Lins Emails

Chairman’s Newsletter

Hi there,
Here is a message from Chris regarding next week’s rehearsal:-
Hi all,
This week we will continue working on our Pentatonix Medley but then I want to do some easier/more familiar songs that are on our programme.  I can almost hear the relief!  Here’s the plan…
FIRST HALF
Revise Pentatonix Medley 
– Hark the Herald Angels Sing (b1-71)
– Coventry Carol (b152-205)
– O Come all Ye Faithful (b206-236 – basses are now singing the melody with the tenors in b210-226 and practise tracks will be changed accordingly)
– Learn b238-261 (from b240-253 the choir splits.  Sops 1&2 will sing the “Mixed Small Group part” (though at times I’ll have to divide you into 3!); altos 1&2 will split to take the two treble parts of the main choir; 
-at b254-257 we all back to normal; 
-in b257-end Sop1 and Alto1 will take the top stave (again at times I will need to divide you into 3); Sop2 & Alto2 will take the middle stave. (Men just follow what’s written for you!)

SECOND HALF

Walking in the Air
Cradle Song (final verse)
Fairy Tale of New York
The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth
We Wish You The Merriest
Thanks for all your hard work and I look forward to seeing you on Thursday!
Chris
For those of you who weren’t there last night, I can confirm that we have cancelled the singing at John Lewis on Saturday, 5th December.
Also, when we sing at Freegrounds Infant School on Saturday, 28th November, we will be singing two sets, one at 11.30am, and the other at 12.45pm, singing for approx 45 minutes each set, with a 30 minute gap between them so that we have a rest between the sets.  We will be using the songs that we have for the Christmas set of Local Vocals, and we will be singing them through twice. There will be a small stage set up for us and plenty of chairs for those that need them.
Local Vocals are at Sunnycroft, West End, on Tuesday, at the normal time of 2.00pm.
The Music Committee will be meeting on the 13th October to discuss the songs that we will be singing next summer, so if you have any suggestions, either let your rep know or Chris or myself.
Mark Lewis was successful in his audition last night so he will be joining the Tenors, for the moment.
Well, that’s all for now, so I will see you sometime next week.
Bye for now.
Eric

Dates for the Diary

  • Bishop’s Waltham Christmas Fayre – 26 November 2026 from 5.00pm
  • Freegrounds Infants School Christmas Fayre – 28 November 2026 – 11.30am and 12.45pm

·         Break -up for Christmas – 10 December 2026

  • Christmas Concert – 12 December 2026 (1.00pm for sound check, 2.30pm and 7.00pm performances)
  • Haskin Garden Centre – 13 December 2026 – 1.30pm
  • Haskin Garden Centre – 20 December 2026 – 1.30pm

·         Return for Spring Term – 7 January 2027

  • Summer Concert – 12th June 2027(1.00 for sound check, 2.30 performance)
  • Summer Spectacular – 17 July 2027 (1.00 for sound check, 2.30 performance)
  • Christmas Concert – 11 December 2027 (1.00 for sound check, 2.30 and 7.00 performances)

·         ‘All dates and information as known for forthcoming Events can be found on the website Calendar | New Music Makers.’ 

  ·         All the dates for the Local Vocals can be found on the website. Local Vocals! | New Music Makers

Chairman’s newsletter

HI there,
Here is a massage from Chris regarding next week’s rehearsal:-
Hi all
Great work in our last rehearsal!  Two weeks into the Pentatonix Medley and two songs done!  This week we will do the following – 
First Half
Pentatonix Medley O Come all Ye Faithful b206-the end  
– from b240-253 the choir splits.  Sops 1&2 will sing the “Mixed Small Group part” (though at times I’ll have to divide you into 3!); altos 1&2 will split to take the two treble parts of the main choir; 
-at b254-257 we all back to normal; 
-in b257-end Sop1 and Alto1 will take the top stave (again at times I will need to divide you into 3); Sop2 & Alto2 will take the middle stave. (Men just follow what’s written for you!)
By the end of song we will be singing in glorious 8 part harmony – can’t wait! 😃 

We will then sing through the medley from the start.
Second half
Cradle song (Carols for choir p178) – Revise
Midwinter Chill – learn
Fairy tale of New York.
Look through as much as you can before Thursday and listen to the tracks so you’re ready for what’s about to happen!
See you Thursday.
Chris.
Local Vocals are sing at Sunnybank, Fair Oak on Tuesday at 2.30pm.
Well, that’s all for now, so I will see you sometime next week.
Bye for now.
Eric

