7 SEPTEMBER 2017

September 7, 2017

Dear All,

STOURHEAD

Great singing again last night. Our performance at Stourhead this coming Saturday should be sensational! Arrangements as follows:

Arrive 11 a.m. (approx.) and meet in the area by the restaurant / shop.

Sing: 11.30-12.00 (House Lawn); 12.30-1.00 (Spread Eagle Courtyard) and 2.00-2.30 (Restaurant Courtyard). We have a break from 1.00 to 2.00. Tea, coffee and of course scones will be provided afterwards but we need to bring our own picnics for lunch.

Programme: Let the Sunshine, Hold On, Sunshine Fire and Rain, Java Jive, Let’s call the whole thing off, Follow the Heron, Wake Up, Tree of life, Anthem, My Little Cup, Evo Banke, Morning has come, Green Man, Throw It Away, Run Rabbit Run.

Dress code: shades of red.

Entry is free for all choir members but please bring NT membership cards if you have them. If anyone is bringing along family or friends for support then they will need to pay for their own entry to the property or show their NT membership cards if they are members.

COMING CHOIR EVENTS

Sunday 24 September: Holnest Country Fayre. Rylands Farm, nr Sherborne. 2.00 – 2.45. (In aid of the Future Roots project) Look it up on http://www.futureroots.net/ Full details next week.

Future Roots Care Farm, Dorset

www.futureroots.net

The idea of Future Roots was founded by Julie Plumley in 2006. She grew up on a dairy farm in Dorset, and qualified as a social worker … read more...

Wednesday 27 September: Bring-a-Friend Day. Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike. More details later.

Friday 15 December: 2.15 Christmas entertainment for the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies. Durweston Village Hall. (Durweston is the home of lots of traditional Dorset carols, so watch this space!)

OTHER EVENTS

Fri 8 – Sun 10 September: Cherubim Music Festival, Tisbury. See attached flier.

Saturday 9 September: (same day as Stourhead) Gillingham Walking Festival - Cheese and Wine Evening. Full details in previous newsletters and on our website.

Sunday 24 September: (same day as Holnest) Templecombe Ladies’ Choir concert. See attached flier.

Saturday 7 October: Tisbury Arts Group Cabaret. Tickets won’t be on sale until the beginning of September but it’s going to be a lively evening so please put the date in your diary if you’d like to come. Full details in previous newsletters and on our website.

Sunday 15 October Karen’s choral piece “Heartwood” at Springhead.

SIERRA LEONE

As you know, it has been suggested that the choir might like to raise money to help the people of Sierra Leone caught up in the devastating mudslide outside the capital, Freetown. Our intentions have been overtaken by other events, but the disaster has not been forgotten. One idea is to sing one morning in the town centre. When we did something similar for the tsunami in the Philippines a few years ago it raised several hundred pounds. Please come armed with your ideas next week.

BIG BANG PIZZA

If you want to order a pizza and have it waiting for you before choir on a Wednesday, call 07521 413720.

24 AUGUST 2017

August 25, 2017

Dear All

Every teacher knows that the weather has a significant effect on the success or otherwise of a lesson. In my experience, windy weather (more so than snow in fact) was always the most problematic – certainly when it came to dealing with teenagers. Last night it seemed to be the humidity rather than the heat that affected us. Working on our Stourhead programme (see up to date information below) it was mighty hard work for all! Still, we have another two weeks to get our act together and we’ll get there. We always do.

COMING CHOIR EVENTS

Saturday 9 September: Singing at Stourhead. Arrive 11am (approx.) Sing: 11.30-12.00 (House Lawn); 12.30-1.00 (Spread Eagle Courtyard) and 2.00-2.30 (Restaurant Courtyard). We have a break from 1.00 to 2.00. Tea, coffee and of course scones will be provided afterwards but we need to bring our own picnics for lunch.

Our programme will be selected from the following (most of which have a seasonal / times of day / nature / food theme): Let the Sunshine, Hold On, Sunshine Fire and Rain, Java Jive, Let’s call the whole thing off, Follow the Heron, Wake Up, Tree of life, Anthem, My Little Cup, Evo Banke, Morning has come, Green Man, Throw It Away, It don't mean a thing, Run Rabbit Run.

Dress code: shades of red.

Sunday 24 September: Holnest Country Fayre. Rylands Farm, nr Sherborne. 2.00 – 2.45. (In aid of the Future Roots project) Look it up on http://www.futureroots.net/ A flier is also attached.

Wednesday 27 September: Bring-a-Friend Day. Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike. More details later.

Friday 15 December: 2.15 Christmas entertainment for the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies. Durweston Village Hall. (Durweston is the home of lots of traditional Dorset carols, so watch this space!)

OTHER EVENTS

Saturday 26 August: (this weekend) Quentin Edwards (flute) and I are giving a short lunchtime concert at St Thomas’ Church, Salisbury. 12.00. Admission free! It would be great to see a few familiar faces in the audience.

Tuesday 29 August: (next week) Rehearsals start for “Rock Nativity”. 7.30 p.m. in Motcombe Church.

Saturday 9 September: (same day as Stourhead) Gillingham Walking Festival - Cheese and Wine Evening. See last week’s newsletter for more details.

Sunday 15 October Karen’s choral piece “Heartwood” at Springhead.

SIERRA LEONE

As you know, it has been suggested that the choir might like to raise money to help the people of Sierra Leone caught up in the devastating mudslide outside the capital, Freetown. One idea has been to sing one morning in the town centre. When we did something similar for the tsunami in the Philippines a few years ago it raised several hundred pounds. Please come armed with your ideas next week.

SHAFTESBURY HOMEGROWN

Our Community Farm needs you

- To vote for us with your Tesco tokens throughout September and October

- To join in with our project of sustainable fruit and vegetable growing and animal husbandry

Please come and find out more at a COFFEE MORNING, SATURDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER 10am-12.30pm at the Quaker Meeting House, Abbey Walk, Shaftesbury.

Palida choir, cakes and a short presentation – for further details contact Debbie Simmons, Tel 01747 850439. Email: dsimmons.tads@btinternet.com

BIG BANG PIZZA

If you want to order a pizza and have it waiting for you before choir on a Wednesday, call 07521 413720.

David

18 AUGUST 2017

August 18, 2017

Dear All

Small numbers last night but some brilliant singing nonetheless. Julie’s trial-wedding cake / trial wedding-cake was spectacular too. Thankyou for allowing us to be your guinea pigs and, in addition, enabling us to celebrate Julia’s birthday and the success of Clare’s (soprano) courageous Cancer Research sky-dive with such style. Clare has already raised well in excess of £1,500. Photos of the cake (+ Julia) and Clare attached.

