All posts by Chris K

Summer Newsletter

Lins Emails

Hi there, 
I hope you are all enjoying the fine weather we are having at the moment. 
Firstly, here are the details of Margaret Bowditch’s funeral.
Her funeral is to be on 2nd Sept. at 15.00 in the north chapel of Portchester crematorium and afterwards at 25 Claremont Gardens, Purbrook,  PO7 5LL for afternoon tea. 
All are welcome to attend.
Secondly, here is a message from Chris regarding what we will be doing on our first rehearsal on the 4th September.
Hello New Music Makers
I hope that you had a good summer.  I am looking forward to our first Thursday rehearsal as we begin to look at our Christmas music.  In our first rehearsal we will be looking at:-
– All I Want For Christmas is You
– A Muppet Christmas Carol Medley
– Somewhere in My Memory
– The Shepherds’ Farewell (Number 89 in 100 Carols for Choirs)
– Mele Kalikimaka
– I Believe in Father Christmas
– Jingle Bell Rock

A big thanks to Jerry again for putting all of these on the website. Do try to listen to these in advance of our rehearsal so you know what to expect!
Looking forward to seeing you all again on Thursday!
Chris


Tony will be handing out the new music and those from our library at the rehearsal.
Well, that’s all for now, so I will either see you at Local Vocals which is at Snowdrop Place this week on Tuesday, or when we get back to rehearsals.
Bye for now.
Eric

Update

Lins Emails
Hi there,
I hope you are all having a relaxing time during the summer break.
There’s just a few things that I thought you might like to know about.
Some of you may remember Margaret Bowditch, who was an Alto in the choir for many years. Well, I am sad to say that she has passed away recently, and when I have details of her funeral arrangements, I will let you know.
The Committee are having a meeting on the 26th August, so if there is anything that you would like the Committee to discuss, can you let our new Secretary, Jacqui, know asap, by emailing her on secretary@newmusicmakers.com.
Finally, as the time is coming up when we start back to rehearsals on the 4th September, I enclose the list of songs that we will be singing for the Christmas season.  As you will see, some songs have been brought forward from last year, some you already have in the “100 Carols for Choirs” book, and the rest will be given out to you at the first rehearsal, by Tony, who has now received all the new music which we have purchased ready for this season.
Well enjoy the rest of the summer, and I will see you in September.
Bye for now.
Eric
doc icon Christmas-2025-Programme.docx

This Week’s Newletter

Lins Emails

Good morning everyone,
I hope you have all got over yesterday.  Gods know what it would have been like if the hall did not have the air-conditioning that has recently been installed, it was rather warm yesterday.
Many thanks to all those that turned up to help set up, serve and pack away afterwards.  We were set up by 11.30, so we were not in any rush to finish, and we were pack up by 6.00, which, again, meant there was no rush to finish.  We are very lucky to have partners who are happy to come along and help because without them, we would not be able to put on these type of events. 
Here’s a message from Chris:-
Also here is a short paragraph from me if an email is going out to the choir this week – 
Hello Everyone,
I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who was able to take part in our “Summer Spectacular” this year. The concert certainly lived up to its name!  From the moment we opened  with our Beatles Medley to the closing bars of “Shine” it felt like we had the attention of the room.  The sound was full and expressive and it felt like we had stepped up a level even from our Summer concert a few weeks ago.  All of our soloists and small group worked hard along with all of you in the choir to deliver a brilliant finale to our Summer 2025 season.  A special mention must go to Roy who, at 90 delivered an outstanding solo and the response almost brought the house down!  Also a big thank you to Keziah who has fitted in brilliantly as our accompanist and to Amelia for joining us again.  I am also aware that the success of our “Summer Spectacular” goes beyond the music, so a big thank you to everyone who also helped with the set up, cooking and providing cakes, refreshments, front of house, raffle, tidy up etc…
We missed everyone who couldn’t be part of this event this year.  For me, this concert was a wonderful finale to our first term of working together and I left feeling extremely proud to be MD of a choir that can produce this quality of music.

Just a reminder that we have Local Vocals on Tuesday, at a new venue for us, Rosewood Nursing Home, Swift Road, Woolston.  There is difficulty parking at the home, so you will probably need to park in the road.
Next Thursday is our AGM, so please attend and have your say in how the choir is run etc.
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.
Bye for now.
Eric

Help List for Saturday

Lins Emails
Hi there,

Here is a copy of an email from Sharon regarding the jobs that require doing on Saturday for the concert.

Regards

Eric

Eric – could you send out the attached to the choir members so they can see in advance what is needed for help on Saturday, prior to looking at the list (which not everyone does!).  That way they can decide what they want to do and hopefully write it down on Thursday.

