An Early Photograph taken outside at Los Balcones, probably the first and last outside event Crescendo have done. It does show the original costume of ladies in black with colourful scarves, Men could wear any colour of bow tie.
The Crescendo International Choir, who were invited to perform in the
final concert of the Multicultural, Multi-Religion, III Palament les Religions,
were very enthusiastically received by a mainly Spanish 700-strong audience
in the University Auditorium in Alicante . The photo shows Farhang, President
of Mesa Interreligiosa de Alicante, assisting Chas Smith in translating
the Hebrew of ‘Shalom Chaverin’ (Peace my friends), as a ‘round’, with
the participation of the audience. (May 2007)
"Thank You" Plaque for 'inestimable collaboration' in the European Culture Festival,April 2007.
In our earlier years we performed several times for the No Smoking club at Los Arcos, This picture was taken in March 2007
These photos were taken at the Palacio de la Musica Torrevieja
A Christmas Concert at 
Casa de Cultura, Cuidad Quesada, Late December, 2008
Attendees make their contributions to children from A.P.A.N.E.E., the chosen charity,(Cuidad Quesada)
La Zenia Church once again host a Christmas Concert in aid of Church Funds.
Some Local Children sing Carols, (Caterina, Abby, Rhianna, Josh and Alex).
The Casa Ventura Bar was the venue for our terrific Christmas show, and to make matters worse our Chairman won the raffle - Merry Christmas.
had been demobbed from the RAF. An RAF pal was best man and Jean had two young bridesmaids, a cousin of Rowland’s and the young daughter of a workmate of Jean’s; her long dress was made by a friend. They married in Heckmondwike parish church on the only Saturday that year when it poured with rain. Some years earlier a great uncle of Rowland’s had left some money to the church to buy a peal of bells but the structure was not strong enough so Jean and Rowland had no bells to welcome them as man and wife. For the first few years of marriage they lived in Dewsbury where their two daughters Janice and Linda were born, then later moved to York, where Jean sang with many operatic groups and appeared regularly on television. Twenty years ago they bought a house in San Luis and moved here permanently when Rowland retired two years later. Daughter Janice lives next door and the rest of their family visits often…Linda, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Jean was a founder member of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society, Cantabile, and Crescendo Choir where she is still a well-known soloist. Rowland has always been her most ardent “fan” going to all her performances and taking many photos.
They are a very devoted couple who we hope still have many happy years together to look forward to!
CONGRATULATIONS from all their friends in Crescendo
A few years on, he went to work for Fisher and Ludlow who were later taken over by Leyland then Jaguar, working for them till his retirement.
Fred and Beatie decided they would leave the Midlands and spend their retirement years in Devon, so in 1980 they moved to Brixham. A short time later Val and her husband Tom followed them to Devon with their son Tony and daughter Karen. When his beloved wife Beatie started to suffer from Alzheimer’s and Fred was finding it difficult to manage on his own, Val and Tom bought a larger house so they could all live together. This proved to be a good arrangement but sadly Beatie died about seven years ago. Fred was keen on afternoon TV and always enjoyed programmes such as “A place in the sun” and it was his suggestion that they all come to Spain and look for a house. They saw one being built in Catral that they liked and decided that this was the right place to live. The house was finished in July 2006 so Fred, Val, and Tom moved in bringing the family Labrador Tess with them. The large garden was a challenge for Fred as he had always had a passion for gardening and each house he lived in had one of the best gardens in the neighbourhood after his green fingers had worked their magic. Val and Tom’s daughter Karen and her husband Lee moved to Spain shortly after, keeping this close knit family together; only Tony stayed in England. Fred loved living in Spain; the only thing he said he really missed was going round the local charity shops looking for teapots to add to his large collection.
GOLD, not JUST BRASS for Joe and Jean. Joe Wallace of “Just Brass” and his wife Jean who is a soprano in Crescendo choir, celebrate their
Golden Wedding on August 1st. They will be in England on the actual date so held a party for their friends in Spain on July21st which was Jean’s birthday.
Jean and Joe were both members of the Salvation Army when they met so the wedding was in the Central Hall, Uxbridge conducted by Brigadier L M Clothier. Jean wore a long brocade dress and Joe wore his Salvation Army uniform. He later swopped this for an RAF uniform, joining the band as a trombonist. They spent many years abroad but decided to retire to Spain to live in Los Montecinos.
The party was well attended and started with Jean and Joe renewing their wedding vows followed by a concert put on by several friends from the choir and band. Joe played a trombone piece specially written for him by his younger son Stuart, himself a talented musician. As Joe is a Londoner, the main part of the buffet was a dish of “bangers and mash” with onion gravy followed by chunks of bread pudding. There was also a mouth-watering buffet and a beautiful cake made and iced by Adele and Sandra, two of Jean’s friends in the choir.
CONGRATULATIONS and best wishes to JOE and JEAN, wishing you both many more happy years together.
CHARLIE IS STILL CRESCENDO’S DARLING!!! 
The rumours are not true – Crescendo’s personable and dynamic musical director, Mr Charles Smith, is NOT retiring from Crescendo. Chas, as he is usually known, has taken the decision to retire from directing the Torrevieja Barbershop Harmonisers but will carry on guiding Crescendo to even greater heights in singing. Chas has been conducting choirs and brass bands and even light opera now for 54 years and his experience and enthusiasm has brought Crescendo to its current position as one of the foremost choirs on the Costa Blanca.
Crescendo’s music ranges from classical to jazz, from pop to religious and always sung with enjoyment in mind, both for the performers and for the listeners.
We invite you to attend one of our concerts when we are singing in your vicinity, or come along to a rehearsal at the Oasis bar Torreta 3 on a Wed between 6 and 8pm.
Crescendo celebrate their first five years as a choir at the end of September.
MARGARET JONES goes back to UK 
Margaret Jones, who has been in Crescendo Choir since it started, has decided to return to the UK. She came to Spain seven years ago with her husband Lee. They bought a house in La Marina and soon had quite a collection of rescued dogs and cats. When her husband died, her neighbour Chas Smith persuaded her to try singing with the newly formed choir. This was a totally new thing for Margaret who had never sung before. She soon realized that she had a good soprano voice and has always been a very conscientious member, rarely missing a rehearsal. As her favourite piece of music is Bohemian Rhapsody, the choir sang it especially for Margaret at her last rehearsal with them. She was also given a hand made plaque with the Crescendo logo to remind her of the happy times spent with the choir. Now that Margaret has been bitten by the singing bug, she intends to find a choir as soon as she has settled in back in the UK. All members of Crescendo wish her health and happiness for the future.
CRESCENDO’S HIDDEN TALENT
Crescendo International Choir have recently discovered hidden talent among their ranks! Contralto VIVIENNE GEE has written the words for two contrasting pieces of music which the choir are learning for their forthcoming concerts.
The first is called LIVING LOVE and is set to the music of “Poeme” by Zdenek Fibich. The second one is a new Christmas poem called SING! IT’S CHRISTMAS which has been set to music in four part harmony by Crescendo’s own Musical Director CHAS SMITH. Both pieces have been enthusiastically welcomed by the members of the choir. As one choir member said “It’s lovely to be learning something completely new that no-one else has heard yet. We are really looking forward to singing them and I’m sure the audience will like them both.”