It has been suggested that the choir might like to raise money to help the people of Sierra Leone caught up in the devastating mudslide outside the capital, Freetown. One idea has been to sing one morning in the town centre. When we did something similar for the tsunami in the Philippines a few years ago it raised several hundred pounds. Please come armed with your ideas next week.

COMING CHOIR EVENTS

Saturday 9 September: Singing at Stourhead. Arrive 11am (approx.) Sing: 11.30-12.00; 12.30-1.00 and 2.00-2.30. Tea, coffee and of course scones will be provided afterwards. Our programme will be selected from the following (most of which have a seasonal / times of day / nature / food theme): Let the Sunshine, Hold On, Sunshine Fire and Rain, Java Jive, Let’s call the whole thing off, Follow the Heron, Wake Up, Tree of life, Anthem, My Little Cup, Evo Banke, Morning has come, Green Man, Throw It Away, It don't mean a thing, Run Rabbit Run.

Sunday 24 September: Holnest Country Fayre. Rylands Farm, nr Sherborne. 2.00 – 2.45. (In aid of the Future Roots project) Look it up on http://www.futureroots.net/

Future Roots Care Farm, Dorset

www.futureroots.net

The idea of Future Roots was founded by Julie Plumley in 2006. She grew up on a dairy farm in Dorset, and qualified as a social worker … read more...

Wednesday 27 September: Bring-a-Friend Day. Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike. More details later.

OTHER EVENTS

Tuesday 22 August: (next week) Interest meeting for the production of “Rock Nativity” on 7, 8 and 9 December. 7.30 p.m. in Motcombe Church. See last week’s newsletter for more details.

Saturday 9 September: (same day as Stourhead) Gillingham Walking Festival - Cheese and Wine Evening. See attached flier.

Sunday 15 October Karen’s choral piece “Heartwood” at Springhead. See last week’s newsletter for more details.

LATVIAN CHOIR

If you are registered with i-player you should be able to see the wonderful choir from Riga in Latvia which both opened the Rachmaninov Proms the other day and which also sang between the performance of Rach’s third piano concerto (one of my favourites) and his second symphony. I particularly liked the way the opening singing led straight into the concerto. The link below should work.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b091gh8x/bbc-proms-2017-dausgaards-rachmaninov

IN THE NEWS

The link below, which will be of interest to ALL, is an article from The Times last week.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/richard-morrison-id-like-to-teach-the-world-to-sing-the-harmonys-less-important-2rk6fdp0z?shareToken=097d5486befa46ac9aa639d33d6e308f

BIG BANG PIZZA

If you want to order a pizza and have it waiting for you before choir on a Wednesday, call 07521 413720.

David

11 AUGUST 2017

August 11, 2017

Dear All

Lovely singing again on Wednesday night. Bravo! A special treat next week (as a reward maybe). We have been offered a trial wedding cake for the cost of the ingredients. (By which is meant a trial wedding-cake, NOT a trial-wedding cake. At least, I assume that is what is meant.) It is coffee and cardamom with chocolate ganache filling and orange butter icing. It's HUGE and will be the devil to serve but it’ll be there next week and you are welcome to treat yourself to a slice or two. Cost per slice will be £1.50. Bring a Tupperware container if you want to take some away too.

COMING EVENTS

Saturday 9 September: Singing at Stourhead. More details to follow.

Sunday 24 September: Holnest Country Fayre. Rylands Farm, nr Sherborne. 2.00 – 2.45. (In aid of the Future Roots project) Look it up on http://www.futureroots.net/

Future Roots Care Farm, Dorset

www.futureroots.net

The idea of Future Roots was founded by Julie Plumley in 2006. She grew up on a dairy farm in Dorset, and qualified as a social worker … read more...

Wednesday 27 September: At last - our long awaited Bring-a-Friend Day. Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike. More details later.

HEARTWOOD

Karen’s choral piece “Heartwood” is being performed at Springhead on Sunday 15 October as part of their conference on ash trees. Three performances starting at 12.00 midday. Everyone welcome. Karen mentioned it to us a while back and a few people have already come forward to take part. It's a processional with walking and singing across fields so should appeal particularly to the hale and hearty amongst us! It is open to everyone, so if you know of anyone who might be interested do put them in touch. More details below on “Singers Call”

COME AND JOIN US TO SING IN HEARTWOOD

Heartwood celebrates the ecological and cultural value of ash trees in our landscape. Performances will take will take place on October 15th 2017 at Springhead http://www.springheadtrust.org.uk/ and will be the culmination of a national conference on ash trees. It will be a really exciting and unusual event!!

The work is an acapella choral piece combined with the sounds of an amplified ash tree. It is an outdoor promenade performance and requires people to walk and sing, so a degree of fitness is required! The score is of medium difficulty.

Rehearsal wise, there are possible rehearsals at Springhead on Sunday 10th September 3.00 –6.00 and Sunday 24th September 6.00 –9.00. The piece will also be taught on Tuesday rehearsals at Palida choir, Shaftesbury Arts Centre throughout September 7.30 –9.00pm and there is the option of joining in with some of these. (http://www.palidachoir.com/) Springhead also have an open day on July 16th and people are welcome to come along, enjoy the gardens and find out more about Heartwood (I’ll be there to present the piece at 4.00pm). Recorded rehearsal tracks are provided.

Please contact Karen Wimhurst at karen@karenwimhurst.co.uk tel. 01747 850978 for more details.

ROCK NATIVITY

Following on from the productions of Joseph and Godspell, there is to be a production of Rock Nativity on 7, 8 and 9 December in St Mary’s Motcombe and St Peter’s and St James’ in Shaftesbury. All are welcome to take part. There will be an initial interest meeting on Tuesday 22 August at 7.30 p.m. in Motcombe Church. Thereafter, rehearsals will be on Tuesday evenings. Tell your friends too!

BIG BANG PIZZA

If you want to order a pizza and have it waiting for you before choir on a Wednesday, call 07521 413720.

David

3 AUGUST 2017

August 3, 2017

Dear All

More accolades following our concert at St James’ the other week. This from their Parish News: 'To round up the celebrations of our 150th anniversary, the Shaftesbury Community Choir, together with the Uke Shack Ensemble provided a full church with a wonderfully enjoying and entertaining afternoon of varied music followed by tea. Resplendent in various shades of red, the choir sang with infectious enthusiasm and enjoyment. What a fun afternoon!'

COMING EVENTS

Sunday 24 September: Holnest Country Fayre. Rylands Farm, nr Sherborne. 2.00 – 2.45. (In aid of the Future Roots project) Look it up on http://www.futureroots.net/ We are still awaiting final details.

Friday 15 December: 2.15 Christmas entertainment for the National Association of Flower Arrangement Societies. Durweston Village Hall.

Unspecified Wednesday sometime VERY soon: Bring-a-friend day. Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike. More details later.

