Rehearsal 24th April

The two simple gospel sosngs first; I'll fly away and Over my head. Then The Girl from Ipanema. I wonder if audiences will realise just how difficult this piece has been, and how hard we've had to work to learn it? I bet not!! Finished with the two barbershop songs, Big Spender and Diamonds. Back to usual time next week.

Rehearsal 17th April

Back from Easter holidays, and in the case of Gill Telford, the holiday of a lifetime (Australia, Tasmania and New Zealand). Also lovely to welcome back Kath Leck from 'sick leave'. Worked on three numbers tonight. 'Les Mis', The Girl from Ipanema which is finally taking shape (it's really been quite hard learning this one!!) and Big Spender. For one week only, next week's rehearsal will start at 7.30, which will give Val H. times to get home from a long session with the Ofsted Team (may not have got that quite right but if that's so, I'm sure someone will kindly point it out to me!)

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!

Rehearsal 20th February

How very nice to see Catherine Blanks back at choir, after her long bout of ill-health. Once we'd managed to get into the church (someone had gone home with the key in their pocket, so we had to call the Hanveys to pop down with a spare)we got to work. The barbershop number, Diamonds are a girl's best friend, is beginning to take shape - some tricky rhythms. Then Gwyn Arch's arrangement of The girl from Ipanema (ditto!)a bit of light relief with gospel song I'll fly away, and finally Shoshone love song. Don't forget we have a social evening (with musical entertainment) on Saturday 9th March.

Rehearsal 6th February

Last rehearsal before half term. First we worked through a gospel piece, 'I'll Fly Away' and then to our Barbershop songbooks, where we worked on two numbers; Big Spender (lots of fun practising the miaow at the end!) and Diamonds a a Girl's Best Friend. A thank you letter was read out from the Eaglesfield church where we sang at their Christmas Tree event in early December. Finally, after a show of hands, it was decided to hold one of our regular social evenings on Saturday 9th March. We have booked the downstairs room at the URC (with use of the kitchen) so please come along with a share-a-plate supper, something to drink, and friends or partners if you wish - the more the merrier! Val H. has kindly organised some musical entertainment for us. See you there. In the meantime, enjoy your half-term holiday!

Rehearsal 16th January

Started earlier than usual tonight, as there was a committee meeting directly after the rehearsal. These take place once every half term. The committee are members of the choir who take an active role in trying to make sure everything runs smoothly - it's an invaluable role, and very worthwhile. I feel that everyone should have a taste of it at some time during their membership of the choir. There's no need for specific skills, all members have something special to offer. They may not be keen on standing up and addressing the choir, but might be good at helping with social events in some capacity. Just a thought!! At tonight's meeting, it was agreed to create a post of 'concert facilitator' (or something like that... can't remember the exact words... champion? supremo? ) Janet Mansfield volunteered, an offer that was gratefully snapped up!! You'll see more about what that means at our next concert. We also talked about trying to recruit a team of keyboard removal personnel, to help alternate the setting up of the keyboard at concerts, and then putting it back into storage afterwards. It's not a problem at rehearsals, but when it's being transported elsewhere it takes time and effort. It's heavy! But lightweight keyboards just don't cut the mustard for professional gigs. And now to the music we worked on tonight - the real point of our evenings together! Gwyn Archer's arrangement of 'The girl from Ipanema' is a piece we've worked on before, but not managed to finish. (Reason: it's difficult!!) So we worked on a few more bars, and we'll get it done eventually, and then wonder what all the fuss was about! Then two fun (and easy) pieces, Chicka-hanka (a 'track labourer's song') and Gavin Sutherland's 'Sailing'. Finally, from our new Ladies Barbershop Songbook, parts of Big Spender and Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend.

Spring Term begins Wednesday 9th January

Our new term starts tomorrow. Dates of rehearsals are all to be found in the diary. The Christmas concert events all seemed to go very well. Robert Rawlinson's review made the front page of the Times and Star, and was very positive. The red carol books can now be packed away for a long rest, and we can look forward to learning some new, fun numbers - in particular from the Ladies Barbershop Handbook that arrived late last term.

Two concerts down, three to go...

First of the seasonal offerings was on Saturday 1st December, at the village hall in Mealsgate. A smaller than usual choir (only four of us altos!) and accoustics not as good as they are in the church where we usually sing, but the welcome and the hall were warm, and at supper afterwards, Janet's meringues disappeared like snow off a dyke, as always! Last night's concert at Isel Church was in aid of the Cumbria Wildlife Trust, now celebrating its 50th year. It's a tiny gem of a church, which necessitated careful planning of 'where to stand'. But the accoustics were great, the effect of many lit candles made it wonderfully atmospheric, and the audience joined in the congregational carols with great gusto. Next week, we'll be at St. Philip's in Eaglesfield (Thursday 13th) and of course it's our own regular Christmas date at Christ Church in Sullart Street on Saturday 15th.