THE tabernacle was a fitting setting for Jeanette Wainwright’s 100 voices summer concert. This beautiful building with its octagonal auditorium was opened in 2001, the fourth building on this site since 1741.

It is fully equipped with sophisticated lighting and sound facilities and a screen which showed close-ups of singers and soloists. The audience was treated to a wall of sound from four choirs and highly professional technical experience.

When so many choirs come together, the sound can be very powerful, and in this particular building, with its excellent acoustics, songs like Verdi’s Hebrew Slaves Chorus sounded magnificent, and made a fitting finale.

Wainwright holds no auditions. To her, singing is about having fun and enjoyment, and she gives her groups a variety of genres to tackle so concerts are always varied and interesting for audience and singers.

Her enthusiasm and energy was clear throughout, and the applause she received from all her choirs showed how much they love what she does.

The male choir of 20 tackled popular pieces such as Don McLean’s Vincent and John Denver’s Annie's Song, as well as Myer’s Cavatina from The Deer Hunter. Confident in harmonies, they evoked wistfulness and nostalgia, and with tremendous volume sounded far more than their number. They also provided backing for some of the women's songs.

The Broughton Ladies’ choirs had their moments. The new group sang Mozart’s beautiful Ave Vernum, made famous by Andrea Boccelli and King’s College Choir, with near-perfect harmonies. The applause said it all. The original women's group did justice to John Rutter’s A Gaelic Blessing in the second half, sounding, as one member of the audience commented, like one voice.

Saltburn Ladies gave a gutsy toe-tapping Boogie Woogie, and the popular Mad World, looked as though they were enjoying every minute, as did the audience.

There were opportunities for soloists and part harmonies, and pianist Martin Dak, who accompanied, was excellent.

As usual, all proceeds go to School Aid India.

Jan Hunter