Choral singers raised the roof of Dorking Halls for this year's Leith Hill Musical Festival.

From Thursday, April 15 to Saturday, April 17, choirs competed against each other in a series of competitions in the mornings before coming together to perform concerts each evening.

Reviewer Simon Ames was at the three evening concerts.

For competition results click here

First night concert

The unmistakeably Handelian The King Shall Rejoice provided a powerful first night opener of the 105th year, with the English Festival Orchestra on stage together with amalgamated choirs of Division Two from Beare Green & Newdigate, Buckland & Betchworth, Mickleham and Shalford.

The most memorable of the individual choir songs was the Shaker hymn Simple Gifts attractively set to music by the American composer Aaron Copland. The melody originates from his 1944 Appalachian Spring symphony.

After presentation of the trophies and awards by the modern English composer Cecilia McDowall, the orchestra and choir were joined by soprano Ruth Jenkins for a performance of McDowall's Ave Maris Stella based on the Vesper Hymn to the Virgin Mary and Psalms 26 and 106. The work carries some striking harmonies, seeking overall to bring a mood of harmony and peace. It was superbly delivered, as warmly endorsed by the composer.

The orchestra gave a joyful rendering of Mozart's Divertimento in F for strings (K138), this leading to the closing work, the powerful Mass in C (D452, Opus 48) by Franz Schubert. It was written while the composer was still a teenager in the early 19th century. Jenkins returned to sing the soprano solo, Cathy Bell sung contralto, Sean Clayton sang the tenor role and Jon Stainsby was a convincing bass.

Deep religious feelings characterise the extended Gloria and poignant melodies make up the Agnus Dei finale. The choir proved well rehearsed and Brian Kay's expressive conducting was a joy to behold.

Second night concert

The music of Ralph Vaughan Williams appropriately opened the second concert programme. The buzz came from the English Festival Orchestra as they played the life-like Overture to The Wasps, embracing many jaunty melodies.

The choirs of Division Three were on stage, from Dorking, Epsom, Horsley and Leatherhead. Their repertoire of choir songs included the premiere of Bob Chilcott's Rainfall based on a poem by Charles Bennett which was nominated as the Men's Song. The composer was present to hear the first full performance.

After presentation of trophies and awards by Em Marshall, chairman of the Ralph Vaughn Williams (RVW) Society and founder director of the English Music Festival, soprano Martene Grimson joined the orchestra and chorus for a convincing rendering of Vaughan Williams' vocally demanding Benedicite.

The concert concluded with a shimmering performance of Gounod's Messe Solennelle De Sainte Cecile with soloists Martene Grimson, Neil Jenkins in the tenor role and Jonathan Sells as bass. Perhaps best known for his operatic works, the composer's Messe Solonelle is full of individuality and mystic exemplified by the crashing chords of the Gloria and the tender, flowing Agnus Dei.

Brian Kay's style of conducting brings such fresh and enlightened expression, the choir reacting so well to his persuasive direction.

Final night concert

The final night choirs of Division One were those of Bookham, Capel, Holmbury St Mary and Oxshott.

Their programme began with Three Songs of Praise, works that this quintessentially English composer wrote for school choirs in the 1920s and 30s. Praise is the common theme, the mood is joyful and the choir produced a sparkling performance.

Alan Brown was at the piano for the competition women's song, An Eriskay Love Lilt from the original collection of Songs from the Hebrides.

Following presentation of trophies and awards by Deidre Hicks, the Leith Hill Musical Festival chairman between 1991 and 2005, mezzo-soprano Anna Stephany joined for a performance of Edward Elgar's Sea Pictures. The piece is said to be textually difficult and vocally challenging but Stephany's delivery brought all the studied reflections and intonations created by the composer, the subject of much appreciative applause.

More Elgar was to follow, Stephany back on the platform to join the choir and orchestra for The Music Makers that he composed in 1912. Much of the work brings out Elgar's deep-seated inner feelings of melancholia though there are joyous sections that provide a fine balance. Stephany's velvet voice added a special dimension to a memorable performance of this seldom heard work.

The audience joined in for the traditional closing hymn, God be with you till we meet again, with words by Donald Hughes and music by Vaughan Williams.

The 2010 festival provided an excellent range of varied ancient and modern music. All the choirs must be congratulated on their staying power – long days involving competition singing, followed by extended rehearsal and straight into a full length concert under a battery of searing lights.

Brian Kay's contribution brings out the best in all the singers who are individually inspired by his performance development techniques. Hugely respected as a choral director and conductor, his personal performance from the rostrum is one of the sustaining memories of Leith Hill Musical Festival 2010.