IMMINENT DATE FOR YOUR DIARY – i.e. THIS EVENING

I am attaching a flier for Miracle Theatre who are performing “The Third Policeman” at Springhead, Fontmell Magna.

ROCK NATIVITY

Following on from the productions of Joseph and Godspell, there is to be a production of Rock Nativity on 7, 8 and 9 December in St Mary’s Motcombe and St Peter’s and St James’ in Shaftesbury. All are welcome to take part. There will be an initial interest meeting on Tuesday 22 August at 7.30 p.m. in Motcombe Church. Thereafter, rehearsals will be on Tuesday evenings. Tell your friends too!

BIG BANG PIZZA

If you want to order a pizza and have it waiting for you before choir on a Wednesday, call 07521 413720.

David

STOP PRESS

The Red Arrows are doing a fly-past at Compton Abbas Airfield on Saturday at shortly after midday!

27 JULY 2017

July 27, 2017

Dear All

Following our performance at the weekend, which I think we would all agree was a really good one, we received the following from the church wardens at St James:

Just to say many congratulations on an excellent afternoon of performances from all angles; it just worked out perfectly, everyone looking so happy and engaged. You could hear every word and the choice of programme couldn't have been better for a soggy afternoon. We hope you all enjoyed it as much as we did in the audience. These things can be quite a headache to bring to fruition but it was well worth it and so appreciated. … Please give St James’ Church's thanks to everyone for filling our building with such joy. All good wishes and keep up the good work – Philippa

LOST PROPERTY

I have two red choir folders that were left in the church last weekend and which were not claimed yesterday. I’ll bring them with me next week. Also, a pair of glasses were left behind in the church. They are still there, on the low shelf on the right as you enter.

COMING EVENTS

Future Roots Care Farm, Dorset

www.futureroots.net

Unspecified Wednesday sometime VERY soon: Bring-a-friend day. Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike. More details later.

IMMINENT DATE FOR YOUR DIARY – i.e. THIS COMING WEEKEND

Fri – Sun 28 - 30 July – Flower Festival at Sedgehill. Easy to find (up the A350 towards Warminster and turn left about one mile after crossing over the railway line) and good parking. See flier attached.

SOME GREAT SINGING

Rosa (alto) is pretty sure most of you will like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjbpwlqp5Qw&feature=em-share_video_in_list_user&list=RDyjbpwlqp5Qw

Perpetuum Jazzile - Africa - YouTube

www.youtube.com

Perpetuum Jazzile is an XXL vocal group from Slovenia. Toto's Africa by Perpetuum Jazzile, performed live at Vokal Xtravaganzza 2008 (October 2008 ...

ROCK NATIVITY

Following on from the productions of Joseph and Godspell, there is to be a production of Rock Nativity on 7, 8 and 9 December in St Mary’s Motcombe and St Peter’s and St James’ in Shaftesbury. All are welcome to take part. There will be an initial interest meeting on Tuesday 22 August at 7.30 p.m. in Motcombe Church. Thereafter, rehearsals will be on Tuesday evenings. Tell your friends too!

BIG BANG PIZZA

If you want to order a pizza and have it waiting for you before choir on a Wednesday, call 07521 413720.

David

20 JULY 2017

July 20, 2017

Dear All,

What a great session last night. The singing sounded really good, truly wonderful at times – all we need now is an audience to appreciate it / us!

THIS SUNDAY- CONCERT AT ST JAMES 3PM

Please make sure you are in your seats in the nave by 2.45 at the latest so that we can make a prompt start. I will make some reserved row signs. You know where you are sitting, you know where you are standing, you know how to “process” between one place and the other (“others” actually – don’t forget Alleluia) – it would be lovely if these practicalities looked totally professional! And don’t forget to switch mobiles off and to leave your handbags, water bottles, iron lungs or whatever in the pews. One discreet red file with the songs in the correct order is all that you will need – plus those all-important train whistles of course.

We will go straight from Alleluia to afternoon tea but let the audience get their refreshments first. It’s a hard life.

COMING EVENTS

Sunday 24 September: Holnest Country Fayre. Rylands Farm, nr Sherborne. 2.00 – 2.45. (In aid of the Future Roots project) Look it up on http://www.futureroots.net/

Future Roots Care Farm, Dorset

www.futureroots.net

The idea of Future Roots was founded by Julie Plumley in 2006. She grew up on a dairy farm in Dorset, and qualified as a social worker … read more...

Unspecified Wednesday sometime VERY soon: Bring-a-friend day. Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike. More details later.

IMMINENT DATE FOR YOUR DIARY – i.e. THIS COMING SATURDAY

Saturday 22 July – Picnic with Shaftesbury Ukes and Palida at Shaftesbury Abbey Gardens. 6.00 p.m. Free entry with donations to the Abbey. See flier attached.

BIG BANG PIZZA

If you want to order a pizza and have it waiting for you before choir on a Wednesday, call 07521 413720.

David

14 JULY 2017

July 15, 2017

Dear all

Next week's rehearsal on Wednesday 19th July: REHEARSAL FOR OUR CONCERT IN SAINT JAMES CHURCH!!! PARKING IN THE FIELD JUST PAST THE CHURCH ENTERANCE ON THE LEFT.

Shaftesbury: St James : St James Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset, SP7 8HGWe will start at the normal time 7.30 pm. Look forward to seeing you all there!

The programme for the concert at St James on Sunday 23 July is as follows.

Start 3 o’clock

3 x 15 / 20 minute slots:

SLOT ONE CHOIR (a cappella)EZULWINI. BAMBA LELA. LONESOME ROAD.FOR ONCE IN MY LIFE. I WISH I KNEW HOW.

SLOT TWO UKE THE UKESHACK ENSEMBLE

SLOT THREE CHOIR (a cappella) TREE OF LIFE, ETERNAL FLAME ,ANTHEM

CHOIR AND UKES I CAN’T HELP .ISN’T SHE LOVELY ,CHATANOOGA

ALLELUIA – CHOIR + UKES + AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

Ukes to set up as far as possible in the chancel. Choir to sit in side aisle(s) and to “process” on to sing before each set. Usual dress code etc.

The concert on 23 July will be followed by afternoon tea and music from the palm court orchestra - The Phoenix Café Orchestra.

Other dates for your diary:

Saturday 15 July: Tisbury Community Choir Festival. See details on our website.

Sunday 24 September: Holnest Country Fayre. Rylands Farm, nr Sherborne. 2.00 – 2.45. (In aid of the Future Roots project) Look it up on http://www.futureroots.net/

Unspecified Wednesday sometime VERY soon: Bring-a-friend day. Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike. More details later.

The Gillingham Food Bank has sent this letter:

Dear Friends

It is quite a while since I had cause to circulate you with a list of food items that we are really in need of.

We had a successful collection at Waitrose a couple of weeks ago but failed to build up our stocks of the following. Would you be so good as to publicise this in your notices so folk know what to target when giving.

