Terrific performances honoured a man generous with his talents.

Seb Farrall – A Celebration. Performed at The Butterworth Hall, Warwick Arts Centre, Sunday 3 May 2026.

Review by Charles Essex.

Seb Farrall was a highly respected and extremely talented and enthusiastic character on the local choral music scene before his tragic death on his 32nd birthday following a cycling accident. 

Evidence of the high esteem with which he was regarded was that there was hardly an empty seat in the Butterworth Hall for this tribute to him a year after his death.  Two musical groups, the Coventry City of Culture Orchestra and the Coventry City Salvation Army band, and eight ensembles performed in his honour.

Fittingly, the performance started with Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now, reflecting that although Seb was gone, his legacy of promoting music would continue for many years.  Throughout the 20 pieces there were video clips and a montage of photographs of Seb at various ages and stages.

Make our Garden Grow by Leonard Bernstein as a song from Seb’s wedding to Fran, was very moving with its positivity reflecting Seb’s love of creativity.  Carly Simon’s Let the River Run by the massed choirs was disappointing as the lyrics were largely unintelligible. However, this was redeemed by Lullabye by Billy Joel, with strong piano accompaniment and photos of Seb and Fran’s daughter projected on the backdrop. 

Louis Armstrong’s gentle 1967 hit What a Wonderful World exemplified Seb’s love of everyday things and finding joy in them.  There was a contrasting rhythm with the Spice Girls Spice Up Your Life, followed by a distinctly different tempo with Nimrod from Elgar’s Enigma Variations.

A very warmly welcomed four pieces were sung, with choreography, by members of The Music Man Project, which promotes music among people with learning difficulties, and epitomised Seb’s commitment to involvement in music being for everyone.  This was superbly led by David Stanley, who has established 22 Music Man Projects across the UK.

The first half finished with a medley of Abba songs, loved and arranged by Seb, some of which were well-known, other less so. The second half started with Our Consecration, a sombre piece from the Salvation Army Band celebrating Seb’s background in Salvation Army bands.  His strong Christian faith, which came through clearly in how he served others, was echoed in Blessings.  There followed a disappointing rendition of George Harrison’s Here Comes the Sun. In a moving piece of déja vu, Total Praise was sung against the backdrop of a video of Seb conducting this piece in this venue some years earlier.  As a boy Seb had been keen on River Dance, and when Lord of the Dance was performed, we were treated to a young Seb on video doing his version of Irish Dancing in the living room.

The last piece was a wonderfully rousing rendition of Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus, except it wasn’t the last piece.  Audiences expect an encore, a short piece to send them home happy. No one could have guessed that Fran, who was playing the French horn in the orchestra, would sing a wonderful solo of He Lives in You. 

The whole performance was a marvellous tribute to Seb.  It did what it said on the tin – it truly was Seb Farrall – A Celebration.