Update – Sheen Gate Choir

Dear all

I hope you and yours are all keeping well. Apologies that I have not been in touch for a while – the wheels of Government are of course still turning and I am still working full time from home (and busier than usual!)

I’m sure this will not come as a surprise, but I have been speaking with the committee and we have to admit defeat and formally cancel the concert on 20th June. I know this will be as much of a disappointment to you as it was to me but, even if restrictions are lifted enough by then, they certainly will not be in time for us to have enough rehearsals to put on the concert we would all want. Whilst we are very sad to have to finish this term on such a note, we are very excited to announce preliminary plans for the future…

We aim for formal rehearsals to begin again on 8th September 2020 – this is of course subject to restrictions and a few potential diary issues but pencil this in your diaries now! Our Autumn concert will follow the usual format of smaller-scale pieces, this time around a theme of traditional and folk music. I am planning a varied programme featuring music from around the British Isles (I am even toying with the idea of teaching you some Welsh…) as well as further afield. Particular highlights will be some folk song arrangements by Vaughan Williams and Holst and a selection of American Spirituals arranged by Moses Hogan (if you don’t know his arrangements do see if you can find some recordings – they are such fun!)

However, the work we have done this year will not be wasted. The current plan is to perform the Mozart Requiem celebrate the 10th anniversary next Summer in 2021. I know this is a year late, but there is not enough rehearsal time in the Autumn term for a full-scale work, nor enough budget for an orchestra then and another one in the Summer, so maintaining the current cycle is important. We have not decided on the full programme yet but it will not necessarily feature the Birthday Madrigals anymore. More details later in the year…

Disappointment aside, we will of course continue to monitor the restrictions and, as soon as it is considered safe, will look into some informal get-togethers or sing-through over the Summer. I don’t want this to be a complete sign off for the next 5 months if we can avoid it – watch this space!

Thanks all and stay safe!

Dave