Tinned fruit

Rice pudding

Sweet treats

Savoury treats

Packet (NOT tinned) soup

Sponge puddings

For the record we do still have enormous stocks of:-

Tinned soup

Baked beans

Tea

Rice

Pasta

Once again may I say thank you for your continuing support. If for any reason your contact has changed please let me know and I will amend my mailing list.

Kind regards

Robert Rickards

Gillingham Foodbank foodstore manager

Karen

1 JULY2017

July 2, 2017

Dear All,

Great singing last night. Just to confirm arrangements for Gold Hill Fair. Sorry this is a little late but hopefully in time for those checking last minute!

SUNDAY PERFORMANCE Arrive at war memorial on Park Walk at 12.45. We start at 1.00 and are joined by ukes at approx 1.30 pm. Reds and shades of. Set list is ...

Goldhill Set Ezulwini; Bamba Lela; Eternal Flame; For Once in my Life; Anthem; As I went Down to the River to Pray.
with Ukes Isn't She Lovely; Stand By Me; Rongo Mau; I Can't Help Falling in Love with You. Chatanooga.

Not necessarily in this order!

FIND FRINGE FESTIVAL PROGRAMME HERE

www.shaftesburyfringe.co.uk

COMING EVENTS

Sunday 23 July: Afternoon concert at St James’ Church. 3 o’clock. Followed by afternoon tea.

Sunday 24 September: Holnest Country Fayre. Rylands Farm, nr Sherborne. 2.00 – 2.45. (In aid of the Future Roots project) Look it up on http://www.futureroots.net/

Unspecified Wednesday sometime VERY soon: Bring-a-friend day. Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike. More details later.

IMMINENT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – i.e. THIS COMING WEEK

OTHER DATES

Saturday 1 July: Summer Nights with Spectra Musica. North Cadbury. See details on our website.

Saturday 15 July: Tisbury Community Choir Festival. See details on our website.

REMINDER

The Abbey Museum shop has greetings cards with a watercolour of the choir on them. Get yours before stocks run out.

BIG BANG PIZZA

If you want to order a pizza and have it waiting for you before choir on a Wednesday, call 07521 413720.

David

22 June 2017

22 JUNE 2017

June 26, 2017

Dear All,

Great singing last weekend and wonderful that the choir should have helped raise so much money for Cedars/Castle Hill. Our efforts were really appreciated and our new banner was nothing short of magnificent. Thankyou Andrea (alto). Congrats to Matthew (tenor) too for his fascinating historic walk which quite a few of us attended – also in aid of Cedars/Castle Hill.

COMING EVENTS

Sat 1 – Sun 2 July: Shaftesbury Fringe Festival. We have two events in the Shaftesbury Fringe / Gold Hill Fair. The first one on the Saturday (10.00 – 11.00 a.m.) in the Cattle Market is HOSTED by the community choir and Bell Street Jazz Band. This will be run like an ordinary choir session with the addition of a 6 piece jazz band (hence a bit more expensive at £5 a head) and much more of a sing-a-long. The idea is to throw open the doors to a whole lot of new people, possibly swelling our numbers as a result ... do come along and bring friends. The second is a PERFORMANCE (1 o’clock) on Park Walk on the Sunday, joining together with the ukes for part of the performance. Programme to include Chatanooga, Isn't She Lovely, Rongo Mau, Can't Help Falling in Love, Stand By Me. Remainder to be decided.

Sunday 23 July: Afternoon concert at St James’ Church. 3 o’clock. Followed by afternoon tea.

Sunday 24 September: Holnest Country Fayre. Rylands Farm, nr Sherborne. 2.00 – 2.45. (In aid of the Future Roots project) Look it up on http://www.futureroots.net/

Unspecified Wednesday sometime VERY soon: Bring-a-friend day. Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike. More details later.

IMMINENT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – i.e. THIS COMING WEEK

Wednesday 28 June: Open Garden with coffee and cake at Grove Farm House, Melbury Abbas, in aid of Shaftesbury women’s refuge. (See flier)

OTHER DATES

Saturday 1 July: Summer Nights with Spectra Musica. North Cadbury. See details on our website.

Saturday 15 July: Tisbury Community Choir Festival. See details on our website.

REMINDER

The Abbey Museum shop has greetings cards with a watercolour of the choir on them. Get yours before stocks run out.

BIG BANG PIZZA

If you want to order a pizza and have it waiting for you before choir on a Wednesday, call 07521 413720.

David

15 JUNE 2017

June 16, 2017

Dear All,

Lovely singing last night. A fitting end to a glorious day I thought.

COMING EVENTS

This Saturday - 17 June: Castle Hill House Book Swap and BBQ. Community choir singing between 12.30 & 1.15 Please arrive by 12.15. Normal dress code (ie shades of red above the waist, black or dark below). The programme will consist of (in no particular order): Up above my head, Dvorak Anthem, Java Jive, Hold On, Bela Mama, Eternal Flame, For Once in my life, Alleluia, Rongo Mau, Chattanooga. We may also sing Haere Mai, Ego Sum Pauper and Hamba Nighale if there is time. Castle Hill House is on Bimport, about opposite Trinity Centre, in between Savoy Court and the Ambulance Station. And don’t forget, afterwards, you may like to visit Andrea’s wonderful exhibition in the gallery at Shaftesbury Arts Centre. Choir members can park in the marked spaces behind the Ambulance station in Bimport on Sat. & if by any chance that gets filled we can use the hospital car park.

Sat 1 – Sun 2 July: Shaftesbury Fringe Festival. We have two events in the Shaftesbury Fringe / Gold Hill Fair. The first one on the Saturday (10.00 – 11.00 a.m.) in the Cattle Market is HOSTED by the community choir and Bell Street Jazz Band. This will be run like an ordinary choir session with the addition of a 6 piece jazz band (hence a bit more expensive at £5 a head) and much more of a sing-a-long. The idea is to throw open the doors to a whole lot of new people, possibly swelling our numbers as a result ... do come along and bring friends. The second is a PERFORMANCE 1 - 2pm on Park Walk on the Sunday, joining together with the ukes for part of the performance. Programme to include Chatanooga, Isn't She Lovely, Rongo Mau, Can't Help Falling in Love, Stand By Me. Remainder to be decided.

Sunday 23 July: Afternoon concert at St James’ Church. 3 o’clock. Followed by afternoon tea.

Sunday 24 September: Holnest Country Fayre. Rylands Farm, nr Sherborne. (In aid of the Future Roots project) Look it up on http://www.futureroots.net/

Unspecified Wednesday sometime VERY soon: Bring-a-friend day. Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike. More details later.

OTHER DATES

Saturday 17 June: Bournemouth Male Voice Choir singing at St Mary’s Gillingham at 7-30pm. £5 on the door.

