The audience at St John’s Church, Midsomer Norton, were treated to a superb lunchtime concert of American music by contralto Natalie Manning and pianist David Bednall, who performed a wide variety of songs, by Samuel Barber, Ned Rorem and Gian Carlo Menotti, finishing with three well-known numbers by George and Ira Gershwin.

Natalie, who hails from Dallas, Texas, is the first and only Alto Vicar Choral to sing in Wells Cathedral Choir in its 1100-year history. She has a Masters in choral conducting from Cambridge where she studied with Stephen Layton and sang in the Choir of Trinity College Cambridge.

Organist and pianist David Bednall, who is well known to the audience at St John’s, is recognised as one of the leading choral composers in the UK, his works having won numerous awards and being frequently performed on BBC Radio and Classic FM.

David is Choral Director at Clifton Cathedral and conducts several choirs, including Bristol Bach Choir and Chew Valley Choral Society.

David Bednall returns for the final lunchtime concert in the St John’s Spring Series with Soprano Naomi McLeod-Jones, performing a recital of English music, on Wednesday, 31st May. Refreshments are available from 12.30pm and concert at 1pm.

Jacquelyn Bevan