#BRING BACK MY CHOIR

#Bring back my Choir #Bring back my Band

This is a major campaign launched by Making Music. Working on behalf of amateur musicians in the UK, they are extremely proactive in representations to Government for a route back to performance.

‘Government guidance on reopening the performing arts published on 9 July has caused widespread disappointment, prohibiting amateur groups or groups with amateur participants – unlike professionals – to play or sing together, except in the numbers of people currently allowed to meet in public. 

It goes further to say that singing and playing wind and brass instruments isn’t even allowed in those numbers.

The guidance (England only) will only be reviewed when the results of just commissioned research into droplet and aerosol transmission of Covid-19 are available. The devolved administrations are expected to issue similar guidance shortly (Wales: this week, Scotland: next two weeks, NI: n/a).

Many groups, before the guidance came out, were looking forward to meeting again, even with strict risk management measures, and were already hard at work creating a new normal, just as pubs, hairdressers and gyms are doing – considering small sectionals outside, inventing new ways of making music together in socially distanced ways, planning some sort of future. Now, not even groups of 6 outside are permitted if you are singers or wind or brass players; and still only groups of 6 outside if you play anything else.

There is no explanation why amateurs are being treated differently to professionals in this guidance.’ Extract from Making Music’s campaign.

The music industry is currently being significantly supported by amateur musicians. Newcastle Choral Society along with many other local choirs, employs freelance professional music teachers, many professional singers, pays rent and purchases performance materials, as well as hiring concert halls and other venues. 

So until things change significantly, we must rely on our Zoom sessions on Monday nights. We had a surprise guest recently! Will Todd popped into give us a quick run through of Benedictus from his Mass In Blue. What a treat!

Our great achievement this year while in Lockdown was our 2 videos released on YouTube https://youtu.be/BWrFwA-0dEs and https://youtu.be/TxbOUeBSiGs Views exceeded 3000 over the 2 clips. Members of NCS and the Hertfordshire Chorus sang excerpts from James McCarthy’s Codebreaker which we would have sung in Sage Gateshead on 3.5.20 but now rescheduled for 16.5.21. All fingers crossed for that performance.

The second video released on the day of VE75, featured footage of the ‘Forces sweetheart’ Vera Lynn who died recently aged 103!  Poignant wartime images as a backdrop to the hauntingly beautiful ‘Sing me at Morn’.

Both videos featured recently on Star & Shadow Radio(https://www.starandshadow.org.uk) Star & Shadow Cinema is an entirely volunteer run community arts organisation supporting local artists, minority groups and disadvantaged people. It has recently moved online into the radio world.

Come and Sing Mozart Requiem

‘Come and Sing’ Mozart’s magnificent REQUIEM
with members of Newcastle Choral Society
Musical Director: Mark Anyan

SATURDAY 14 SEPTEMBER 2019 10 TILL 3
TRINITY CHURCH GOSFORTH

We had an amazing day on 14th September! Under our Musical Director Mark Anyan’s command, a choir of 104 singers in total, made up of guests and members of NCS, worked hard all day – the powerful attraction of Mozart’s Requiem without a doubt! Thank you to everyone who came and the appreciative audience of family and friends plus some passers by, who came in at the end of the afternoon for an informal performance! ” It really was a very good performance” from an audience member.

Warren Smith, Director of Music at St Mary’s Church Ponteland was our superb guest organist. Our guest soloists were a delight; Emma Anyan Mezzo, Nerys Angel Soprano, Luke Busbridge Bass and multi tasking Mark Anyan as Tenor and Conductor!

Trinity Church is a marvellous venue and our thanks go to the team of staff and volunteers who manage events such as ours so immaculately.

Rehearsals now continue for the Feb 1st 2020 performance of Mozart Requiem in the Banqueting Suite at Newcastle Civic Centre at 7.30pm.

We will also be squeezing in a festive concert on Sat Dec 7th 2019 at Trinity Church again.

Diary Date:

SUNDAY 3^rd May 2020 at 3.00pm

SAGE ONE GATESHEAD

NCS are delighted to be collaborating with Hertfordshire Chorus and their Musical Director David Temple in a blockbuster concert in Hall One. https://www.hertfordshirechorus.org.uk/ They are a very impressive choir and it is a privilege to be joining forces with them!

In the first half, the combined choirs of around 200 voices will be performing the North east premiere of James McCarthy’s Codebreaker’– an oratorio about the life of Alan Turing, the “father of computer science”, commissioned by Hertfordshire Chorus in 2014. It’s a terrific piece!

This will be conducted by Mark Anyan

In the second half,  David Temple will conduct Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony

It’s all go at NCS! Come and join us!!

SING GOSPEL WORKSHOP

‘Sing Gospel’ workshop

Come find your joy with Sharon Durant at our ‘Sing Gospel’ workshop.

