PERHAPS Marr Cappella Musical Director Steven Sorley was looking into a crystal ball when he planned well in advance last Tuesday’s Spring Concert at Portland Church.

Because the inspiring musical evening concluded with a medley by Swedish supergroup Abba, whom it was announced four days earlier, were re-uniting to record two new songs.

With a nod to Agnetha, Benny, Bjorn and Anni-Frid, the last three songs before the encore were Super Trouper, Money, Money, Money and Thank You for the Music, performed in the Troon choir’s own inimitable style. And it whetted the appetite for the two new tunes, which should be out for Christmas.

The concert, as chairwoman Elizabeth Varrie said in her introduction, took us from St Meddan’s Street to 42nd Street.

We got underway with an impressive acappella version of the William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini, which was used as the theme to iconic TV series the Lone Ranger and this was followed by Ballade to the Moon by modern composer Daniel Elder.

Another highlight was Elder’s Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and this was followed by a re-working of Billy Joel’s Lullaby, penned for his daughter, Alexa.

Taking centre stage after that was Pippa Blundell, a student at the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow, who was in fine voice for three classical performances, including Silent Noon by Ralph Vaughan Williams.

We then had a version of revered hymn The Lord is My Shepherd, as arranged by Howard Goodall for smash hit TV comedy, The Vicar of Dibley.

There was a swing version of Down by the Riverside and When the Saints Go Marching in, which was especially appreciated by a St Mirren fan following his team’s Championship title success.

Part two began with Hushabye Mountain from the movie Chitty, Chitty Bang, Bang, with Sorley apologising that Dick Van Dyke couldn’t make it and this was followed by version of Pure Imagination from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Another standout was Tell Me It’s Not True, as performed by Barbara Dickson in Willy Russell musical Blood Brothers. 

Taking the floor for three numbers after this was another Royal Conservatoire student, Anna Cowen, who performed Pulled from the Adams Family and Vanilla Ice Cream from She Loves Me by Jerry Bock, which inspired the movie You’ve Got Mail. Proceeds from the event will go to Dementia Friendly Troon Villages, which promotes the awareness of dementia in the area.