3 DECEMBER 2022

Another brilliant effort on Wednesday.   

Looking forward to seeing most (if not all) of you this Sunday in the Abbey Gardens on Park Walk ready for a good sing.  Please arrive shortly before 2.15 ready to start at 2.30.  AND TELL YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TOO.  LET’S TRY AND GET A GOOD CROWD OF CAROLLERS 

Dress Code: Shades of red above the waist (no patterns please), dark or black below.  Make sure you are WARM though … that’s every bit as important as looking good!   

Programme: (in no particular order) Fais Dodo, Christmas is Coming, Come tune your cheerful voice, Carol of the Bells, Ding Dong, Hosanna, Cherry Tree Carol + O Little Town, Silent Night, While Shepherds watched (jolly tune), In the bleak, Away in a manger, Joy to the world.  

I will have Bethlehem Carol Sheets with me and hopefully members of our audience will join in the well-known carols.  I had an interview about our programme with This is Alfred on Thursday but hopefully that will not have driven away too many would-be punters.   

 

We will meet as usual this coming Wednesday of course for more festive singing and then the following week we will be having our Christmas Party.  More info next week, but if you have a suitable item you would like to offer as part of the entertainment please let me know and I can sort out a short programme. (Nothing too long please.) Following the party we will be having a couple of weeks off and will resume on Wednesday 11 January. 

COMING CHOIR EVENTS  

2022 

Sunday 4 December  Singing in Shaftesbury Abbey Gardens.  2.30 – 3.15 

Saturday 10 December Singing outside Town Hall  2.30 – 3.15 

Sunday 18 December Motcombe Christmas procession (carols + donkey) 5pm (alongside the band).   

Wednesday 21 December  Choir Christmas Party 

2023 

Wednesday 11 January  Choir resumes 

Saturday 22 April Celebration of the life of Steven Ridout.  Afternoon.  Charlton Hall 

Saturday 10 June  Motcombe Fete 

Saturday 1 July  Gold Hill Fair 

OTHER EVENTS  

until Tuesday 6 December Pergaudeo III, exhibition at Shaftesbury Arts Centre. 10 – 4 daily.  Seven abstract artists celebrate their love of the genre in different styles and mediums. Expect colour, quirkiness, thoughtfulness; a feast for the eyes. See last week’s flyer.   

TODAY Saturday 3 December  A Christmas Carol – music, poetry and prose for the festive season.  3.00 p.m. St James’ Church. The one-hour concert in aid of Read Easy will consist of Christmas music on the organ, trumpet, recorder, carols and readings.  There will be a collection on leaving.  See earlier flyer. 

also 

Gillingham Singers Christmas Concert.  St Mary’s Church, Gillingham.  7.30 p.m. See last week’s flyer.  Lots of familiar faces so do come if you can 

Sunday 4 December  Light up the World.  Pilgrim Singers in Wincanton. 6.30 p.m.  See earlier flier. 

Friday 9 December  Nöel – a concert by candlelight.  St Peter's.  See last week’s flyer.  There are only 50 seats available so if you’d like to come along do book your seat in advance via this link:  https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/alex-wilson/t-qjmzyme  The concert has a suggested £10 donation but you are welcome to come along for free. 

Saturday 10 December    Palida and Sturminster Choral Society.  Britten’s Ceremony of Carols + other treats.  St Mary’s, Sturminster Newton.   See last week’s flyer 

Sunday 11 December  Shaftesbury Orchestra at St James Church.  3.00 pm  See earlier flier. 

Friday 16 December Christmas Cheer Carols, Readings, and a Mummers Play performed by the fantastic Gillingham Arts Workshop.  5.15 – 6.15  Gillingham Library.  See attached flyer.

and looking further ahead 

2023 

Saturday 4 February  Pasture and Storms.  Celebrating left hand alone virtuoso pianists.  More details later, but have a look at https://shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk/events/pasture-storm-a-celebration-of-left-hand-alone-virtuoso-pianists/ 

CHRISTMAS FOODBANK  

Keep our trolley filled to overflowing!  The organisers are particularly asking for boxes of savoury crackers, Christmas puddings, jams and spreads, Christmas chocolates and crisps, non-alcoholic drinks, boxes of Christmas crackers, other Christmas treats. 

THE RED KALYNA 

Don’t miss the chance of hearing this BBC broadcast about the huge significance of the song for the Ukrainian people.  We’ll be singing it again early in the New Year of course. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001fm2r?partner=uk.co.bbc&origin=share-mobile 

David