Join in with uplifting gospel songs, beautiful harmonies and John Rutter’s ‘Feel the Spirit’ for a great day of singing together.

Hosted by Newcastle Choral Society

Musical Director Mark Anyan

 Saturday 15^th June 2019 10 till 3

St Lukes Church Hall, Claremont Road, Newcastle upon Tyne

All voices welcome

Cost £10

Tea and coffee available – bring your own lunch or use food outlets nearby

Parking available on Claremont Road

Contact enquiries@newcastlechoralsociety.org.uk

Mobile 07980 484598 or 07707 621312

Sharon Durant is a freelance vocal teacher, performer, choir leader and composer. She works with singers of all ages leading workshops and singing projects within a wide variety of settings including schools, where she trains teachers on the use of singing in the classroom.

For many years, Sharon worked at Sage Gateshead as Vocal Strand leader, delivering a diverse collection of large-scale singing projects. She has also worked with organisations such as Music in Hospital and Care, British Lung Foundation (Singing for Lung Health), Sunderland Music Hub and Concordia.

Sharon directs, composes and arranges for several community choirs including Customs Voices, Urban Chorus and North East Gospel Choir and performs as part of Mouthful, a four piece ensemble who push the boundaries of vocal possibility and successfully devise new vocal material.

Easter recruitment

recruiting NOW

Step forward  if you have:

• experience of singing in a choir
• the ability to read music or a good ear to learn quickly
• the ability to hold a line in multi-part music
• a love of singing and socialising and happy to be auditioned. A short and informal process!

What can you expect as a member of NCS?

• Expert Musical Direction
• Access to Vocal Training
• Professional approach, but also Sociable
• Be part of a Great Musical Tradition
• Sing with Professional Soloists and Orchestras in Prestigious Venues

Look what’s coming up:

‘Summer Thyme’ Sat June 30th Trinity Church Gosforth

And the BIG one! NCS as Guest Choir alongside Northern Spirit Singers

Britten’s War Requiem  at Sage One Gateshead on Sat Nov 10th 2018 at 7.30pm

Cleveland Philharmonic Choir

Conducted by  John Forsyth MBE

JOIN NOW to be able to take part!! View pdf here Easter Recruitment

Contact:  Tel: 0191 286 6338 or 01207 560555  email: enquiries@newcastlechoralsociety.org.uk

Start ?      Monday 16th April 2018 19.30 -21.30

Where?    Church of St John the Evangelist
                    Kingston Park Avenue
                    Newcastle upon Tyne NE3

NB  Sat 21st April at Church of St John the Evangelist – a multimedia War Requiem presentation 10 -1pm by John Forsyth

Open Rehearsal Dream of Gerontius15.1.18

OPEN REHEARSAL AWAITS YOU
Elgar: Dream of Gerontius
MONDAY 15TH JANUARY 2018

DREAM OF SINGING with a large mixed choir, professional soloists and one of the finest orchestras in the North East? Make your dreams come true! ALL WELCOME

ELGAR’S ‘DREAM OF GERONTIUS’

Open Rehearsal with Newcastle Choral Society and Musical Director Mark Anyan. Leading to a performance in the Banqueting Suite, Newcastle Civic Centre on March 24th 2018.
Considered to be one of the greatest pieces of music ever written by a British composer. The considerable numbers involved in this dramatic masterpiece make performances something of a rarity. Make sure you do not miss this opportunity to be a part of it!

Join us for the Free open rehearsal and if you would like to take part in the concert then sign up for the Spring term for £50.
To be a full member you would need to sign up for a short audition to remain with us.

When? Monday 15th January 2018 from 7.30pm – 9.30pm
Where? St John’s Church, Kingston Park Centre, Kingston Park Ave, NE3 2HB
Cost? FREE with coffee and cake
Contact? 07707 621312 / 07980 484598 / enquiries@newcastlechoralsociety.org.uk

Read the full flier here

Recruitment ‘Let’s Sing’

Our Away Day and Let’s SING!
23rd September 2017 was great fun!

We had a goodly number of guest singers joining us at Newcastle Falcons Platinum Suite Kingston Park  where we learnt such a lot about Vocal Technique from the brilliant Miranda Wright – Masterclass leader and singing teacher Samling Academy; Head of Classical Singing Newcastle University; Durham Cathedral Choristers; National Youth Choirs of Great Britain

We enjoyed singing the MESSIAH CHORUSES and learning fun African songs with Mark Anyan
Director of Newcastle Choral Society; General Manager of National Youth Choir of Great Britain

If you are interested  in joining the choir that ‘pushes the songboat out’ a little further than most choirs, register for an audition by contacting enquiries@newcastlechoralsociety.org.uk