Sunday 18 June: Cream Tea (4 o’clock) and Songs of Praise (5.30). East Stour Church. See website.

Saturday 1 July: BIG SING DAY at Othona West Dorset with Gilo and Sarah 10am – 5pm£20 including buffet lunchContact Othona to book: 01308 897130 OR mail@othona-bb.org.uk

also

Summer Nights with Spectra Musica. North Cadbury. See details on our website.

Saturday 15 July: Tisbury Community Choir Festival. See details on our website.

REMINDER

The Abbey Museum shop has greetings cards with a watercolour of the choir on them. Get yours before stocks run out.

BIG BANG PIZZA

If you want to order a pizza and have it waiting for you before choir on a Wednesday, call 07521 413720.

David

8 JUNE 2017

June 14, 2017

Dear All,

Lots of coming events so please get your diaries out. The programme for Castle Hill is attached. Other programmes to follow.

Reminder: The Abbey Museum shop has greetings cards with a watercolour of the choir on them. Get yours before stocks run out.

And, most importantly, next Wednesday will be BADGE WEDNESDAY. Bring a name badge (as flamboyant or as simple as you like). Julia will have sticky labels if you forget.

COMING EVENTS

Saturday 17 June: Singing for Castle Hill House Book Swap and BBQ (including Great Pudding Bake Off). Community choir singing between 12.30 & 1.15 and any members may bring books & £1 to take any book away, or £5 for 6 books.The programme will consist of (in no particular order): Up above my head, Dvorak Anthem, Java Jive, Hold On, Bela Mama, Eternal Flame, For Once in my life, Alleluia, Rongo Mau, Chattanooga. Normal dress code please.

Saturday 1 July: Gospel Singalong at the Cattle Market (£5) as part of Shaftesbury Fringe Festival. 10.00 – 11.00 a.m.

Sunday 2 July: Singing on Park Walk in the early afternoon (partly in conjunction with the ukes) again as part of theShaftesbury Fringe Festival. .

Sunday 23 July: Afternoon concert at St James’ Church. 3 o’clock. Followed by afternoon tea.

Sunday 24 September: Holnest Country Fayre. Rylands Farm, nr Sherborne. 2.00 – 2.45. (In aid of the Future Roots project) Look it up on http://www.futureroots.net/

Unspecified Wednesday sometime VERY soon: Bring-a-friend day. Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike. More details later.

SHAFTESBURY FRINGEMAKERS

Shaftesbury Fringe Festival (www.shaftesburyfringe.co.uk) is looking for volunteers to help over our 3 day festival. The tasks will include being a visible presence in the town, meeting and greeting visitors and helping them find the various venues. The Festival coincides with the Gold Hill Fair and we are expecting it to be a really busy, exciting weekend packed with a whole variety of live performances. If you're free over the weekend and would like to help with any of the morning, afternoon or evening sessions please email: Fringemakers@shaftesburyfringe.co.uk. As you know the choir is performing on Saturday morning (1 July) and Sunday afternoon (2 July) so as you'll be in town already you may like to volunteer before or after the performance.

Home - Shaftesbury Fringe 2017

www.shaftesburyfringe.co.uk

Yes we’re back! After last year’s hugely successful inaugural event, Shaftesbury Fringe 2017 is bigger than ever, with nearly a hundred shows by some 70 acts at ...

OTHER DATES

Thursday 15 June: Walk and Talk around Shaftesbury. Following the great success last year of Matthew’s (tenor) historic walk and talk around Shaftesbury there is a follow on at 6.30 p.m. starting at Cedars Nursing Home, Angel Lane. Free, but donations to Cedars / Castle Hill welcome. Contact Sue Daddy (alto) on 01747 853733 or via e-mail: drsuedaddy@hotmail.com

Saturday 17 June: Bournemouth Male Voice Choir singing at St Mary’s Gillingham at 7-30pm. £5 on the door.

Sunday 18 June: Cream Tea (4 o’clock) and Songs of Praise (5.30). East Stour Church. See attached flier

Saturday 1 July: BIG SING DAY at Othona West Dorset with Gilo and Sarah 10am – 5pm£20 including buffet lunchContact Othona to book: 01308 897130 OR mail@othona-bb.org.uk

Also

Summer Nights with Spectra Musica. North Cadbury. See details on our website.

Saturday 15 July: Tisbury Community Choir Festival. See details on our website.

BIG BANG PIZZA

If you want to order a pizza and have it waiting for you before choir on a Wednesday, call 07521 413720.

David

2 JUNE 2017

June 5, 2017

Dear All,

Lots of coming events so please get your diaries out. The provisional programme for Castle Hill is attached. Other programmes to follow.

COMING EVENTS

Saturday 17 June: Singing for Castle Hill House Book Swap and BBQ (including Great Pudding Bake Off). Community choir singing between 12.30 & 1.15 and any members may bring books & £1 to take any book away, or £5 for 6 books.The provisional programme will consist of (in no particular order): Up above my head, Dvorak Anthem, Java Jive, Hold On, Bela Mama, Eternal Flame, For Once in my life, Alleluia, Rongo Mau, Chattanooga. Normal dress code please.

Saturday 1 July: Gospel Singalong at the Cattle Market (£5) as part of Shaftesbury Fringe Festival. 10.00 – 11.00 a.m.

Sunday 2 July: Singing on Park Walk from 1 - 2pm (partly in conjunction with the ukes) again as part of the Shaftesbury Fringe Festival. .

Sunday 23 July: Afternoon concert at St James’ Church. 3 o’clock. Followed by afternoon tea.

Unspecified Wednesday sometime VERY soon: Bring-a-friend day. Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike. More details later.

SHAFTESBURY FRINGEMAKERS

Shaftesbury Fringe Festival is looking for volunteers to help over our 3 day festival. The tasks will include being a visible presence in the town, meeting and greeting visitors and helping them find the various venues. The Festival coincides with the Gold Hill Fair and we are expecting it to be a really busy, exciting weekend packed with a whole variety of live performances. If you're free over the weekend and would like to help with any of the morning, afternoon or evening sessions please email: Fringemakers@shaftesburyfringe.co.uk. As you know the choir is performing on Saturday morning (1 July) and Sunday afternoon (2 July) so as you'll be in town already you may like to volunteer before or after the performance.

OTHER DATES

Friday 9 June: Free lunchtime concert. Flute (Quentin Edwards) and piano (me). 12.30 p.m. St John’s Church, Tisbury. (See details on our website)

Sat 10 – Sun 11 June: Singing, Yoga and Massage Weekend, Sete, France. Details on our website.

Saturday 17 June: Bournmouth Male Voice Choir singing at St Mary’s Gillingham at 7-30pm. £5 on the door.

