14 MAY 2022

Another good turn out last week and more really good singing.  Our programme for our two Jubilee performances is shaping up very well indeed – congratulations to all!   Please continue to make every effort to be with us over the coming weeks. We’ll be meeting in the Town Hall again this coming Wednesday at our usual time of 7.15 for 7.30 and finishing at 9.00. As ever, posh biscuits available but please continue to bring your own drinks.    

Next time we plan to consolidate our programme for the Jubilee which will be will be more or less the same for both events and drawn from the following songs, which I hope contains something for everyone:  

Be Still My Soul; A Bumper of Good Liquor; Follow the Heron; Ghafoors Bus; Harbour; Heart to Heart; Hold On; If There Is To Be Peace; John Ball; Jug of Punch; Morning Has Come; My Little Cup; A Place Called England; Vive la Compagnie; Viva la Musica; You’ve Got a Friend; Suo Gan. The words of all these have either been attached to recent e-mails or you won’t need them. Although Julia will have some sets of words with her, please do print them out yourselves if you possibly can.    

COMING CHOIR EVENTS  

Saturday 4 June  (Jubilee BH Weekend) Motcombe Village Fete.  1.15-1.45. 

Sunday 5 June Singing in the Abbey Gardens   11.00 

Sunday 24 July (Shaftesbury Fringe) 11.00.  Singing in the Abbey Gardens. 

FOODBANK 

Don’t forget that Sue (alto) will be bringing in a shopping trolley each week so that we can resume our weekly collections for the foodbank.   

OTHER EVENTS . LOADS OF THEM 

Saturday 14 May Gillian, our friend from Norfolk whom we got to know during our Zoom sessions, recommends the PlayGC Theatre Company who will be performing their play “The Letter of Last Resort” at Donhead St Andrew Church at 3.00 p.m. and 7.00 p.m.  See http://www.playgc.co.uk/ for details. 

Sunday 15 May Free concert with choir and full orchestra at Sturminster Newton High School.  Bach Cantatas Nos. 20 and 24.  4.30. p.m. 

Wednesday 18 May Private viewing of Vivienne’s (soprano) exhibition at the Arts Centre.  Why not drop in before choir?  (5.30 – 7.00)  See last week’s flyer.  The exhibition itself runs from 18th – 24th. 

Thursday 19th May Shaftesbury 2030 – Choosing Our Future.  A FREE event, from 5.45 onwards at Shaftesbury School.  See last week’s flyer or speak to Karen for more details.  Talks, discussions, shorts films and a FREE MEAL! 

Saturday 21 May Celebration of Song.  Bradford-on-Avon. See attached flier.  A longish way to go perhaps but it is being run by the composer of Be Still My Soul.  Expect music of a similar genre and lots more besides. 

Friday 27 May Stone Songs at Salisbury Cathedral – featuring Yuko, Clare and Marie to name but a few.  Tickets are selling fast – the 7.00 p.m. performance is already sold out.  https://www.wiltshirecreative.co.uk/whats-on/festival/stone-songs-22/ 

Friday 3 June  Tea at the Ritz – with the Phoenix Café Orchestra.  St Peter’s Church.  Doors open at 3.00 p.m.  More details soon. 

LUNCHTIME RECITALS 

The short series of lunchtime cello recitals continues at 1pm in St Peter’s Church on market days. Tickets £10 to include sandwiches and coffee and tickets can be booked from the Arts Centre on 01747 854321.    June 9th  Nicholas Cooper; June 30th  Emily Burridge.  (June 9th will feature two [I think] premieres written by Karen too.  Not to be missed.) 

ALFRED ARTS 

Alfred Arts is a weekly 30 minute show presented by Jeanette Hardiman on Alfred Community Radio 107.3FM where she interviews individuals involved in painting, drama, music, photography and other strands of the local Arts scene.  You can listen to the show in a variety of ways: Check the schedule  https://thisisalfred.com/schedule  and tune in ‘live’ to the show for the week 9 May on 107.3FM OR Listen On Demand at https://player.autopod.xyz/170050 

This week’s show features 3 stalwarts of the local arts scene: Singer Samantha - who has an extremely diverse repertoire; Susan Grant - a key player at Shaftesbury Arts Centre and in many other musical areas; Gary Cook - a renowned artist who has a passion for our planet 

Next week’s show will feature, amongst others, Julia Blinko, a well-renowned soprano and a member of the Bach Choir.  So please do tune in! 

The show aims to showcase the wonderful wealth of artistic talent in Shaftesbury and the SP7 area in general.   So, if you would like to participate - or you know someone who might be suitable, please contact Jeanette Hardiman on arts@thisisalfred.com.   Meanwhile, Jeanette will be sharing details of the latest interviewees with us on a regular basis.

David   

14, May 2022