The sun shone down as the town came together in song

AN EXTRA ORDINARY musical event was given a massive reception by more than 2,000 people in the debut show on the stage of the town council's new pavilion in Pencester Gardens on Sunday.

Music 2000 presented a reflection of the character and spirit of Dover, involving nearly every school in the town, the Kent Music School and Dover Choral Society, The project took two years to plan, and was initiated by Dover Town Council to celebrate the Millennium.

At one time there were 350 children and adults on stage in the pavilion and adjoining large marquees - with 650 taking part during the two and a half hour show.

The artistic element of Music 2000 came from Tony Spencer, head of Dover Music Centre. And after all the planning, hard work at school music workshops and co-operation by teachers, the result was a memorable success.

As town mayor Margaret Sansum introduced the musicians and singers the rain clouds disappeared and the sun came out. There had been a danger that heavy rainfall would cause the cancellation of the whole show, Children from Shatterlocks, Vale View, St Mary's and Archers Court schools and Dover Music School's wind - orchestra kick-started the entertainment with the song Invicta. Unconquered, written by librettist Ken Pickering.

The show was split into four sections, Dover present and past was in the first half. An intriguing sing-song about Dover's port made up the third section and the final of the show was about Dover's future.

Core group choirs from Primary and secondary schools joined in with songs such as I Have A Dream, Dover - this is our town.

Other schools taking part were Astor secondary, Barton, Charlton, Dover College, the two grammar schools, Melbourne, Priory Fields (formerly Astor primary), St. Martin's, St. Radigund's and St Richard's primary schools. Freelancer Alan Vincent was the main conductor of songs and also composer for such songs as Dover, this is our town, The children sang with gusto to demonstrate their pride in their town. Other conductors were Annette Marsh, Tony Matthews and Rod Spencer.

Mrs Sansum said afterwards: "I am particularly proud so many young people in Dover have been involved in the project, which was such a great success. The show brought everyone in Dover together and helped give the town a strong identity and community spirit.

"Thanks go to everyone who supported the project and made it all possible," she said.

The official opening of the pavilion is Sunday at 2.30pm with Cantium brass band playing.

A musical triumph.

CONGRATULATIONS to all involved in the triumph of Music 2000 enjoyed by so many in Pencester Gardens on Sunday.

It was truly a community event, initiated by Dover Town Council. There are those who believe a town council in Dover, and other towns, are a superfluous tier of local government.

There are many in Dover who do not understand what Dover Town Council is responsible for, even where its offices are to be found.

Sunday's exciting concert certainly added to the pride in our town.

Many of the young people taking part, and there were hundreds, will in their old age remember Music 2000 as just a few of those around today still talk about their participation in the first Dover Pageant so many years ago.

It cost money to stage Music 2000 and for that the council tax payers in the town of Dover must be thanked. The same as the ratepayers of the wider Dover district must be thanked for the highly acclaimed Millennium celebrations on Dover sea front as December rolled over into January. Once again congratulations to all who were involved, from the youngest singer to the lads of the Young Offenders Institute who cleared up any mess after the show.