Summer Term 2024 Wayns weeklies
Wayns Weekly: 10th July 2024
A Note from David Owen Norris
Dear George and Andy and Wayns all!
That was an enormous pleasure on Saturday. Thank you all very much, and please convey my best wishes to all and sundry.
It was terrific to see you all again.
All my very best wishes
David
Wayns Weekly: 8th July 2024
1. Concert and Thanks
What a fantastic concert we had on Saturday. A big thanks to many people;
Andy Lumsden - for getting so much out of us on the evening with good humour and aplenty of enthusiasm.
George Castle - for the rehearsals he has taken and played for this term. We are so lucky to have him as our number 1 support act. And then he wows us with his wonderful playing in the concert. Not quite the United Church piano but he coped! So good to hear him play a good piano.
Andy Hayman - for stepping up and playing for our rehearsals.
David Owen Norris - for giving us yet another superbly entertaining demonstration of the versatility and brilliance of his piano playing.
Also well done to Sarah Jones for getting the publicity out there and ensuring the tickets get sold; Lea Holmes for finding the soloists; Veronica Shaw for liaising with Winchester College and sorting out the wine, seating etc.; Susan Rees for sourcing and sorting the music (and to Sarah Delany for helping with this); Chris Town for producing the concert programme and Duncan Eves for contributing to said programme.
I apologise if I have missed any one out, easily done, as many people are needed to get concerts and rehearsals off the ground.
2. Next Term
A reminder that next term starts on September 12th. Remember to come early to pick up your music. Term dates can be found here
Please note that the AGM is on Thursday 16th October.
3. Concert at St Cross 28th July
Please find details here
Wayns Weekly: 2nd July 2024
1. Reminders about 6th July Concert
Tickets still need selling!
Rehearsal is from 1pm to 3pm
Dress is plain, coloured tops (not T shirts) with sleeves. black trousers or skirts - ankle length, black shoes.
Please remember your folders.
Only hired copied of The Rio Grande need returning, to Kate Spencer, please. I will find a suitable place on Saturday afternoon.
2. Rehearsals
Just a reminder that this Thursday, 4th July, is the last rehearsal until Thursday 12th September. Dates for the next year’s terms can be found here
Wayns Weekly: 24th June 2024
1. Message from Andy Lumsden
Dear all,
As many of you will know, things have been rather complicated at the cathedral over the past month or two, and that combined with preparations for SCF have meant I have missed rather more rehearsals than Daniel lets you all get away with. I know some of you are nervous with the concert coming up very soon that I haven't been about much. Can I just confirm that I definitely plan to be there for the next couple of rehearsals and for the concert, and can I thank George for doing such a brilliant job of covering for me.
Andy
2. Message from Daniel re Subs for Next Year
Dear all,
Your committee has been looking at our financial situation. As you will recall from the discussions at our last couple of AGMs, putting on concerts with the sort of soloists and orchestras we want to work with is getting more and more expensive. If we completely fill the cathedral we can just about break even on a concert, but generally we make a loss. Thanks to all of your efforts in selling tickets, our loss last year was not as bad as it could have been, but we haven't generated an excess; and, as you know, we have big plans for the next year: the Verdi Requiem will be an expensive thing to put on.
After much discussion, we have reluctantly decided to set the subs for next year at £200. This is a £15 increase, but still works out at around £7 per rehearsal. Kate Baker will be in touch before the beginning of next term about payment, and as always, we will try to be as flexible as possible for those who find it easier to pay in chunks, rather than all in one go.
I'm always happy to chat to any of you about any concerns on our committee decisions, but whilst I would rather not be putting up subs, I hope you think this is not excessive and still provides good value for the experience we have in singing such brilliant music together.
Thanks
Daniel
3. Important - Tickets Still Need to be Sold
Don’t forget that you can download the electronic flyer via the Publicity tab of the members area. If every member can sell two more tickets that would make a huge difference!
The direct link for tickets is here: A Summer Romance eventbrite.co.uk
4. Paul Spicer Choral Course St Cross 9th to 10th November 2024
Paul Spicer is running a course at St Cross.
The website address is: https://englishchoralexperience.co.uk/ - and click on the link to the St Cross course.
Paul is an excellent choir trainer, and the music to be rehearsed will be the lovely G minor Mass of Vaughan Williams and a short piece by Tippett, both for double choir.
Wayns Weekly: 17th June 2024
1. Back to Rehearsals this Thursday, 20th June 2024
Just a reminder that we have just 3 more Thursday rehearsals before our concert on 6th July.
2. Thank You to Daniel
I’m sure we would all like to say a very big thank you to Daniel and Alison for their kind hospitality last Thursday. A great time was has by all.
3. Saturday 6th July
A reminder that the rehearsal will be from 1pm to 3pm on the afternoon of 6th July.
Choir dress will be plain coloured tops/shirts with black skirts or trousers. We aim to look summery and colourful for this more informal summer concert.