Dates for the Diary

  • Bishop’s Waltham Christmas Fayre – 26 November 2026 from 5.00pm
  • Freegrounds Infants School Christmas Fayre – 28 November 2026 from 11am TBC
  • John Lewis Saturday – 5 December 2026, 12-1pm, arrive 11.45am

·         Break -up for Christmas – 10 December 2026

  • Christmas Concert – 12 December 2026
  • Haskin Garden Centre – 13 December 2026
  • Haskin Garden Centre – 20 December 2026

·         Return for Spring Term – 7 January 2027

  • Summer Concert – 12th June 2027(1.00 for sound check, 2.30 performance)
  • Summer Spectacular – 17 July 2027 (1.00 for sound check, 2.30 performance)
  • Christmas Concert – 11 December 2027 (1.00 for sound check, 2.30 performance  plus 7.30 performance)

·         ‘All dates and information as known for forthcoming Events can be found on the website Calendar | New Music Makers.’ 

 

 

·         All the dates for the Local Vocals can be found on the website. Local Vocals! | New Music Makers

Fw: Newsletter to NMM this week

Hi there,
It was good to see so many of you back last night, as I know that there are still people on holiday etc.
Here is a message from Chris regarding next week’s rehearsal.
Hi all,
It was great to be back together on Thursday!  Fantastic as well that we had three new men come to check out the choir.  Speaking to them all at the end they really enjoyed it so we will wait to see what this means to boosting the number of men in the choir!
Well done as well for a good start to our Christmas music.  Do go over what we covered (see below) as we will build on it this week.
This week we will be looking at – 
FIRST HALF
The Pentatonix Christmas Medley – Hark the Herald Angels sing (learning b49-71 and then revising the b1-48)
Cradle Song – Learning the third verse b65-96 (We will try Sop 2s singing the “Choir 1” Part with Sop 1s, Altos, Tenors and Basses singing the 4 part harmony “Choir 2” part).  We will then revise the whole song
SECOND HALF 
Pentatonix Christmas Medley – Coventry Carol (b152 – 205)
Fairy Tale of New York (Revise from last Year)
We Wish You the Merriest (Revise from last Year)
I look forward to seeing you again on Thursday.
Chris
Local Vocals are at Snowdrop Place on Tuesday, at the normal time of 2.0pm.

Remember to sign up for all the concerts and outings that we will be doing around the Christmas season, so that we have some idea of  how many will be going to each.
Well, that’s all for now, so I will either see you on Tuesday, or next Thursday.

Bye for now.

Eric

Dates for the Diary

  • Bishop’s Waltham Christmas Fayre – 26 November 2026 from 5.00pm
  • Freegrounds Christmas Fayre – 28 November 2026 from 11am TBC
  • John Lewis Saturday – 5 December 2026, 12-1pm, arrive 11.45am

·         Break -up for Christmas – 10 December 2026

  • Christmas Concert – 12 December 2026
  • Haskin Garden Centre – 13 December 2026
  • Haskin Garden Centre – 20 December 2026

·         Return for Spring Term – 7 January 2027

  • Summer Concert – 12th June 2027(1.00 for sound check, 2.30 performance)
  • Summer Spectacular – 17 July 2027 (1.00 for sound check, 2.30 performance)
  • Christmas Concert – 11 December 2027 (1.00 for sound check, 2.30 performance  plus 7.30 performance)

·         ‘All dates and information as known for forthcoming Events can be found on the website Calendar | New Music Makers.’ 

 

 

·         All the dates for the Local Vocals can be found on the website. Local Vocals! | New Music Makers

Make A Difference Awards

HI there,
Just to let you know that Radio Solent will be announcing the finalists for this year’s awards sometime during today.
The Local Vocals are in the “Community Group” awards.
If anyone hears anything, can you let me know.
Many thanks
Eric

Chairman’s Newsletter

Hi there,

First, here is a massage from Chris:-
 
Hi all
Just a quick note from me this week.  No directions from me this week on what to practise or what to work on.  Just a really big well done and thank you for 12 months of hard work and some great concerts – not least of all Saturday’s Summer Spectacular.  Once again it was an event that our audience thoroughly enjoyed and a great finale to our Summer Season.  Enjoy your break.  I’ll pop in to the AGM on Thursday for any questions on my MD report.  Have a great summer.  Find some men! And I look forward to seeing you in September. 
Chris 
Second is to remind you of the AGM on Thursday, at the normal time of 7.30.
Last, we are singing at Sunnybank, West End, next Tuesday, but at the moment, we have only six going, so if anyone else is available, can you let me know.
Well, that’s all for now so I will see you tomorrow night.
Bye for now.
Eric

