Hi All,
Firstly, my apologies for the late delivery of our information for this term - the work on the Choir Vestry has quite taken over my life for the past few weeks - come up and have a look next week when it should all be finished! I can now get on with the urgent tasks which should have been done a while ago - whatever happened to this "Retirement Freedom" I was expecting?!
Many thanks to all of you who have helped in moving music, furniture and equipment to and from the Lady Chapel and Piggot Room over the past weeks. It’d be invidious to name all those who have given of their time and effort one way and another but suffice it to say I know who you are - and it’s been really appreciated!
Having said that I’m sure no one would mind if I singled
out Mark who spent the last fortnight of his Christmas
vacation in church each day cataloguing music and numbering
boxes. Thanks to him we now have a well-ordered and
accessible filing system for our music and - once I’ve
explained it to everyone - we’ll all be able to find music
when we need it!
Next, well done everyone with coping with all the
disruption over past weeks - you have kept the ship afloat
missing not a beat in the process. Epiphany Carols were
lovely, Singers (so I hear, being in Germany at the time!)
and there were many apprecative comments about the Robed
Choir’s Candlemas Carols. Congratulations all.
We’re delighted to welcome Elizabeth Spindley, Maisie
Cartmell, Georgia Green and Charis Hall to our ranks as
Trebles in the Robed Choir. They follow Anais Rose who
joined us in the Autumn. We look forward to see you all
grow in confidence and ability as the years progress.
We’re also delighted to see Rev. Dr. Ivor Jones not only
throw in his hand as a Bass with both Choirs but also to
take up his place as a Chalice Assistant and as a Preacher
(be at Evensong on March 7th!). No limit to his talent, it
would appear.
We have three intrepid individuals looking towards taking their RSCM Dean’s Awards this session - good luck to them. Our thoughts and prayers will be with you as you prepare for this.
Following our issue of forms in November regarding this venture we have had some some forms returned to us expressing interest. However, it is apparent that there are very many who have refrained from making a return at all because they don’t know what may transpire between now and next year when we hope to go.
Could I urgently appeal for everyone to make a return regarding this trip on the basis of "all things being equal and assuming nothing nasty crops up beforehand we would be interested / we would not be intrested". This would enable us to plan on the basis of an "informed estimate" of group size. At present we have absolutely no idea how many might conceivably be interested in the trip and, therefore, cannot approach any travel companies or possible sponsors as we don’t know the potential group size or, indeed, if the trip is viable at all!
We shall be sending out new forms - hopefully reworded to alleviate any anxieties - to all those who haven’t yet made a return. I’d be extremely grateful if these could come back by return so that we can plan on an informed basis.
Many thanks.
On the morning of SATURDAY 27th
MARCH I am running the annual YPGO for the RSCM / BOA.
If there are any youngsters between the ages of 8 yrs or 18
yrs that you know of who would like to learn more about how
organs (and organists!) work please let me know.
We hope to visit instruments in the City and to end at
Birmingham Cathedral. Cost: £3.00.
For those who will be bored at the end of the Easter holiday (!) the RSCM is running a Day Course for young singers on SATURDAY 17th APRIL. This will be run by David Leeke, RSCM Area Co-Ordinator and will, we hope, be based at Birmingham Cathedral. Let me know if you would like to participate. Cost: £5.00 (provisional).
Advance notice: Thank you, Ian, for securing an outing to Derby Cathedral for the Robed Choir to sing Evensong on SATURDAY 12th JUNE. Please put this date in your diaries to ensure your participation - we’ll need a full turnout.
Now for the future: Please read the information on the left to keep you informed of our engagements from now until Easter.