A sad night tonight when Brian Garner, a member for over 40 years, retired from the choir. The New Music Makers choir was formed in 1970 and Tom Rodaway, a founder member, presented Brian with a framed photograph of the choir in the early years, and a more recent picture featuring both friends. They had fun reminiscing about the old days and saying how much like a family the New Music Makers is to us all. All the best in the future Brian and hope to see you at our Concerts.
Monday 6th November, dawned bright and sunny as several members of the choir gathered at St Peter’s Church, Titchfield. The occasion was to celebrate, together with his family and friends, the life of a choir member, Colin Wilkinson. He had left instructions regarding the content of the service and had especially asked for the choir to sing ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’. ‘I Believe/Ave Maria’ and ‘Fields of Gold’.
Colin sadly passed away on 15th October after losing his battle against cancer. He had been in the choir for several years singing in the bass section and was quite a character. Colin had a knack of starting a conversation with you with a very straight face as if the topic was serious. However it would soon dawn on you that there was a punchline coming.
Colin loved to sing and was always happy to be involved when we were asked to send a small group along to entertain, at different venues. where it would have been impossible to accommodate the full choir..
Writing was another of Colin’s interests and he wrote a book called “Rosetta” about a relative of his who was involved with the abolition of slavery. He also wrote poetry and one with the title ‘Laughter’ was read at the service of celebration.
There were tributes from friends and members of his family from which it was obvious that Colin was always ready, willing and able to do his best for everyone. He will be missed by us all.
New Music Makers choir in Hedge End are looking for someone to make drinks for them in their break on a Thursday night.
They rehearse in the Methodist Church Hall, St Johns Road and help is needed from 8.15pm – 9.30pm or if you wish, stay all night 7.30pm – 10.00pm and enjoy a free concert!!
For more information please phone: 01489 781836
Each year the choir members are asked for nominations to collect for charities over the Christmas period and 2 are randomly chosen. This year they have collected for the charities of “Epilepsy Action” and “Southampton General Hospital Piam Brown Ward”.
Amazingly they managed to raise over £900 and below are the letters of acknowledgement from the charities. Well done to all those members of the choir who gave up their time, sometimes in very cold locations, in order to sing and collect for these worthwhile causes.
Wow what a Concert. It all went off really well. The soloists were amazing. 
The Choir sang their hearts out Chris Allison on the piano kept us all together, with his lovely daughter Martha turning pages and keeping him in order. Our front of house team kept the audience in order we didn’t lose any, thanks for your help people. David despite being left in “the darkness my old friend” he soldiered on through the Simon and Garfunkel Medley masterfully. And Lillian Sediles our new musical director kept us on our toes with her brilliant direction. Not only that she sang with the Choir and played a beautiful violin duet with Chris Allison. Thanks everyone who came you did brilliantly when you joined in with Mary Poppins I hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.
The New Music Makers had a busy weekend. On Saturday we sang at the Royal Victoria Country Park at a Christmas Carol Concert to raise money for the Chapel Fund. It was the first trip out for our new Musical Director Lillian Sediles.
This year it was in the Empire Rooms which was very pleasant but we are looking forward to being back in the Chapel hopefully in 2018.
On Sunday we went to North Baddesley to sing at a Christmas Party. We were not there just for the sandwiches honestly, but they were really nice.
Here we are doing our bit at the Switching on of the Lights in Hedge End Village.
It looked like the whole village had turned out for the occasion. It was a jolly time with a good Christmas atmosphere with lots of interesting stalls and things to do.
The Mayor turned the lights on and it looked really pretty and festive. We were then off to rehearsal for our Concert next week on the 10th December in Hedge End Village Hall.
We kicked off Christmas with the Choir singing at Hamble Social Club for the Royal Air Force Association Christmas Party.
As it was a bit early, we started with some non Christmas Tunes, before we hit them with the ladies singing “Christmas Shopping Blues”, a lively song telling how we have “So Many presents to buy, I just don’t know what to do. I have the Christmas, Christmas Shopping, the Shopping Blues”.
But we did end up telling them that it’s “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year”.
We had solos from Janet Moody and Roy Hogben and lots in between.
All in all a jolly Christmas Party with lots of nice cake.
Christmas has started for the New Music Makers.
7.30 pm at Hedge End Village Hall.
What could be more fun than playing Beetle Drive a fun Quiz, Fish and Chip Supper, Bring your own Drinks, (so no bar bills).
A nice fun night with friends.
Ticket Prices:
See Sandie about Tickets – we still need to sell more to make it a fun evening and to cover the cost of the Hall.
At the AGM you all said that you wanted to have social events so this is your chance to join in.
Email me or Sandie to secure you tickets please.