Saturday 1 July: BIG SING DAY at Othona West Dorset with Gilo and Sarah 10am – 5pm£20 including buffet lunchContact Othona to book: 01308 897130 OR mail@othona-bb.org.uk

Also

Summer Nights with Spectra Musica. North Cadbury. See attached flier

Saturday 15 July: Tisbury Community Choir Festival. See details on our website.

BIG BANG PIZZA

If you want to order a pizza and have it waiting for you before choir on a Wednesday, call 07521 413720.

David

26 MAY 2017

May 27, 2017

Dear All,

Great work the other night despite the heat. The Dvorak Anthem is REALLY secure now. The programmes for our FOUR (!!) forthcoming performances will be announced shortly. There’ll be something for everybody so please check you’ve put the dates in your diaries.

COMING EVENTS

Unspecified Wednesday sometime VERY soon: Bring-a-friend day. Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike. More details later.

Saturday 17 June: Singing for Castle Hill House Book Swap and BBQ. 12.30 -1.15

Saturday 1 July: Gospel Singalong at the Cattle Market (£5) as part of Shaftesbury Fringe Festival. 10.00 – 11.00 a.m.

Sunday 2 July: Singing on Park Walk (partly in conjunction with the ukes) again as part of the Shaftesbury Fringe Festival. Times tbc.

Sunday 23 July: Afternoon concert at St James’ Church. 3 o’clock. Followed by afternoon tea.

IMMINENT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Fri 26 – Sat 27 May: Tap Your Trouble Away. Cabaret Evening with supper at Shaftesbury Arts Centre. Details on our website.

also

Friday 26 May: Live Music at Marnhull Village Hall in aid of Chernobyl Children’s Life Line. Details on our website.

Bank Holiday Monday 29 May: Springhead Gardens Open. 10 – 5. The cafe will be open for refreshments and light lunches and there will be a variety of stalls including plants, bric a brac, jewellery, art, books and basketware.

OTHER DATES

Friday 9 June: Free lunchtime concert. Flute (Quentin Edwards) and piano (me). 12.30 p.m. St John’s Church, Tisbury (see flier)

Sat 10 – Sun 11 June: Singing, Yoga and Massage Weekend, Sete, France. Details on our website.

Saturday 1 July: BIG SING DAY at Othona West Dorset with Gilo and Sarah 10am – 5pm£20 including buffet lunchContact Othona to book: 01308 897130 OR mail@othona-bb.org.uk

Saturday 15 July: Tisbury Community Choir Festival. See letter of invitation below

BIG BANG PIZZA

If you want to order a pizza and have it waiting for you before choir on a Wednesday, call 07521 413720.

David

INVITATION FROM TISBURY CHOIR

Dear All

As some of you are aware I am organising a festival for the Tisbury Community Choir on July 15th 2017. As part of this festival, we will be joined on stage by the Military Wives’ Choir too.

We are expecting a large crowd for this event as there will be a lot going on in the evening include stalls, beers tents children’s entertainment and, of course the music too.

As it is going to be such a big event in our diary, we want to make the biggest sound possible. As such we are inviting anyone that would like to sing with us and share a song with the Military Wives too, to come join and join us.

This invite is extended to those people that may only be able to join us for this concert, previous members, people thinking about starting but not sure how to get involved, those that would love to sing but don’t think they can, people that would just like to try something different, mums and dads that are looking to do something together away from the kids, gran and granddads that are looking to do something to impress the kids, young people that enjoy singing, old people that love singing and people that have nothing better to do! In short we are inviting everyone

Rehearsals are only £4 per night on a Friday at 7.30 in the Methodist Hall, High Street, Tisbury. Although the choir have a uniform all we would ask on the day is to wear something blue

We provide all the music for you and we can even provide tracks with separate parts recorded on so that you can learn away from choir in your own time too. This is all with no charge as it comes under the weekly subscriptions.

If you would like to come along to join us then please either contact me directly by email mark@jnxmusicschool.co.uk or via our facebook page Tisbury Community Choir or by phone 01747 873189

I look forward to seeing you there

Many thanks

Mark James
Owner JNX Productions

11 MAY 2017

May 12, 2017

Dear All,

More great singing last night. Looking forward to Sunday (and the premiere of our Anthem of course) with eager anticipation. (See below)

COMING EVENTS

THIS WEEKEND - Sunday 14 May: Shaftesbury Food and Drink Festival. 11.15 a.m. Park Walk.

Please arrive between 11 o’clock and five past. Usual dress code (ie shades of red above the waist, dark or black beneath. No patterns please.)

Programme will consist of (in no particular order): Good New Chariots Comin’, Up Above My Head, Follow the Heron, Dvorak Anthem, Java Jive, Let's Call the Whole Thing Off, Hold On, Morning Has Come, Bela Mama and Plovi Barko.

Unspecified Wednesday sometime VERY soon: Bring-a-friend day. Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike. More details later.

Saturday 1 July: Gospel Singalong at the Cattle Market (£5) as part of Shaftesbury Fringe Festival

Sunday 2 July: Singing on Park Walk (partly in conjunction with the ukes) again as part of the Shaftesbury Fringe Festival

Sunday 23 July: Afternoon concert at St James’ Church. 3 o’clock. Followed by afternoon tea.

OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Fri 12 – Sun 14 May: St. Mary's Church (Motcombe) is having a Flower Festival this Weekend to raise money. The arrangements are representing musical melodies and there are 36 local organisations submitting. See attached flier.

Saturday 13 May: Concert by Sturminster Newton Choral Society. (See our website for full details)

Thursday 18 May: Shreen Harmony and guests in a concert in memory of Val Amos (who was a founder member of the Shaftesbury Community Choir too). Gillingham Methodist Church. See attached flier

Sunday 21 May: Wincanton Choral Society concert. Carmen and other opera choruses.

TUESDAY 23 May: Gillingham Singers “The Sprig of Thyme”. St James’ Church. See attached flier.

Fri 26 – Sat 27 May: Tap Your Trouble Away. Cabaret Evening with supper at Shaftesbury Arts Centre. See attached flier

also

Friday 26 May: Live Music at Marnhull Village Hall in aid of Chernobyl Children’s Life Line. See attached flier.

Saturday 10 June: All the Queen’s Men. St. Michael’s Church, Mere. 7.30pm. Tickets £10 from Casa Fina, High Street, Salisbury, online at www.farrantsingers.org or by phone on 01722 324731 or 01747 861212. (Every summer Queen Elizabeth l travelled about the shires in stately pageantry to be hosted and entertained by members of the aristocracy. With little notice and chaos ensuing, it was said that to have the dainty footfall of the Queen through one’s home was like a whirlwind, a comet and a plague of locusts all rolled into one! As part of the Mere Festival of Flowers and Music, ‘All the Queen’s Men’ is a fictionalised account, written by Deborah Mackay, of one of these visitations with music by composers from Byrd to Weelkes. See attached flier.

