Blog – Modbury Gospel Singers

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May 2026 – Modbury May Fair and Ugborough Christian Aid

Our first performances with Freya leading us went very well!
We performed at St George’s Church, Modbury on 07/05/2026 as part of May Fair celebrations, raising £291.
We also performed at Ugborough Church alongside Stevie Jay to raise money for Christian Aid on 16/05/2026.

25.09.2025 – a New term and a New leader!

Freya Harbottle – “I am very excited to be taking on the leadership role for Modbury Gospel Singers. After watching the choir perform recently, it will be lovely to continue to sing material that the singers know so well and perform with such enthusiasm. Alongside this, I plan to introduce some new gospel songs to the repertoire and mix in the odd blues/folk/gospel crossover song to bring a slight variation and perhaps a different way of singing together. I look forward to being able to share my knowledge and skill set with others, to help engage people with the benefits and joy that singing can bring”.

03.07.2025 – A Fond Farewell to Jo!

On Thursday 3rd July 2025, we gathered at our Musical Director Jo’s house for a social get-together and to enjoy singing in the garden. It marked the end of Jo’s 13-years of leadership.
It was a lovely evening to celebrate and honour an extraordinarily talented person who has enabled us to experience such joy singing together as a collective.

Through every challenging harmony or tricky African word, Jo encouraged us to keep going, to push through, and to always strive for excellence.
I doubt we will ever be a completely “well-behaved choir”, and the dynamic between Jo and the singers is one we will always look back on fondly. From the tenors misbehaving during the May Fair parade, to our wonderful last concert at Ugborough Church where even Jo admitted we were rather fabulous, it has been a joy.

“Just follow me! And if it goes wrong, we all go wrong together!”.

Jo gave thanks and acknowledgment in memory of founder member Gill Miller-Williams as the special lady that set the tone for the choir at its conception in 2002. She thanked the MGS for being fantastic choir members, and trying really hard (most of the time!!). Also a thanks to Tim for his support, the committee members for taking over the admin tasks, Caroline Evans for leading several sessions, Ashleigh for her help with the singing, and Jean for her hard work over all of the years, right from the conception of MGS. A special thanks to husband Peter for his help in the past few years and for being such a brilliant barman!

On behalf of the entire choir, we express our deepest gratitude for all Jo has given. We wish Jo nothing but happiness and fulfilment in the years to come.

We are excited for Jo as she embarks on new adventures, and we are also excited to welcome our new leader Freya in September to see what direction the choir will go in next. Watch this space!

17.05.2025

17/05/2025 A joyful end to our wonderful choir director’s last concert in charge!
@ St Peter’s Church Ugborough, in aid of “Christian Aid”. We raised in excess of £700!
Shout out to “Girls Night Out” who joined us for our final number!

May Fair 2025

Modbury May Fair 2025 – MGS Concert raised £346.57! Here we are singing Ke Arona

21.11.2024

November 2024. What a Wonderful World – MGS Concert raising over £650 for Kingsbridge Food Bank!

November 2024 – our first ever Stage Stormer!! Albeit a very small and cute one 🙂

03.03.2024

Somlandela – We Will Follow. March 2024 for Kathy and Heather’s fundraiser for supplies and equipment when they travel abroad to the School they volunteer at.