Holmfirth Choral Society

Members' Information

updated May 31st 2017
REHEARSALS are at Holmfirth Methodist Church, 7.30 as usual.  New members welcome!

Rehearsals are proceeding well for the Summer concert.  We are currently meeting on Thursdays as usual.   We have not yet decided whether to take a break during Spring Bank Holiday week (1st June) - watch this space. 
Following the concert on 24th June we expect to meet on 29th June and 6th July, but we will then break for summer and reconvene on 17th August.

CONCERT DATES
.
THE CONCERT ON June 24th - Summer Concert with Hepworth Band, Civic Hall  HAS BEEN CANCELLED (or possibly postponed until September/October, t.b.a.)
Sunday 12th November 2017 - Mendelssohn Elijah.
9th December 2017 - Handel Messiah
17th March 2018 - Orff Carmina Burana, Ramirez Misa Criolla



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Several of you took part in the RSCM Festival in Leeds Cathedral on 23rd May 2015.  If you are not on the local RSCM mailing list, and you would like to receive information about upcoming events of interest to choir members, you can sign up the the mailing list at http://hudds.org.uk/rscm .   I've also some spare music copies from that event for sale at £3.50 each.

Rehearsal Aids:
I've  been told about a music teacher who records rehearsal CDs and has built up quite a reputation, I believe.  You can order your own part from him.  Some recordings seem to be piano only, others include a vocal line.   He is called Quintus Benziger, on 01799 586269, and his business is the Saffron Choral Prompt.
See also:  http://www.saffronchoralprompt.co.uk/    and   http://www.quintusbenziger.co.uk/    for further details.

A good source of midi files which are useful for playing parts through if you have a computer is http://www.learnchoralmusic.co.uk/
Covered by this site:    Mozart Coronation Mass,    Fauré Requiem,  Mendelssohn Elijah.    
The midi player program I have mentioned before, MidiPlay_v2p6.exe will allow you to play files from this site, and adjust the volume of your own part to suit your learning.




OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

An email received from Phillip Tolley:

CSSM is a long-established Summer School providing first-class tuition and musicmaking for a wide variety of amateur musicians.  Many of our students return annually and we're always delighted to welcome new faces from the UK and beyond.

 We would be grateful if you forwarded this email and attachment to members of your choir who may be interested.  Full information about the courses available and application forms can be found on our website: www.cssm.org.uk

Hannah Green,    admin@cssm.org.uk

Tuning up for the 2017 Isle of Man Festival of Choirs 
 11th January 2017 
Anticipation is riding high ahead of this year’s Isle of Man Festival of Choirs with the
latest entrants including Flint Male Voice Choir and Haydock Male Voice Choir.
 
The Isle of Man Festival of Choirs takes place in the grand setting of the Royal Hall at
the Villa Marina, which has had a £14 million refurbishment in its seaside location on
Douglas promenade, overlooking the Irish Sea. The hall has played host to the
world’s top musicians and singing artists for over 100 years and is acknowledged for
its outstanding acoustics.
 
This is the fifth year the Festival has taken place and it has grown quite a reputation
for creating a wonderful atmosphere in the Royal Hall, particularly on the finals’ day
where the major honours were contested for. 
 
NEW to this year’s festival, is a stand-alone competition for an Ensemble Class. Each
Ensemble will be required to sing contrasting pieces of no more than 12 minutes
maximum.
 
The unique Festival has three separate sections for ladies, male and mixed voice
choirs, with the first two in each section receiving prizes of £500 and £200
respectively. Each choir will be called on to perform four contrasting pieces of their
own choice, one of which must be unaccompanied. Winners of each class go through
to the final, with the overall winning choir scooping an additional prize of £1,500.
 
Festival Director and political member for the Department of Education, Geoff
Corkish MLC, who is also an accomplished choral singer himself, said, “When we first
staged the festival in 2010 we knew it would be well received, but our aspirations
have been surpassed.
 
“The festival has established a great reputation in a very short amount of time and
we are delighted that the choirs and their supporters enjoyed the unique atmosphere
so much.
 
“Our two informal events - the Welcome Night and the Farewell Evening
- make the Isle of Man Festival of Choirs unique. We’ve even heard stories of choirs
giving impromptu performances in local hostelries (!), making many new friends and
creating a wonderful atmosphere over the festival weekend.”
 
The Isle of Man Festival of Choirs takes place on the weekend of October 20th –
222nd 2017. The registration fee is £35.00 per choir and £20 per Ensemble. A
registration form can be found at www.festivalofchoirs.im .  For further details please
contact Laura@festivalofchoirs.im The closing date for entries is June 30th  2017.


A SPECIAL INVITATION: Limerick Sings International Choral Festival

 Dear Choir Secretary/Member,

I would like to extend a special invitation to your Choral Group to attend this year’s Limerick Sings International Choral Festival, 22nd to 25th June 2017.

Limerick Sings is an annual non-competitive Choral Festival set in the beautiful backdrop of the University of Limerick Campus along with some of Limerick City & County‘s most spectacular venues.

Choirs can have an opportunity to join Perform International’s 120 Voice Festival Choir from the US, under internationally renowned conductor and composer Andre Thomas, for a performance of Dan Forrest’s Jubilate Deo.

Don’t miss the chance to join the “Big Sing” at the Cliffs of Moher, a truly unique singing experience at one of the most majestic settings in Ireland and a natural wonder of the world.

As part of the 4 day Festival programme, choirs can choose to perform in a choice of formal and informal concerts, Come Sing Workshop with Ánuna, a Choral Trail and many other social events. http://www.limericksings.com/

I have attached the Limerick Sings 2017 Programme to review  (see http://www.limericksings.com/wp-content/uploads/Limerick-Sings-2017.pdf  ). For enquiries please contact Elaine Courtney on         00353 61 – 233 236, by e-mail information@limericksings.com or http://www.limericksings.com/

We look forward to welcoming your Choral Group to this year’s Limerick Sings Festival.  

 Warmest Regards,

Elaine Courtney                                                                                  

Limerick Sings International Choral Festival

University of Limerick Conference and Sports Campus, Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland                                                                                                    

Tel: +00 353 61 233236                                                                           

Email: information@limericksings.com

Web: http://www.limericksings.com/


The British Choirs on the Net 'Chorister' Newsletter  (NEW JANUARY 2017)  is now available online. To view the newsletter please visit

 http://www.choirs.org.uk/chorister/Jan2017.pdf

(Earlier newsletters are at: http://www.choirs.org.uk/chorister.htm

Please feel free to print or send on the Newsletter

Thank you for your continued support

Phillip Tolley

www.choirs.org.uk

www.concertfinder.co.uk

 

Please try to communicate information with those of your colleagues who might not have access to web pages such as this.
G.L.  688487