Members’ News

See Peter’s post here

Susannah has suggested the following (clicking either link at 2pm on Saturday should take you to the live stream)

2pm UK time Saturday 28 March

Deutsche Grammophon marks #WorldPianoDay. In the label’s tradition of recording the world’s greatest pianists, we present live performances from living rooms around the world. Confirmation coming in from Víkingur Ólafsson, Maria João Pires, Jan Lisiecki, Kit Armstrong and many more…Stay tuned! #StayatHome

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC34DbNyD_0t8tnOc5V38Big

https://www.facebook.com/deutschegrammophon

As per our members’ mail, we’re pleased to announce Rossini is now only postponed! Plans are to have the concert on Saturday October 17th 2020 – situation permitting. In the meantime – here’s a non-musical challenge to while away some time today (courtesy of Innocent Smoothie social media) …

Arrange your herbs and spices in order of how full they are.

PS Just hang on to your Rossini scores (and keep gently practising!)

Unfortunately, based on current advice, it has been decided to cancel the Rossini concert in April and suspend rehearsals until further notice. Choir members will be notified by email when the situation changes. Updates on how you can ask for help from the choir will be posted here shortly.

The latest developments in the spread of the new Coronavirus and contradictory advice have understandably increased people’s levels of concern over whether rehearsals should be continuing at this time. The government advice does not state that cancelling is necessary yet, so we will go ahead with rehearsals as before. Making Music’s current advice is along similar lines. Please follow their points and wash your hands for 20 seconds before rehearsal and if you need to sneeze or cough, do it into a tissue, bin it then wash your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your flexed elbow. Making Music also suggest no handshakes or kissing although the government does not yet advise against handshakes – witness the contradictory advice!

We understand that individuals may increasingly decide to no longer attend and we fully respect these decisions. 

As before we also ask that anyone feeling unwell, with a high temperature, respiratory problems or flu-like symptoms not to attend, until you are better. Please also do not attend if you have recently returned from a high-risk area.

Dear Singers,

In light of the recent developments re: Coronavirus we would like to encourage singers to continue to come to rehearsals (if feeling well) but for us all to take sensible precautions to protect ourselves and each other by following the current government guidance. This includes the oft repeated advice around frequent and thorough handwashing and ensuring that when coughing or sneezing you cover your nose with a flexed elbow or a tissue.

If you do feel unwell or are experiencing a high temperature, respiratory problems or flu like symptoms please do not attend rehearsals until you feel better.

The committee will be keeping the situation under review and will issue a further statement if the situation changes.

Thanks to all and safe singing!

Following up from the rehearsal pointers provided by Susannah, please note that we will perform all of the “On Christmas Night” by Bob Chilcott. Full running order (with where you will find the music) as follows:-

There will also be some harp and flute solos and some readings.

Carols in Chastleton will be on Saturday 7th December starting at around 10:30am.

Dear all,

With apologies that this is such short notice, but we were contacted by Chipping Norton School this morning, as all their caretaking staff have called in sick. The school will therefore be closed from 5pm and we will not be able to rehearse there tonight.

Rather than cancel, we have arranged to have the use of the hall at St Mary’s Primary School. This is not far from our usual venue, but parking there is limited. I suggest that if you are up to the walk then parking at Chippy school is probably the best plan. There’s a bit of a hill down to the school but the total distance is probably not much more than walking from the car park to our normal music room venue! Google reckons 0.2 miles and 4 minutes for the trip.

The map below shows the route from Chippy school over the Pelican crossing, a very short distance along Walterbush Road, then turn right down The Green where the primary school is about half-way down on your left.

We hope to see as many of you as possible there tonight to start our Christmas music.

Wednesday 23rd October 19:00-21:30 Chippy School Music Room
Friday 25th October 19:30-21:00 Sing through: Chippy Methodist Church
Wednesday 30th October 19:00-21:30 Chippy Methodist Church
Sunday 3rd November 13:30-16:00-ish Cheltenham Town Hall

Dear Choir members,

Belshazzar’s Feast and rehearsals up to the concert

Thank you all for your hard work so far this term, I am very pleased with the progress everyone is making. I appreciate your focus and tenacity to get on top of the Feast beast, which is one of the most challenging pieces in the choral repertoire! 

As we get more familiar with the music it is important that we begin to sing through longer sections and get a sense of continuity as it is made up of so many short sections. This week’s sing through was very valuable (and instructive!) and I would like to do that every week from now to the concert. This will also help to highlight for everyone the patches that are less familiar, which will help with practice.

To give us quality time for this I would like to start rehearsals at 7.00, from next week (25th). The purpose being to allow a full session of learning and sorting notes, a break, then a sing through of ever larger sections until we can do it all! I appreciate that not everyone will be able to make the earlier start but I would be grateful if you could make an effort to be there as soon as possible. 

This is NOT a panic measure at all – I am satisfied with progress, but the extra time will be very useful for our confidence. 

I hope you have signed up for the workshop with Robert Dean. It will be a great day as he will not only support our preparation of BF, but will help to develop our vocal skills too.

Thank you all very much.

Kind regards,

Peter