All posts by Chris K

Fwd: New Music Makers Christmas Music – further information

Lins Emails
Here is a message from our Music Librarian regarding the music for tonight.

Regards
Eric

Hello all,
You’ll receive your Christmas music pack this evening containing:
  • Carol of the Bells
  • Do You Hear What I Hear?
  • Follow The Star (only if I held it on your behalf in store – otherwise please print at home as previously advised)
  • Jingle-Bell Rock
  • Sing We Now of Christmas
  • The Little Drummer Boy
  • The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
  • This Christmas (arr. Paul Langford) (new for 2022)

Your pack is in a plastic wallet marked with your choir number and your name.  As is usual with Christmas music, I’ll collect everything in again early in the new year. I’d be grateful if you could return it if at all possible in its wallet please. It helps to keep our costs down.
Other new pieces for 2022: You should have noticed other pieces mentioned in the recent newsletter.  These are on order but supply times a little extended at the moment.  These pieces will be issued to you as soon as they arrive and have been “library processed” by me. These are:
  • Tidings of Comfort and Joy (arr. Audrey Snyder)
  • Last Christmas (arr. Greg Gilpin)
·        Grown Up Christmas List (arr. Mac Huff)
Your Music Committee has also chosen one other new piece, White Winter Hymnal (arr. Alan Billingsly). This will be sung by a small group (up to 12).  That music has been received but I’ll only it after Lilian and Chris have decided who will sing in that group.
 
Best wishes
 
Tony
 
 
 

Subscriptions

Lins Emails
Can I remind you that you need to change your Standing Orders for the payment of the monthly subscription to the choir.

The subs were increased as from the 1st September, from £14 to £16 per month, and if you did not make the change in time before you standing order went out, could you send a separate payment for the difference, quoting “Subs” as a reference.
Many thanks.
Eric

Fwd: Christmas Music 2022 – a note from your music librarian

Lins Emails
Good morning,

I enclose a copy of an email I have received from tony Jardine, our Music Librarian, which I hope is self explanatory.

Regards

Eric

 
Hello everyone,
Your music for this coming Christmas season will be available (apart from new pieces still to arrive from the suppliers) at the first rehearsal this week.  If you are not going to be there this week, you will be able to collect your pack in subsequent weeks. If you’re a regular “Zoomer”, feel free to arrange for someone to collect your music on your behalf. There are a couple of points you should note please.   
Follow The Star is available for members to print at home themselves.  Some members chose to keep their copies safe in the library with the rest of their music when they returned it after the last Christmas season. If that was the case, your copy will be in your music pack this week.  However, many chose not to do this. Therefore, members with the following library numbers should print their own copy again unless they already have one at home ready:
1, 4, 6, 7, 12, 15, 16, 18, 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 45, 46, 49, 55, 56, 57.
A PDF is attached for your convenience to use for printing out.  Alternatively, you can access the PDF in the members’ area of the website.
Carols from ‘100 Carols for Choirs’:  This is the one set of music that we do ask members to buy themselves.  I hold a few spare copies in the library that I can loan out temporarily as required, usually to tidy over new members until they can get their own copy.  In terms of purchase**, there are either paperback or spiral bound versions available at, for example, Amazon or Musicroom.com.  Don’t forget to use the easyfundraising portal should you shop at either of these retailers.
** The collection is edited and arranged by David Willcocks and John Rutter, published by Oxford University Press. ISBN 9 780193 532274 (paperback); ISBN 9 780193 355798 (spiral bound)
Away in a Manger:  Contrary to earlier advice we will not be singing ‘Away In A Manger’ from ‘100 Carols for Choirs’.  We will use another version, still being finally decided.  I’ll make whatever is chosen available to everyone as soon as I can after that decision.
Best wishes
Tony

pdf icon Follow-The-Star.pdf

New Music Makers Newsletter

Lins Emails
Hi there,

Well, I hope you have all enjoyed the lovely summer we have had, and managed to get away somewhere nice.
Most of you will know that Lin stepped down as Chairman of the choir, and I was duly elected to take her place.  I know that that is going to be a hard act to follow, so you must bear with me until I get my feet under the table.  Lin and Chris dedicated a lot their time and effort to the choir, which we are truly grateful for, and we wish them well as they travel in their motor home across the country and behind, but we are happy that Lin will still remain a member of the choir.
We now have a plan for the Autumn Season.  The Music Committee have met and have agreed the following for our Christmas Concerts:-
Carried Forward from Last Year

