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South Somerset Choral Society
Autumn 2010 Newsletter
(The text marked in red is addtional
to the paper versions sent by post)
Welcome to our 44th season. Our first rehearsal is at 7.30pm on
Thursday 9th September at Barrington Village Hall. It would be appreciated
if you could arrive early so that distribution of music does not
affect rehearsal time.
Our winter concerts will take place at St Mary’s, Chard and The Minster,
Ilminster on Thursday 2nd December and Friday 3rd December. The concert
will include excerpts from Handel’s Messiah and Vaughan Williams
Fantasia on Christmas carols with Tim Donaldson as soloist. In addition
it is possible that pieces from Rachmaninov, Brahms and Taverner
will be included as well as audience carols.
This coming October a small group of singers were intending to return
to Chatillon in France to sing with the choir ‘Paroles en L’air’.
Unfortunately, due to various technical and operational difficulties
the trip has been cancelled. However, we do still hope that the
trip can be re-arranged for 2011. Many thanks go to Jo Vernon for
the work she has put in on this project.
Our AGM is on Thursday 10th October and will be followed by a rehearsal.
Copies of the agenda and of last year’s minutes will be made available
two weeks before the meeting. At last year’s AGM I gave notice that
at this I will be standing down as Chairman and General Secretary
of the Society. Whilst I have enjoyed carrying out both roles it
seems the right time to stand down and get some fresh ideas. There
is a ‘job description’ for the post of General Secretary which can
be obtained from Mike Dadds. It is vital that both these posts are
filled.
The Spring concerts will take place at St Mary’s Chard and The Minster,
Ilminster on Thursday 14th April and Friday 15th April. They will
be the last under Richard’s baton. We will be singing Handel’s ‘Zadok
the Priest’, Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’, the second movement of ‘Wings of
the Morning’ by Richard, and Mozart’s ‘Requiem’. A programme with
some better known material, but the ‘Requiem’ will give us something
to get our teeth into.
Before the last season started Ken Holdsworth organised a walk around
Hawkchurch followed by a snack at ‘The Old Inn’. This was enjoyed
by a hardy group of walkers getting fit for the season ahead. Ken
will be arranging a similar walk at the beginning of the next season
on 2nd September. Details can be found on the “Social” page of this
web site.
Last Christmas the choir performed Charpentier’s ‘Messe de Minuit
pour Noel’, Greig’s ‘Ave Maris Stella’. Haydn’s ‘Missa Brevis’ and
Vivaldi’s ’Magnificat’.
Whilst we had some misgivings about the piece by Charpentier it was
good to extend our repertoire and in particular sing the Magnificat
by Vivaldi. We welcomed back two young soloists Penelope and Olivia
but I know many of you were impressed by the performance of Chi Hoe
Mak (bass) and Sophie Jones (soprano) – the world is full of talented
musicians! On this occasion I will repeat the comments of a member
of the audience who has attended many of our concerts. It was, to
quote "Our best performance yet".
We embarked on a venture this last Christmas when we provided entertainment
for guests at Hornsbury Mill. The programme of carols interspersed
with readings was well received. Thanks to Molly, Bungy, Tim and
Richard for devising this enterprising programme. Some of the same
group also sang for the guests at Cricket St Thomas. Monies raised
were sent to The Children’s Hospice, South West. We may be singing
again at Hornsbury Mill this coming Christmas so keep your diaries
at the ready.
At the beginning of the year we held our annual dinner at the Lordleaze
Hotel. Although fewer members attended it was a great evening as
we were well looked after by Mr Owen and his staff. Thanks to Vicky
for organising the event. We hope to repeat the dinner again next
year and details will be announced later in the season.
Last April we sang Verdi’s ‘Requiem’ at Haselbury Mill – who can
forget the experience. This work is a ‘big sing’ needing a large
choir to give it justice. Many thanks to our friends who joined us
for the occasion and who helped us to achieve a superb performance.
Staging this event was a learning experience for both us and the
owners of the Tithe Barn. We were extremely lucky with the weather.
Despite a number of problems we got there and received excellent
comments from reviewers. Here is an extract from one
"….the SSCS performance moved from high point to high point …. Choral
precision, intonation and ensemble singing were generally first rate
.. the solos were acquitted with fine distinction"
You can read the rest on the “Reviews” page of this website.
Thanks to all of you who helped in any way to make this such a successful
and enjoyable experience. Thank you also to Vicky for organising
a ‘Post Performance’ party at Barrington. It was attended by about
40 members
During the year the ‘100 Club’ was successfully revived by Susie
Dickinson as a means of raising funds for the Society. As I write
the budget proposals are beginning to sink in. It will mean that
grants are harder to obtain and we will need to fall back on our
own devices to keep the Society financially viable. Please support
the ‘100 Club’ and other small fund raising events through the year.
Look for the results of the monthly draws on our Society Website.
Ian Anderton is continuing to develop the website and it is the Committee’s
intention that we use it more effectively to deliver information
to our members. For those who do not not have access
to a computer, we will make sure that their needs
are met as well!
Do have a look at the rest of this website. I know Ian would be delighted
to have your views. You can contact Ian by telephone: 01460 53389
or E-mail him from the "Contacts" page of this web site.
This coming season, along with our usual ticketing arrangements,
it will also be possible to order tickets electronically through
WeGotTickets. Please see what is on offer locally
through this service. We will monitor the system and see whether
it is worth continuing.
Finally our ‘Patrons and Friends’ Secretary Peter Saunders is concerned
at the falling numbers of ‘Friends of the Society’. Please contact
him for an application form if you think you can persuade friends
or family to join. I know it’s difficult – but have a try.
Thanks to Richard, Tim and Shirley for guiding us through our musical
programme this last season. A big thanks to all of you who have helped
to make the last season successful and enjoyable. Have a good holiday
and come back refreshed to the new season. I hope to see you all
again in September.
Mike Dadds (Chairman and General Secretary)
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