Biggest Christmas Concert Season Yet
It’s been the biggest Christmas concert run for The People’s Orchestra(TPO) musicians and The People’s Show Choir(TPSC) singers, but the result has been extraordinary. It even included its first mass concert in Wales.
Here’s a look at how the festive season of shows unfolded to bring 2025 to a close.
Over a breathless few weeks of performances, the West Bromwich-based music charity pushed the boat out to reach more people than ever before across the UK. The big season of mass Christmas concerts got under way at Birmingham Town Hall on December 6 and continued through to Cardiff on December 20.
With a plan to spread the joy of festive spirit and a feeling of community to more areas, the stage was set for Something Magical concerts spanning Wales, London and Birmingham. Little did TPO and TPSC realise how special that would feel.
At the first Birmingham concert, TPO and TPSC members came together to delight the audience with favourites from Wicked, Coco and The Grinch Who Stole Christmas at the Town Hall on Saturday December 6.
Next up was The Rusty Players Orchestras for South Birmingham and Black Country giving an electrifying performance at Birmingham University’s Elgar Hall on Saturday December 13.
That was followed immediately with a return to Duke’s Hall at The Royal Academy of Music in London on Sunday December 14 when Show Choir and TPO members teamed up once again in the age-old building. Singers from Woodford Green, Wimbledon, Brackley and York were in fine voice.
Finally, attention turned to the Welsh capital, where Dora Stoutzker Hall in Cardiff was the venue for TPO and TPSC members on Saturday December 20. Newport and the most recent TPSC in Cardiff came together with Cheltenham and Weston-Super-Mare choirs along with the orchestra for a concert to remember.
There was even a surprise announcement to round it all off that a new TPSC is set to be launched in 2026 in Carmarthen.
Along with the members, there was a busy team behind the scenes and the enormous efforts of concert conductors Saphran Ali, Julian Powell, Alex Scaife-McGee, Elliot and Chris Weber during the season of shows.
“Every concert has been a resounding success and unique in their own way,” said TPO and TPSC top team. “It was a busy musical rollercoaster of a month but we spread cosy Christmas vibes to more communities than we ever have before.
“In Birmingham, the audience was captivated and calling out for more. That first concert sounded so epic and couldn’t have gone down better. It showed just how magical and impactful an inclusive community of singers and musicians can be.
“We thought it couldn’t be matched but we were wrong. Days later, The Rusty Players at Elgar Hall sounded absolutely fabulous and should all be exceptionally proud of themselves.
“It was a fantastic venue and audience, who were treated to a spellbinding performance. They are definitely all sounding less ‘rusty’ by the day.
“From Wales to London, these festive shows are all about bringing more community and Christmas spirit to the wider public and this is the biggest Christmas concert run we’ve ever done.
“The atmosphere at each and every one was unique and an exhilarating experience. None of it would have been possible without members showing up to rehearsals every week, along with practising, having a laugh with each other and spreading the world of the concerts to nearest and dearest.”
Isokazu Oyama was at the London concert and commented: “Moments like this remind me how great it feels to sing and play together, no matter our strengths and weaknesses.”
The London performance was made even more special that it coincided with conductor Saphran’s birthday weekend. The memorable gig was a rousing event with the audience clapping along as festive hits felt grander in the historic venue.
In Wales, The People’s Show Choir conductor for Cardiff and Newport groups, Jo Leighton, said: “Some of my choir members were really nervous, but a personal highlight for me was seeing them having a fantastic time. It was special for me to see how much the Newport choir in particular has grown with so many members as I lead them and they were the biggest choir there.
“The whole thing was a really good experience and the first mass event in Wales, which was exciting as I conduct two two Welsh choirs.
“A lot of choir members told me it was an amazing opportunity to sing with an orchestra because that’s not something they normally get to do. They really loved that.
“We all enjoyed listening to the orchestra pieces and music from Paddington to How To Train Your Dragon. My favourite was hearing Feliz Navidad and we also sang Merry Christmas by Elton John and Ed Sheeran. Fairytale of New York went down well with the audience too.
“Everything went really well. It was fantastic and everyone got a big cheer at the end.
“And to top it all off, the announcement of a new Show Choir in Carmarthen was great to hear. I’m looking forward to there being another Welsh choir.”
The annual Christmas mass concerts have been going from strength to strength for TPO and TPSC in recent years with this season, the busiest of its kind, breaking new ground in Wales. And that’s been the biggest joy and present that the musical charity has been able to give to all.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year one and all.
