Welcome back!
I hope you are all excited to get back together again tomorrow at 7.45 as usual. And for those for whom it is not yet possible, you are with us in spirit and we look forward to singing with you again very soon.
This will be a bit of a long message. Sorry, but there is quite a lot to cover for obvious reasons. Please take the time to read through.
First, music! Dave is looking to cover the following pieces this week:
Shenandoah
Swansea Town
Linden Lea
Danny Boy
Those who were able to be a part of the group over the summer will be reasonably familiar with three of these. We didn’t get to Swansea Town, but there are practice tracks available. Please make sure you print off copies of each of these.
THIS IS VITAL AS, UNDER COVID RULES, YOU CANNOT SHARE MUSIC! So if you don’t have a copy, you will be singing from memory!
Music can be found here: https://sheengatechoir.co.uk/downloads/repertoire-outline-for-autumn-2020-concert/ – click on the name of the piece for the download. Practice tracks are in the same place.
Next, to be allowed to use the church, we must follow Christ Church’s protocols, which are tighter than you may be used to. Here is the Covid-related stuff you need to know.
Masks are to be warn at all times by everyone, with no exemptions, when inside the church.
Entry is only through the normal (southern) door on West Temple Sheen. Exit is only through the other (northern) door on West Temple Sheen.
Seating is in marked locations, three to a large pew, two to a smaller pew. Large pews with one at each end and one in the middle; small pews one at each end. Alternate pews are left empty.
Toilets are open but to be used only in an emergency, as they will require thorough sanitisation if we use them.
Touch as little possible, including each other. Helpful cooperation such as putting the piano out or finding a music stand is, sadly, to be set aside for now.
When you arrive, take your seat in the pew you are directed to and relax. Once you are seated in your spot, you won’t be able to move (well you can, of course, but it will be a pain) so if you must be next to (2m apart from) your best buddy, arrive with them or bring a cardboard cutout of them to save their spot.
At the end of rehearsal, if you are not part of the clean up rota, please exit (through the correct door) promptly so that cleaning can begin.
Nobody is permitted in the chancel (ie we all remain in the main body of the church, off the stage at all times)
Your name and telephone number must be provided for track and trace purposes. (We will let you know how to do this.)
Clean up and sanitisation will be by a rota – you will know when it is your turn. It won’t take very long and you will have the benefit of being able to ask a friend to have your drink ordered and waiting for you when you get to the Plough.
We have produced a risk assessment document, which has been provided to Christ Church. If anyone would like to see it, please ask.
There is also a cleaning/sanitising document, but you will have instruction on this when it is your turn so you should not need to print it off.
And finally… In the past, we have celebrated the start of a new singing year with a glass of something while we all arrive. We cannot do this tomorrow, as even Chateau Lafitte doesn’t taste very good when drunk through an N99 mask. So we will do our social reconnection at the Plough afterwards.
That’s it. Thank you for reading all the way through, and
SEE MANY OF YOU TOMORROW!