 

Thank you.

Sharon

pdf icon Helpers-rota-Spectacular.pdf

Snowdrop Place

Lins Emails
Hi there,
In case you have not received an email from Eunice, Local Vocals at Snowdrop Place this afternoon has been cancelled, due to the home having COVID.
See you all on Thursday.
Regards
Eric

Thank you!

Lins Emails
Hi there,

for those that attended the Gospel concert on the 28th June, here is a copy of the email I have received from the organiser.
Dear Eric and The New Music Makers Choir,
On behalf of Churches Together (HEWEB) I would like to thank you all for taking part in the Gospel concert on 28th June.
Everyone had a wonderful time, we have had many messages saying how much people enjoyed the event.  Even asking when the next one is.
We also raised £1090.45 which will be split between The Countess Mountbatten Hospice and The Food Bank based at KCC.
Thank you all so much.
Warm regards
Rachel Owton (she/her)
St James’ Church
Churches Together Rep
PCC Member
Regards
Eric 

This Week’s Rehearsal

Lins Emails

Hi there,
Firstly here’s a message from Chris about what we are doing at this week’s rehearsal:- 
Hello Everyone
We are almost there for our Summer spectacular!  This Thursday I want to run the entire programme in order with our soloists also performing their songs for the choir.  We will run normal timings this week, 7:30-9:30pm with a break in the middle when we have finished the first half.  Here is a reminder of the order of songs.  
First Half
Beatles Abbey Road Medley
(Welcome)
Alexander’s Ragtime Band
Chattanooga Choo Choo
Liz Solo
Circle of Life
Come What May
Craig Solo
Thank You For the Music
Bohemian Rhapsody
Old Macdonald

(Break)

Second Half

Galway Girl
(Amelia Solo – Defying Gravity)
To Make You Feel My Love
Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You
Ladies Small Group- I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love
Jane Solo
Comedy Tonight
Roy Solo
Tell Me It’s Not True
(Raffle)
Shine

This is our last rehearsal before the concert so please make it a priority to be there.

See you Thursday.
Chris
Secondly, just a reminder that we will need help in setting up the hall on Saturday morning. We will be getting to the hall at 9.00am, and some of us will be going to the lock-up to get all the equipment and tea services, so any help would be greatly appreciated.  A list of the jobs that will need doing will be on the table as you enter the hall on Thursday, if you could put your name down for any.
Thirdly, the following week will be our AGM, and a list of the nominees for the Officers and Committee will also be on the table so that they can be proposed and seconded before the meeting.
Lastly, we are singing at Snowdrop Place tomorrow, for Local Vocals, at the usual time of 1.45 for 2.00pm.
So if I don’t see you tomorrow, I will see you at rehearsal on Thursday.
Bye for now.
Eric

NMM rehearsal next week

Lins Emails

Hi there,
Firstly, many thanks to those who put themselves out to turn up at the Gospel concert this afternoon. Although we were few, we received a good response from the members of the audience.  It is a little frustrating that when 25 persons put their name down on the list to say they are going to attend an event and only 15 turn up. If you decide not to attend at least have the courtesy to let me know.
Here’s a message from Chris regarding Thursday’s rehearsal-
 Hello Everyone
 We are now two rehearsals away from our Summer Spectacular and I hope you are all looking forward to it – I certainly am!  I am pleased with how the new songs are sounding.  In practising along to tracks this week three things to particularly work on ahead of Thursday are 
1. Rhythms of the verses of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”
2. Rhythms in Circle of Life
3. The final page of “Shine” (basses)
This week Amelia will be joining us at the start of the rehearsal so we will run through “Galway Girl” and “To Make You Feel My Love” first and then the rest of the programme in order. 
First Half
Beatles Abbey Road Medley
(Welcome)
Alexander’s Ragtime Band
Chattanooga Choo Choo
Liz Solo
Circle of Life
Come What May
Craig Solo
Thank You For the Music
Bohemian Rhapsody
Old Macdonald
(Break)
Second Half
Galway Girl
To Make You Feel My Love
Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You
Ladies Small Group- I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love
Jane Solo
Comedy Tonight
Roy Solo
Tell Me It’s Not True
(Raffle)
Shine 
We will be rehearsing until around 9pm then Keziah will rehearse the soloists in the church and I will take the ladies small group to continue to rehearse I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love.
Have a good week and I look forward to seeing you again on Thursday.
Chris
 
 We have no Local Vocals this week, so I will see you all on Thursday.
Bye for now.
Eric