Programme

And Here’s What You’ll Hear . . .

Words and Music by
Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri
from Disney’s A Christmas Carol
recorded by Andrew Bocelli

God Bless Us Everyone

Words and Music by
Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne
Arranged by Mark Brymer

Do You Hear What I Hear

Traditional Spirituals
Arranged by Mary McDonald

Amen! Tell It on the Mountain!

Traditional Spirituals
Arranged by Mary McDonald

It Came Upon The Midnight Clear

King of Kings

A Christmas Cantata by John W. Peterson

The King of Kings!

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Now the birth of Jesus …

Nigel A. Skelchy

And Thou shalt call Him Jesus …

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And it came to pass …

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There is no room …

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Sleep, my Child …

Kimberley Khoo

That first Christmas …

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And there were in the same country ….

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Fear not, for, behold …

Nigel A. Skelchy

Glory to God …

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And it came to pass …

Fr. Alvin Ng

And the shepherds returned …

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Now when Jesus was born …

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Where is He, the promised new born King? …

.

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And, lo, the star which they saw in the east …

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O wonderful Christmas!

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The Conductor

Mervyn Peters

Mervyn's involvement and experience in music and musical theatre is as varied as it is extensive - ranging from Producer, Director, Musical Director, Conductor, Chorus Master, Stage Manager, Lighting Designer, Technical Director to Actor.

Born in Alor Setar, Kedah, and educated at the Maktab Sultan Abdul Hamid, he moved to Kuala Lumpur joining Pos Malaysia in 1964. He kept his interest in music by singing in the St. Francis Xavier Church choir and was eventually Choirmaster from 1972 to 1976. That was the start of his serious interest in music and in particular working with choirs and choruses.

The mid-1970s also saw his interest in theatre develop with roles in Die Fledermaus (1975) and The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1976), and principal roles in Cinderella (1976); The Boyfriend (1977); and Hello, Dolly! (1982) with The Philharmonic Society of Selangor. His debut as Musical Director was in Camelot (1977) for the Malaysian Drama Council.

Having joined The Phil in 1978, he conducted most of the Society’s choral concerts, and in particular their Easter and Christmas Concerts until 1990. Whilst his pet project was producing concerts for upcoming young musicians, his involvement in other productions were mostly as Producer and Musical Director/Conductor. Some of the musicals include Amahl and the Night Visitors (1979, 1989); Oklahoma! (1980); Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1984); Guys and Dolls (1987); The Mikado (1989) and the World Premiere of Stand and Deliver written by a British duo, lyricist Wilfred Harrison and music composer Stuart Barham (1990).

He was also involved with other theatrical societies in the late 1970s and 1980s in productions such as The Fantasticks; Anna Karenina; The Importance of Being Earnest; Macbeth; and The Teahouse of the August Moon to name a few.

In 1986, returning from a four-month Director’s course with the British Theatre Association at Regent’s College, London, he focused on technical aspects of theatre such as Stage Management, Lighting Design and Technical Direction in a number of foreign concerts staged by Sime Darby Bhd., ballets and musicals: including The Scottish Ballet; The Sadlers Wells Ballet; The Royal Danish Ballet all brought in by their respective embassies; and musicals from the US staged by The STAR Publications: My Fair Lady; The Sound of Music; Oliver and Peter Pan – all in the 1990s.

He was Resident Conductor with the Kuala Lumpur Symphony Orchestra (1986 – 1991) – then an orchestra for young musicians. From 1991 to 1994, among other productions, he also lit the Calvary Church’s Singing Christmas Tree productions at Stadium Negara; and travelled to Hong Kong lighting two Malaysian entries in the ‘Dance On 1997 Festival’.

His first production for The Actors Studio was as Lighting Assistant in A Man For All Seasons (1991). Thereafter, he lit their major productions namely - Antigone; As Is; A Streetcar Named Desire; Philadelphia, Here I Come!; The Scorpion Orchid, Savages, and The Trees along with their productions staged at Dataran Merdeka.

Having opted to retire from Pos Malaysia in January 1997, he joined The Actors Studio on a full-time basis as their General Manager/Technical Director till April 1999. He was Musical Director for a few of their musicals including Ismail – The Last Days in 2008 - which won him the Boh Cameronian Arts Award for Best Musical Direction.

He was appointed Orchestra Personnel Manager with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra from June 1999 till December 2010.

In 2018 he returned as Guest Conductor for The Phil’s Christmas Concerts Songs for the Season: Starry Starry Christmas, and Songs For The Season – Peace On Earth in 2022. His last production with them was in July 2023 Music from the Musicals and Movies, celebrating their 65th Anniversary.

His most recent production was as Stage Manager for West Side Story.

The Choir
(in alphabetical order)

Alto 1
Gloria Quo Wei Lee
Grazele Jenarun
Mona Cheah
Ng Yuet Sum

Alto 2
Cheong Ee Cheng
Lily Lee
Lucy Khoo
May ML Yap
Wennie Oong

Soprano 1
Geri Narayanan
Jasseca Anthonysamy
Kimberley Khoo
Lilian Lim
Mallika Lee
Teresa Wong

Soprano 2
Christine Cheah
Joanne Rue
Lok Oi Lin
Koh Kim Mun
May Huang
Vera Loke Suan Liew

Bass
Andrew Lee
Chew Siang Fatt
Lee Sit Kong
Rev. Fr. Alvin Ng S.J.
Richard Lee
Tony Kok Kah Ping

Tenor
Nigel A. Skelchy
Raymond Nunis
Terence Lee (Stand-in Keyboardist)

The Musicians

Flute
Corgan Yoong Wai Sow

Electric Bass
Kevin Theseira

Rehearsal Pianist & Keyboards
Additional arrangements for flute & bass
Elaine Toon

Music Compiled and Conducted by
Mervyn Peters

Production Team

CC Music Ministry & Administrator ….. …..

Jasseca Anthonysamy

Producer & Sound Op ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. …..

Peter Tham

Production Advisor and Music Director …..

Mervyn Peters

Paul Anbanathan Poonga

Lights Op & Sound Tech ….. ….. ….. ….. …..

Social Media Publicity ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. …..

Assisted by ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. …..

Church Visuals/Video Designs ….. …..

Front-of House Manager ….. ….. …..

Assisted by ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. ….. …..

Production Secretary & Website set-up …..

Raymond Nunis

Nigel A. Skelchy

Andrew Lee

Kimberley Khoo

Carolyn Choo

Emlynne Tham
Phor Yuen Soon
Jessica Cheam
Rachel Lua
John Khoo
Margaret Nunis

THANK YOU

We are grateful to the following individuals for their support

Rev. Fr. Alvin Tan S.J. (Parish Priest)
St. Francis Xavier Music Ministry
YB Teresa Kok
Donor who has chosen to be anonymous
Denis Latimer
Tony Lim
Brendan Pereira
Davin Arul
Pegasus Innovations Sdn Bhd (Audio Visual Provider)
Those who have given their time and effort to this production
And finally you, the Audience, for being here