Sat 10 – Sun 11 June: Singing, Yoga and Massage Weekend, Sete, France. See their website: www.pramchorus.com/inspire

Saturday 1 July: BIG SING DAY at Othona West Dorset with Gilo and Sarah 10am – 5pm£20 including buffet lunchContact Othona to book: 01308 897130 OR mail@othona-bb.org.uk

BIG BANG PIZZA

If you want to order a pizza and have it waiting for you before choir on a Wednesday, call 07521 413720.

David

4 May 2017

May 5, 2017

Dear All,

Great singing last night. Our programme is shaping up VERY well.

COMING EVENTS

Sunday 14 May: Shaftesbury Food and Drink Festival. 11.15 a.m. Park Walk. Programme will consist of (in no particular order): Good New Chariots Comin’, Up Above My Head, Follow the Heron, Dvorak Anthem, Java Jive, Let's Call the Whole Thing Off, Hold On, Morning Has Come, Bela Mama and Plovi Barko.

Unspecified Wednesday sometime soon(ish): Bring-a-friend day. Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike. More details later.

Saturday 1 July: Gospel Singalong at the Cattle Market (£5) as part of Shaftesbury Fringe Festival

Sunday 2 July: Singing on Park Walk (partly in conjunction with the ukes) again as part of the Shaftesbury Fringe Festival

Sunday 23 July: Afternoon concert at St James’ Church.

OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Sunday 7 May: Maxwell String Quartet at Farrington Hall, Port Regis, at 5.30 p.m Haydn, Ravel, and Beethoven.
This is the final concert of their West Country tour, before going to play in Osaka, Japan. Tickets are selling fast [£15], but some are still available, in advance from Dick (bass) at 01747 853 989, or on the night at the door.

Saturday 13 May: Concert by Sturminster Newton Choral Society.

Sunday 21 May: Wincanton Choral Society concert. Carmen and other opera choruses.

Fri 26 – Sat 27 May: Tap Your Trouble Away. Cabaret Evening with supper at Shaftesbury Arts Centre. See attached flier

Sat 10 – Sun 11 June: Singing, Yoga and Massage Weekend, Sete, France. See their website:www.pramchorus.com/inspire

INSPIRE Holiday Courses

www.pramchorus.com

Pram Chorus is a friendly, daytime choir for parents/carers with young children based in Balham, London, UK. Bring your baby and come and join us!

Saturday 1 July: BIG SING DAY at Othona West Dorset with Gilo and Sarah 10am – 5pm£20 including buffet lunchContact Othona to book: 01308 897130 OR mail@othona-bb.org.uk

BIG BANG PIZZA

If you want to order a pizza and have it waiting for you before choir on a Wednesday, call 07521 413720.

David

20 April 2017

April 20, 2017

Dear All,

What a great evening we had last night with the B Naturals. A couple of fun, energetic warmups and some absolutely superlative singing, both from them and us too of course. Stevie Wonder and Lou Reed have never sounded so good! Julia is ordering the “dots” so you can rest assured Karen, Anne Marie and I will be adding the songs to our repertoire. If you missed it you missed a real treat, but we will be inviting them back so all is not lost. For those that are interested, Nick and Jon run regular workshops including residential courses and you can find out more about these from their website. We are still not sure whether or not we are going to be invited to sing at Stourhead again this summer. No doubt an invitation (if there is one that is) will materialize over the coming weeks. By popular request we are also planning a summer party at Amore (date to be decided). Other dates, including provisional appearances at the Shaftesbury Fringe Festival are listed below. If you haven’t already done so, please put the dates in your diaries.

COMING EVENTS

Unspecified Wednesday sometime soon(ish): Bring-a-friend day. Four or five new songs for regulars and newcomers alike. More details later, but I think we should extend a special invitation to those staff from Guys Marsh who joined us a week or so ago.

Sunday 14 May: Shaftesbury Food and Drink Festival. We have been asked to provide a 45 minute slot. More details later.

Saturday 1 July: Gospel Singalong at the Cattle Market (£5). Shaftesbury Fringe Festival

Sunday 2 July: Singing on Park Walk (partly in conjunction with the ukes) Shaftesbury Fringe Festival

Sunday 23 July: Afternoon concert at St James’ Church.

OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

until Saturday 22 April: Into the Woods. Milborne Port Opera. Tickets from 07926 983585 orwww.milborneportopera.co.uk. (see flier)

Milborne Port Opera - Light Opera in South Somerset

www.milborneportopera.co.uk

Milborne Port Opera is an amateur operatic society. We perform Gilbert and Sullivan and other light opera in South Somerset every Easter.

Wed 25 – Sat 29 April: Under Milk Wood. Several members of the community choir are taking part in this production so do support us if you possibly can (but NOT on the Wednesday of course). See our website for flier.

also Saturday 29 April: World TaiChi and QiGong DayJoin Men Bao (soprano) and some other familiar faces on Park Walk at 10.00 a.m.

and again on Saturday 29 April: Deverills Performing Arts series: Apollo5. The internationally acclaimed a cappella group will be singing an amazing range of pieces from Renaissance to contemporary, classical to swing. Full details about the group and how to book tickets are on the festival website (deverillsfestival.com)

Home - Deverills Festival

deverillsfestival.com

Internationally renowned, the multi-talented a cappella quintet have been widely praised for their engaging and entertaining performances. With a repertoire ranging ...

Monday 1 May (Bank Holiday Monday): Open afternoon at English Organ School, Milborne Port. 2.00 - 4.00

also Sunday 7 May: STUPENDOUS SINGING DAY. If you like the idea of singing together with hundreds of other singers, you won’t want to miss the Dorset Community Choir Festival on at Charlton Down Village Hall (otherwise known as Herrison Hall). Although we won’t be taking part as a choir, several choir members have been in the past and have really loved it. (Talk to Nicola and Linda in the altos amongst others.) Choir leaders include Sarah Pennington (of Gilo ‘n’ Sarah) and Jon Conway (B Naturals). It starts in the early afternoon, followed by an early evening concert in which choirs from across Devon, Dorset and Hampshire will perform from their own repertoire. It's £15 for the whole event, with an additional £10 if you'd like supper. Alternatively if you prefer, you could just go to the concert in the evening - £5 a ticket. Contact Su Lewis for information and tickets. Tel: 01305 776106 or email her on weysound@yahoo.co.uk

Saturday 13 May: Concert by Sturminster Newton Choral Society. (See last week’s newsletter or website for full details)

Sat 10 – Sun 11 June: Singing, Yoga and Massage Weekend, Sete, France. See attached flier and / or visit the website. www.pramchorus.com/inspire

INSPIRE Holiday Courses

www.pramchorus.com

Pram Chorus is a friendly, daytime choir for parents/carers with young children based in Balham, London, UK. Bring your baby and come and join us!

