Michael Crabb's final concert as conductor of Southend Festival Chorus took place on Saturday May 17th at Crowstone St Georges United Reformed Church. It was a performance of Mozart's Requiem and Haydn's Nelson Mass. Michael has been conductor of the choir for 25 years, during which time he was awarded the MBE.
The Mayor, Gwen Horrigan, was present at the concert, and spoke afterwards of Michael's involvement in the musical life of the town, and paid a warm tribute to his work, both with the Southend Boys' Choir and with Southend Festival Chorus.
On Wednesday May 21st Southend Festival Chorus said their own farewell to Michael with an evening at which he was presented with a painting, 'Day's End, Two Tree Island' by local artist David Hurrell. David has played in the orchestra many times over the years for Southend Festival Chorus concerts. We also presented Michael with a bottle of champagne, a crystal glass tankard and a set of crystal glasses. Anne was presented with a basket of flowers. There was a splendid cake made and iced by Ann Barber, with the front page in icing of Mozart's Requiem Mass. Several members of the choir sang an account of all the works we have sung with Michael conducting, together with references to rehearsals involving listening to tapes or not!!