We need some volunteers to sell tickets on the day, check people have tickets and direct them to the hall. They shouldn't be choir members but friends or relatives who could be available from 6.30.
Wayns Weekly: 3rd June2024
1. Welcome Back to Rehearsals This Week
See you all on Thursday 6th June.
2. Get-together 13th June - Nibbles and Canapes, Please!
Following Daniel Benton’s invitation to a social get-together at his house on the 13th June, he has very kindly offered to provide ALL the drinks. It would be great if between us we could muster nibbles and canapés to bring and share. We appreciate it may not be possible for everyone to bring something but if you do have time, please bring a plate or bowl of something to hand round. All contributions welcome. Please email Sarah Jones: sj@luminaconsulting.com to let her know if you’re bringing something. (This is mostly to ensure we don’t end up with thirty plates of sausage rolls! ). Time to put on your culinary thinking caps!
Directions to Daniel’s house are contained in Wayns Weekly of 21st May, scroll down to find it.
3. Ticket Sales
Ticket sales are still rather slow for the July concert and we have currently sold one third of the seats in New Hall. If you have taken flyers or posters please make every effort to distribute them or to get them displayed on a public notice board. Don’t forget that you can also download the electronic flyer via the Publicity tab of the members area. If every member can sell two more tickets that would make a huge difference!
We will be increasing our social media posting over the next few weeks so please like and share anything that you see.
The direct link for tickets is here: A Summer Romance eventbrite.co.uk
Wayns Weekly: 27th May 2024
1.No Rehearsal This Week
A reminder that this week is half term and there is no rehearsal this Thursday, 30th May. Rehearsals resume on Thursday, 6th June.
There is also no rehearsal on Thursday 13th June and Daniel Benton is kindly hosting a social evening at his house. See WW of 21st May for more details.
2. Updated Members’ List
I have updated the members’ list to include our 3 new members; Lizzie Wayne (S1), Helen Rowland (S2) and Selina Hepworth (A2)
This can be found on the members’ page - I have created a new link called Choir Members’ Contact List so you can go straight to the list from the members’ page or click here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/629a2c8cefa7042e3f7799c3/t/665493b85ddabe2bc48a5ac9/1716818872978/Membership_List_May_2024.pdf
Wayns Weekly: 21st May 2024
An Invitation from Daniel Benton for Thursday 13th June
Dear all,
As I mentioned at last week's rehearsal, we thought it might be a nice idea to use one of the many rehearsal slots we have this term for a social get-together.
I'd therefore like to invite you all to drinks and nibbles at my house from 7pm on June 13th. I live about 10 minutes outside Winchester at Oak House, Park Lane, Ropley, SO24 0BE. It's rather in the middle of a field, so public transport won't help much, and so although we have ample (free!) parking, it may be a good idea to try to organise car shares with your chums to enable you to drink safely. The plan would be to be in the garden, but if it's wet there is plenty of room indoors, and we could even have a rehearsal in the music room...
What3words for the gate is "viewing.inclined.tentacles" and for the parking field (10 yards away from the gate) is "theme.porch.lifeboats". For those who use more traditional means, directions from Winchester are included below.
Could I ask you all to email me on daniel.benton@btinternet.com to let me know if you will be coming, just so that I have a vague idea of numbers ?
Do come if you can - it will be nice for everyone to get a chance to chat outside of the usual United Church setting.
Daniel
Directions to Oak House from Winchester: Take the A31 from Winchester towards Alton. After about 4 miles, you’ll get to a roundabout on the A31 at the turning to Alresford where the A31 goes from dual carriageway to single. Carry on along the A31 to the next roundabout (about 2 miles) where you turn right (signposted to Bramdean and the Old Park Industrial Estate). If you get to a Shell petrol station on your right you’ve gone too far. After turning right, after about 250 yards there’s a tiny turning to the left, opposite some big barns, with a post box on the corner. Be brave and take the left turn. You go up a little hill and can see our house over the fields in front of you. Follow the lane for a mile and a bit (it turns to the left at Jefford Cottage) and you will pass the imposing iron gates of Harcombe House on your right. 100 yards after that you get to the rather more modest wooden gates of Oak House. Can’t possibly go wrong.
Wayns Weekly: 15th May 2024
Afternoon Rehearsal Time for 6th July Concert
Please note that the rehearsal for this concert will be from 1pm to 3pm.
The Waynflete Obit - Saturday 17th August 2024
This year our Evensong is later than the anniversary of the death of Bishop Waynflete on 11th August 1486, but I hope being a Saturday some singers who are in full-time employment may be able to join us.
The service will feature music by Anthony Caesar in the 100th anniversary year of his birth. Born in Southampton he was a boy Chorister at Winchester Cathedral, and returned as Precentor and member of Chapter. In retirement he was Chaplain at the Hospital of St Cross.
