End of term, 27th March

Last rehearsal of the Easter term. Next one after a two week break, on 17th April. It will have warmed up by then... surely.... But firstly, it has been agreed that the summer concert be moved to Sunday 14th July. The booking at Christ Church has been changed. As the Sunday afternoon is 'Messy Church' there, we'll keep our Saturday afternoon booking for a final rehearsal. Choir members/ partners will be asked to help with putting chairs into order before the concert. We'll look for 'volunteers' nearer the time. There's a lot to be done to get the programme up to scratch before then - although we have been through all of it now. Val has asked if members will make every effort to attend EVERY rehearsal between now and July. Tonight, we sang the opening number from Les Mis (At the end of the day); Diamonds, one of the barbershop numbers; Sailing, Shoshone love song, and Chicka-hanka.

Rehearsal 20th March

This began at our occasional early start time of 7 pm, as there was to be our half-termly committee meeting after the rehearsal. These meetings are when concert arrangements are finalised, dress codes discussed - oh, are they ever, and at length - and on this occasion, dates fixed for the AGM. AGMs are a necessary evil, and you'll hear more of this at a later date. Then a bombshell was casually dropped. Phil Wood's Papcastle Orchestra had been asked to play at an outdoor event in Gilcrux, which clashes with our summer concert. Emails have been sent to all members checking the suitability of an alternative date, as diluting each other's audience would not be good for either of us. The decision will be made next week. Phew! Despite all this frantic activity, we also rehearsed - the point of it all! Shoshone Love Song, which Val H. would love us to sing from memory (no comment from me). Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend, which we can now navigate ourselves around quite happily so must now learn to sing well! I'll Fly Away, a Gospel song and finally the beginning of the medley from Les Miserables.

Rehearsal 13th March

News service resumed after a gap - went to Mateira for some winter sunshine. Well, that was the plan. Didn't quite work out, so nice to be back in the Cumbrian sunshine, and having a good ol' sing tonight. The Girl from Ipanema's tricky rhythms are gradually becoming familiar enough to sound good! After which our barbershop number, Big Spender, seemed positively easy!! Finished with a complete sight-reading run-through of a medley from Les Mis. Choir first sang this waaay back in the early 90's, and it was obvious that quite a few vintage members still remember it well. I'm a bit newer, so will need to do some learning! Saturday's social was an enjoyable evening, with Janet Mansfield's meringues proving the show-stopper they always do. I think it has to be said, a choir social HAS to have Janet there so be considered a real success!