Blog

Huge thanks to Chris Hawkins for establishing our first quiz last week. Very innovative and fun questions and pretty lighthearted so please don’t feel shy about quiz number 2 which we are offering you next Tuesday 19th starting at 7pm. If you would like to participate, please email Chris.hawkins2015@yahoo.com. Read below what technology you will need to take part. Please also note that your email address will be shared with your team for the purposes of you exchanging phone numbers to confer during the quiz.

You will need to have the Zoom video calling app on your laptop/iPad/whatever. It is best not to be using a phone as it will be difficult to see the written questions. If you don’t have Zoom already, you can download for free by searching for “Zoom” on your internet browser or in your App Store. Just follow the instructions and you will end up with an icon on your device. If you sign up for the quiz, Chris will send you an email link nearer the time. You will also ideally have WhatsApp for messaging/speaking with your team. When your team is allocated you will be put in touch with them by email to set up your WhatsApp group, so please note your email will be shared with this small group solely for that purpose. If you find the idea of this technology too much hassle but would like to participate, please contact me or Chris in advance of 19th and we can walk you through it.

Hoping everyone is in good spirits! Lesley lesley.morley1@gmail.com

Lovely to see lots of friendly faces at the Inaugural Sheen Gate Choir Quiz Night last night. Congratulations to the Wrights, winning team thanks to an outstanding effort on the silly pictures round. For those who could not join, here is that set of questions for a giggle. Enjoy!

Hope we will be back and singing again soon.

Chris

Hi, we have just a handful of signer uppers so far for Wednesday night. Roll up, roll up! It’s about getting together, not worrying about whether you know the difference between Andante and Adagio.

One point – I had said 8pm to be in line with choir practice. But 7pm seems to work better for a few people, so we will be convening at 7 with eyes down around 7.15. You’ll be done and free to go on to your next virtual cocktail party by 8.15.

Please join us so we can see as many friendly faces as possible!

Chris

chris.hawkins2015@yahoo.com

Sorry, the link to click on to reply was wrong.

Should be:

chris.hawkins2015@yahoo.com

Dear all

How is everyone? I am sure that I am not alone in that I miss seeing and singing with the choir. The joy and spirituality of shared music is painfully absent from my life.

So, who’s on for a social and fun evening this week?
I am proposing that anyone who is free joins in on Wednesday May 6th at 8pm for a musical-themed quiz.
If we have enough participants, then we will put people into small teams, who will Zoom together, and answer my fiendish questions on WhatsApp.
Then we will convene (Zoom again) at the conclusion to reveal the winners and, bandwidth-permitting, have a chance to remind ourselves of what our fellow singers look like.

Who’s interested? Replies to my email, please. Chris.hawkins2015@yahoo.com

Hope to see you on Wednesday. Best wishes to all.

Chris

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

https://www.theselfisolationchoir.com/ for under £15 you can have weekly sectional rehearsals starting tomorrow 31March for performance 31 May. All subs go to charity – use the link to find out more!

Choraline Isolation Choir Messiah – https://www.choraline.com/register – this link will set up a choraline account which will mean you receive their marketing as well as updates on this project.

Anyone daunted by the current supermarket/home cooking situation might be interested in trying Mindful Chef – here is a link to 25% discount for your first order courtesy of Tricia Joshi putting in an order https://app.mindfulchef.com/?referral_code=patricia%40joshifamily.co.uk

Stay at home and keep singing! 🙂

Hi All, seems I should have waited for the MP’s press conference. We will not be meeting tomorrow but starting our Easter break early. Obviously we would like to pick up again on 21st April in preparation for performing on 20th June, but will be guided by whatever social distancing measures are in place then. We are a close-knit group of friends and we will find ways to keep in distanced contact and to support each other over this extraordinary period, not just passing two metres apart in the loo roll aisle. Passing on best wishes to you all from Dave. Lesley

We are going ahead with the rehearsal tomorrow evening at Christ Church NOT Tower House. All of us are adjusting our behaviours for the potential impact of Covid-19 and we know some of you have already decided not to attend choir for the time being. We would like to find a consensus tomorrow on carrying on rehearsals and if we do, under what conditions and whether we should assume for now that we will still be able to have our concert in June. Unfortunately I will not be there as I’ll be driving across France and back but Dave will of course lead the discussion. best wishes Lesley