I will be circulating a sign-up sheet later in the term, but please note Saturday 17th August in your diaries, with a practice at St Cross on Thursday 15th August at 7.30pm.
John Pringle
Wayns Weekly: 6th May 2024
1. Concert Publicity and Tickets
Printed posters and flyers will be available this week, do please take them and distribute widely! There are lots of places that can accept posters - eg village stores and newsagents, school noticeboards, cafes, supermarket noticeboards, your front window and even your car! The electronic version can be downloaded for sharing from the ‘publicity materials’ tab of the members’ page.
Please don’t forget to share the Eventbrite link for tickets with your family and friends and encourage them to come to this lovely event.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-summer-romance-tickets-884814322457
There is also a link via our concert page.
Having made a fantastic start with ticket sales, with 66 sold in the first four days, we have only sold four tickets over the past few days, so do please keep your efforts up, we really should be able to fill New Hall.
2. Future Concert Dates
Saturday December 7th 2024 - Beethoven Mass in C Major; Cecilia Macdowell’s Christus Est plus Carols
Friday 4th April 2025- Verdi Requiem
May 2025 - Tour of Normandy (dates t.b.c)
July 2025 - Summer concert (t.b.c)
Saturday December 6th 2025 - Handel Messiah
Further details will follow as will term dates for 2024/25.
Wayns Weekly: 29th April 2024
1. Tickets For 6th July Concert Are On Sale from 29th April
You will find the flyer under publicity in the members’ area https://static1.squarespace.com/static/629a2c8cefa7042e3f7799c3/t/662d1abeecc74c104120e0a3/1714231999256/A+Summer+Romance+flyer.jpg
Please download and share these as much as possible. Sarah will be bringing physical copies of flyers and posters to rehearsals.
Visit Eventbrite to buy tickets for your friends and relatives https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-summer-romance-tickets-884814322457?aff=ebdsshios
2. Liebeslieder Pronunciation Tapes and Translation
Anne Steer (S2) has very kindly recorded all of the German words to help non German speakers like me, thank you Anne. There is also a translation that Duncan Eves has found. Click here to find both: https://www.waynfletesingers.org.uk/brahms-liebeslieder-pronunciation-files
3. Rio Grande Recording
This is the recording of Rio Grande that Duncan recommended that we listen to. Andre Previn with Cristina Ortez.
On Spotify:
….or YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=lvRKCijtkO4
Wayns Weekly: 23rd April 2024
1. Remembering Gilly Jones – A1
Jacki Donnellan kindly agreed to accept your memories of Gilly Jones and put together a memorial page for Wayns Augmented on the members’ section of the website. All contributions to Jacki at jackidonnellan@gmail.com
2. Open Rehearsals and Auditions
Just a reminder that the open rehearsals are on Thursdays 2nd and 9th May with auditions on Tuesday 14th May. We are particularly keen on encouraging tenors and basses and younger voices overall.
3. German Pronunciation for the Liebesliede Waltzes
Anne Steer (S2) is currently recording the words for the Liebeslieder Waltzes to help those of us who would like some help with the German. Recordings will be coming your way soon. Thanks to Anne.
Wayns Weekly: 15th April 2024
Rehearsal 18th April
I hope you all had a good Easter. And so, the summer term begins this Thursday, 18th April. Please try to arrive early to pick up any music that you may have hired or are wanting to buy.
Augmented Blog Page
In case you have missed this, Jacki added two items after the last concert. The first is an interview with Veronica Shaw in which she tells us about herself and her role as concert Manager: https://www.waynfletesingers.org.uk/waynsaugmented/blog-post-title-one-p3zze
The second includes members’ views of that wonderful Baroque concert of 9th March:
https://www.waynfletesingers.org.uk/waynsaugmented/Blog%20Post%20Title%20One-zdgfs
Pitch Perfect Concert Series at St Cross
This is a series of lunchtime concerts at the Hospital of St Cross featuring young musicians. The concerts run from 18th April to 31st October. More details can be found here: www.perfectpitchconcerts.co.uk
Wayns Weekly: 13th March
1. Baroque Concert 9th March
What a wonderful concert it was. Many thanks to Andy Lumsden and George and also to Andy Hayman for stepping in to help with the rehearsals.
I have added Derek Beck’s write up for the Hampshire Chronicle to be found here
Could I also repeat Jacki Donnellan’s request for your comments on the concert, for inclusion on the Wayns Augmented page. Comments to jackidonnellan@gmail.com
2. Local Concerts
Clicking on the Local Concerts section on the members’ page will bring you to flyers, and sometimes web links, to concerts by other local choirs etc. the latest addition is from Southern Voices, relating to their Come and Sing on Saturday 4th May. Along with the flyer, I have added a link to the relevant web page which gives all the details you need.
There is also information about new production of Haydn’s Creation with dance in Winchester on the 6th of April with an offer pf a 10% discount using the code CHOIR10.