BIG BANG PIZZA

If you want to order a pizza and have it waiting for you before choir on a Wednesday, call 07521 413720.

David

13 April 2017

April 13, 2017

Dear All,

Happy Easter one and all!

Don’t forget the B Naturals will be with us next week. It promises to be great fun once more. As you know, we are asking choir members to pay £5 for this. We are still not sure whether or not we are going to be invited to sing at Stourhead again this summer. No doubt an invitation (if there is one that is) will materialise over the coming weeks. By popular request we are also planning a summer party at Amore (date to be decided). Other dates, including provisional appearances at the Shaftesbury Fringe Festival are listed below. Please put the dates in your diaries.

COMING EVENTS

Wednesday 19 April: Evening session with the B Naturals.

Sunday 14 May: Shaftesbury Food and Drink Festival. We have been asked to provide a 45 minute slot. More details later.

Saturday 1 July: Gospel Singalong at the Cattle Market (£5). Shaftesbury Fringe Festival

Sunday 2 July: Singing on Park Walk (partly in conjunction with the ukes) Shaftesbury Fringe Festival

Sunday 23 July: Afternoon concert at St James’ Church.

OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Friday 14 April (Good Friday) Faure Requiem at Motcombe. 7.45 p.m. (See last week’s newsletter or website for full details)

Saturday 15 April: Celebration of World Voices – Royal Albert Hall. This looks ABSOLUTELY WONEDERFUL.

http://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2017/a-celebration-of-world-voices

Monday 1 May (Bank Holiday Monday): Open afternoon at English Organ School, Milborne Port. 2.00 - 4.00

Sunday 7 May: STUPENDOUS SINGING DAY. If you like the idea of singing together with hundreds of other singers, you won’t want to miss the Dorset Community Choir Festival on at Charlton Down Village Hall (otherwise known as Herrison Hall). Although we won’t be taking part as a choir, several choir members have been in the past and have really loved it. (Talk to Nicola and Linda in the altosamongst others.) Choir leaders include Sarah Pennington (of Gilo ‘n’ Sarah) and Jon Conway (B Naturals). It starts in the early afternoon, followed by an early evening concert in which choirs from across Devon, Dorset and Hampshire will perform from their own repertoire. It's £15 for the whole event, with an additional £10 if you'd like supper. Alternatively if you prefer, you could just go to the concert in the evening - £5 a ticket. Contact Su Lewis for information and tickets. Tel: 01305 776106 or email her onweysound@yahoo.co.uk

Saturday 13 May: Concert by Sturminster Newton Choral Society. (See last week’s newsletter or website for full details)

6 April 2017

April 6, 2017

A good sing last night and some very positive news from Brian re mental health provision in North Dorset. The B Naturals will be with us the week after next which promises to be great fun once more. At the moment, I am not sure whether or not we are going to be invited to sing at Stourhead again this summer. No doubt an invitation (if there is one that is) will materialize over the coming weeks. We have been invited to give a concert at St James’ Church once more however and I have provisionally said yes. Please put the date – 23rd July – in your diaries!

COMING EVENTS

Wednesday 19 April: Evening session with the B Naturals. Don’t forget that we are asking choir members to pay £5 for this session if you can. Although B Naturals are terrific value they are rather expensive and we don’t want to break the bank.

Sunday 14 May: Shaftesbury Food and Drink Festival. We have been asked to provide a 45 minute slot. More details later.

Sunday 23 July: Probable afternoon concert at St James’ Church.

OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Sunday 9 April: Concert for Parkinson’s Disease by the Pilgrim Singers. Wincanton Memorial Hall. See flier.

Friday 14 April (Good Friday) Faure Requiem at Motcombe. See flier.

Saturday 15 April: Celebration of World Voices – Royal Albert Hall. This looks ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL.

http://www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/events/2017/a-celebration-of-world-voices

Saturday 13 May: Concert by Sturminster Newton Choral Society. See flier.

BEREAVEMENT DROP-INS

These are held on the first Saturday of every month from 12.00 until 2.00 pm at Bell Street United Church. If you have lost a loved one - recently or long ago – and would like to join us for a quick coffee or some light lunch, just come along. More info from Linda (altos)

BIG BANG PIZZA

Summer must be on the way because the pizza man is back. If you want to order a pizza in advance and have it waiting for you before choir on a Wednesday, call 07521 413720.

David

23 March 2017

March 23, 2017

Dear All,

Congratulations and thanks to those of who came along to Guys Marsh yesterday morning as part of their Wellbeing Day. It was a lot of fun and greatly appreciated by those that attended the session.

COMING EVENTS

Wednesday 19 April: Evening session with the B Naturals. We are asking choir members to pay £5 for this session if you can. Although B Naturals are terrific value they are rather expensive and we don’t want to break the bank. For those that don’t know them, they are experienced workshop leaders teaching their own arrangements of popular songs - songs that are always full of fun, with some wonderful harmonies. There are four of them and four teachers mean much faster learning of course. They will also entertain us with 3 or 4 songs from their current repertoire while we take a well-earned rest from all the learning. If you’ve not experienced them before, you might like to click onto http://thebnaturals.com/workshops/ so that you can get the idea!!

Workshops | The B Naturals

thebnaturals.com

Booking Information. Concessions for students and over 65’s (except when an Early Bird deal is being offered). Workshops normally run from 10am till 4:30pm.

Sunday 14 May: Shaftesbury Food and Drink Festival. We have been asked to provide a 45 minute slot. More details later.

OTHER DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

Saturday 1 April: Concert by Spectra Musica, Wincanton. See last week’s newsletter or our website for flier.

also

Concert by Palida. St Mary’s Church, Shroton. See last week’s newsletter or our website for flier.

Sunday 9 April: Concert by the Pilgrim Singers. Wincanton Memorial Hall. See last week’s newsletter or our website for flier.

Wed 25 – Sat 29 April: Under Milk Wood. Several members of the community choir are taking part in this production so do support us if you possibly can (but NOT on the Wednesday of course). Flier attached.

Sunday 7 May: STUPENDOUS SINGING DAY If you like the idea of singing together with hundreds of other singers, you won’t want to miss the Dorset Community Choir Festival on at Charlton Down Village Hall (otherwise known as Herrison Hall). Although we won’t be taking part as a choir, several choir members have been in the past and have really loved it. (Talk to Nicola and Linda in the altos amongst others.) Choir leaders include Sarah Pennington (of Gilo ‘n’ Sarah) and Jon Conway (B Naturals). It starts in the early afternoon, followed by an early evening concert in which choirs from across Devon, Dorset and Hampshire will perform from their own repertoire. It's £15 for the whole event, with an additional £10 if you'd like supper. Alternatively if you prefer, you could just go to the concert in the evening - £5 a ticket. Contact Su Lewis for information and tickets. Tel: 01305 776106 or email her on weysound@yahoo.co.uk

David