NMM Summer concert 2027

Hi there,
We have just had confirmation from Barton Peveril College that we can have the 12th June for our Summer Concert next year, so can you put the date in your diaries.
Regards
Eric

Dates for the Diary

  • Annual General Meeting – 16 July 2026 – Methodist Church Hall
  • Break-up for the the end of term – 16 July 2026
  • Return for Autumn Term – 3 September 2026
  • Bishop’s Waltham Christmas Fayre – 26 November 2026 from 12pm
  • Freegrounds Christmas Fayre – 28 November 2026 from 11am TBC
  • John Lewis Saturday – 5 December 2026, 12-1pm, arrive 11.45am

·         Break -up for Christmas – 10 December 2026

  • Christmas Concert- 12 December 2026
  • Haskin Garden Centre –  13 December 2026
  • Haskin Garden Centre – 20 December 2026

·         Return for Spring Term – 7 January 2027

  • Summer Concert – 12th June 2027(1.00 for sound check, 2.30 performance)
  • Summer Spectacular – 17 July 2027 (1.00 for sound check, 2.30 performance )
  • Christmas Concert – 11 December 2027  (1.00 for sound check, 2.30 performance  plus 7.30 performance )

·         ‘All dates and information as known for forthcoming Events can be found on the website Calendar | New Music Makers.’ 

Chairman’s Newsletter

Hi there,
I hope you all had a good weekend.

Here is a message from Chris regarding the rehearsal this week:-
 
Hi all
Thursday will be our final rehearsal of songs this term and the last rehearsal before our Summer Spectacular.  The following Thursday is our AGM so can I take this opportunity to say thank you to you all for your hard work, enthusiasm, commitment to the choir and all the practise you do to ensure we always perform to the very best level we can.  And can I also ask you to keep that up for one more week so we end this term with another great performance in our Summer Spectacular! 😀  It has been an absolute pleasure to lead you through another year and I’m looking forward to starting some new music when we return in September.

This week I want to run through our entire program again and give Keziah some time with our soloists.  The program is as follows  –

Let’s Dance Medley
(Welcome)
Can Can
ROY SOLO
Go the Distance
Circle of Life
SAFFRON SOLO
Beatles Abbey Road Medley
The Rose
The Wellerman
Shine
INTERVAL
The Sound of Music Medley
Flying Free
SOLO 3 – Amelia
Galway Girl
The Parting Glass
EMMA SOLO
Something Inside So Strong
Fix You
The Bare Necessities
RAFFLE
Celebration

Please could you also bring “Let the River Run” so we have a standby piece in case we need to sub in an extra song.

Looking forward to Thursday!
Chris
Local Vocals are at Snowdrop Place on Tuesday at the normal time of 1.45 for 2.00pm
 All the dates for the Local Vocals can be found on the website. Local Vocals! | New Music Makers

Just to remind you that the costume for Saturday is White Top for Ladies, and White Shirt for Men, and Black Trousers or Black Ankle Length Skirt for Ladies and Black Trousers for Men. Men can wear a Short Sleeved Shirt if they wish.  Ladies can add a bit of colour to their tops by way of jewellery, scarfs or button holes. Black shoes and hosiery for all.
We will need help to set up on Saturday morning and a list of jobs that need to be done will be on the table as you come in for the rehearsal.
You will need to be there for 1.00pm for a sound check as the doors will open at 2.00pm for a 2.30 start.
Well, that’s all for now, so I will see you during the week.
Bye For now.
Eric

Dates for the Diary

  • Annual General Meeting – 16 July 2026 – Methodist Church Hall
  • Break-up for the the end of term – 16 July 2026
  • Return for Autumn Term – 3 September 2026
  • Bishop’s Waltham Christmas Fayre – 26 November 2026 from 12pm
  • Freegrounds Christmas Fayre – 28 November 2026 from 11am TBC
  • John Lewis Saturday – 5 December 2026, 12-1pm, arrive 11.45am

·         Break -up for Christmas – 10 December 2026

  • Christmas Concert- 12 December 2026
  • Haskin Garden Centre –  13 December 2026
  • Haskin Garden Centre – 20 December 2026

·         Return for Spring Term – 7 January 2027

  • Summer Concert – 5th or 12th June 2027TBC (Time of arrival/ performance TBC)
  • Summer Spectacular – 17 July 2027 (1.00 for sound check, 2.30 performance )
  • Christmas Concert – 11 December 2027  (1.00 for sound check, 2.30 performance  plus 7.30 performance )

·         ‘All dates and information as known for forthcoming Events can be found on the website Calendar | New Music Makers.’