Carol of the Bells
Do you Hear What I Hear
Follow the Star
Jingle Bell Rock
Little Drummer Boy
Sing We Now of Christmas
Still, Still, Still
The Most wonderful Time of the Year
From the 100 Carol Book

Wexford Carol (No. 21)
Hark the Herald Angles Sing (No. 23)
Away in a Manger (No. 13)
O Come All Ye Faithful (No. 54)
Once in Royal David city (No. 61)
New

Grown Up Christmas List
Last Christmas
This Christmas
White Winter Hymnal
Tidings of Comfort and Joy (small number)
We are in the process of purchasing the new music, and once we have it, Jerry will put it on the One Drive so that you can practice.
We will be starting back on Thursday, 8th September, and the following four weeks, we will be doing Sectionals.
Lillian will be back, and Chris will be conducting four of the songs in the concerts.
We have had a number of requests for us to sing at various functions in the lead up to Christmas, so I give below a list of dates:
26th November – Hedge End Methodist Church – 7.30pm
1st December – Hedge End Macular Society, at Hedge End URC – 1.30pm – Festive refreshments provided
10th December – Christmas Concerts at Hedge End Village Hall – performances at 2.30 and 7.00pm.
13th December – Halo Club at KCC – afternoon – considering wearing Victorian costumes
17th December – Carol Concert at Royal Victoria Country Park – time to be confirmed
21st December – Fareham Towns Women Guild – St Johns Church, Fareham – 2.15pm
Can you let me know if you are available for any of the above.
Now that Chris Kellaway has stepped down from his role Audio Technician at our concerts, we are looking for help in this matter, so if you know of anyone who will be willing to help, then please let me know.
We will also be holding a Beetle Drive/Quiz Night on the 1st October, at Hedge End Village Hall, at 7.30pm.  There will be refreshments provided, but you will need to bring your own drinks.  We are hoping to provide a Ploughmans, and once we have priced up the ingredients, we will let you know the cost of a ticket, but please put the date into your diary.
We have also been looking at resurrecting the Local Vocals, and we are contacting the various Nursing Homes etc to see what the situation is regarding restrictions, but it would be helpful if you could let me know how many would be willing to come and sing, if we are allowed back into the homes.
At the AGM held at the end of July, it was agreed that we would increase the Members Subscriptions from £14 per month to £16, starting in September, so I am requesting that you all change the Standing Order that you pay the choir as soon as possible.
The last thing that I have is to remind you that if you are feeling unwell, please do not attend the rehearsals, and you can join in via Zoom, which we will broadcast each week, as we have done for the past two years.
Well, that’s all for now, and sorry that it has been a long email, but we have had a lot to get through during the Summer holidays.
See you all next week.
Eric

Sorry to Say we have some More Covid Cases

Lins Emails
Hi All
Sorry to report that some more of the choir members have gone down with Covid. Tony, Keith, and Tom.
As it seems quite rife at the moment apparently 1 in 12 it seems you are quite lucky if you have not caught it.
In view of this it has been decided to have the AGM on Zoom. I will send out all of the relevant Reports and last years minutes etc over the next two days in time for the meeting.
Hope everyone is feeling ok.
Lin

Sorry Covid Aware

Lins Emails
Hi All
I have had a message from Beckie Bull to say she is really very sorry but she tested positive on Sunday night for Covid. Just want to make you all aware.
You may have noticed that Rosie was not at the Concert she tested positive on Friday.
It seems to be all around, I hope you both are not too poorly with it and everyone else stays clear.
Lin

Summer Spectacular Success

Lins Emails

Hi Everyone

I hope everyone enjoyed my birthday as much as I did!  What a lovely way to spend it doing one of my favourite things with so many lovely people.  Thank you for my beautiful flowers and having over a hundred people singing Happy Birthday was really special, and thank you Tom for your kind words.  I had a lovely evening Chris and I went to the River Rat in Hamble and they had a cancellation and we were offered the dining pod not normally available for just two people so it made me feel very special, the icing on the cake was we even managed to get an Uber home a rare thing in Hamble otherwise we would have had to walk.  All in all a perfect day.  

