidence brought out the best in us all.
Colin's Reply.
Colin was completely surprised, but delighted, that the dinner was being held in recognition of his 25
years with the Choir. He thought he should have suspected something when his wife suggested he wear his
suit – but he didn’t!
He stressed how much he has enjoyed the last 25 years, but doesn’t know where the time has gone as the
years have just flown by.
The first time he conducted the Choir was at a carol service at Carrs Lane, when he deputised for David Sadler.
He was ‘terrified’ to discover that there were members of the CBSO in the brass section. However, they
and the Choir treated him kindly and he took over the mantle of Conductor in 1981. He has very little memory of his
first major concert with us, but recalled almost falling off the rostrum toward the end, when fatigue
coupled with rather energetic conducting almost got the better of him! The concert was Handel’s Messiah,
in Birmingham Town Hall.
He reminded members that the Choir had performed Berlioz Requiem on two occasions – Leicester and, again,
the Town Hall – and had several particular favourites.
He finished by saying how touched and overwhelmed he was by the special and unique gift the Choir had given
him – and also the individual gifts and cards – and he looked forward to many more enjoyable years with the
Birmingham Choral Union.
Some informal photos of Colin at rehearsal.