Ok it wasn’t just my birthday 😊.  What  a wonderful joyous Concert we put on for so many satisfied customers I only had good comments from everyone that I spoke to.  We certainly pulled it all together and you could tell that we were all enjoying it.  I thought the solos were a great mixture something for everyone and were all brilliant, even if Jerry did make people cry.  (In a good way).

Thanks Chris for making us all smile and keeping us all in check and thank you for being patient with us during rehearsals I think it certainly paid off and you have done a wonderful job during Lillian’s absence.  It was lovely having Sophie back she gives us so much confidence that nothing could go wrong just like when you are playing. 

Thanks to all of the choir members and partners that helped (I wont mention individules for fear that I miss someone) in the morning setting up and for everyone that stayed behind to help clear away.  When I looked round I felt sure that we would not manage to do it in 1 hour and 15mins but we did with  5 minutes to spare.  The Caretaker was almost pleased!  You all worked your socks off thank you so much what a team.
Chris has sent this message
Well done everyone! Who said you can’t do a good rehearsal and follow it with a really good concert too! Great atmosphere this afternoon. Heard lots of positive comments including someone asked if they could have a signed photo of us 😂 I thought it sounded really good. Super proud of everyone!
Lillian has sent this message
Congratulations on the Summer Spectacular
Sorry I had to leave a bit early. It was so nice to see the choir perform and the soloists were excellent! Bravissimo to all! 

I’ll share the photos when they are edited. Looking forward to be back in September.

And here is the link to the photographs.  Thanks Lillian
See you at the AGM
Lin 

Last Email

Lins Emails
Hi
Just to let you know I thought I was only sending the Programme but they all went from my Chris’s original email. Also Chris Allison has two LL’s and its Singin’ have changed Maggie’s Musical to the right one!
It will be all right on the night or afternoon!
Lin

Summer Spectacular Bits

Lins Emails
Hi All
There are a few tickets left for the performance, if you would like any of them could you let us know asap as Sarah is doing a table plan.
I am assuming that everyone who hasn’t told me that they are not coming is attending the Concert, we need to know for a seating plan. So if you have been attending choir we am assuming that you will be attending.
On A Clear Day has been taken out of the programme. We will be running through the whole of the programme in order on Thursday adding in the soloist. Anyone who has not managed to go through their solo with Chris could you please come to rehearsal early before the rehearsal starts please.
Uniform – we will be wearing the same as we wore for the Golden Concert. But we have made a decision that you can wear appropriate proper sandals if you would prefer. So what is appropriate? Gold or Black would be great, and anything neutral in colour – no red green etc. Please remember that you have to stand and walk in them so men no high heels!
Normal black trouser ladies. Men if you have a short sleeved black shirt that would be acceptable with your black trousers and you don’t have to wear your jackets!!!
There are a few of you who have not had gold bow ties and I will try and remember those on Thursday.
Raffle Prizes – if you still have a Raffle Prize could you please bring it on Thursday it will be too late to bring it in on Saturday. Thanks
Cakes – Obviously we will need those on Saturday could you pop them into the Village Hall in the morning to give everyone time sort them out. If they need slicing it would be appreciated if you could do that before hand. As there are no fridges could we not have fresh cream in them or anything that will melt. Hopefully it will not be as hot as today but it still will be warm. All help much appreciated on Saturday morning from 9.00am. And as much help at the end to put chairs, tables away, etc etc as we have to vacate as it is booked after us.
It’s going to be a great day so lets all have a lovely time and keep smiling.
Lin