Wayns Weekly - 19th May 2026
A short one this week:
Half Term Break Next Week
Just a reminder that there is no rehearsal next week, 28th May. Rehearsals resuming on Thursday 4th June, leaving only 3 rehearsals in June before the concert.
Edward Hepper
We learnt that Edward Hepper died on Monday 11th May. He was a long standing choir member (Bass) and was secretary to the choir.
Tickets
Keep publicising and selling tickets for June 20th.
Revised Members’ List on Members’ Page
As of May 2026. Please let me know of any errors/omissions…….
Spanish Pronunciation of Lauridsen’s Soneto de al Noche
Please click here to here the pronunciation audio.
Wayns Weekly 11th May 2026
Thanksgiving Service for Felicity McElderry
A thanksgiving service for Felicity McElderry (S1) will be held on 10th June at Christchurch, Winchester, at 1.30pm. There will be refreshments at the church after the service.
2. Welcome to Our New S2
Deborah Sunley successfully ‘passed’ her audition last week and has joined the second sopranos. Welcome!
3. Summer Evening in Blue
A reminder to please sell tickets for this concert. This is the link to the website and here is the link to to the online poster. Sarah will be bringing more poster and flyers to choir this week.
And don’t forget - blue tops.
4. Waynflete Obit Evensong - 11th August 2026
We sing the Waynflete Obit Evensong on 11th August this year with the one practice at St Cross on Thursday 6th August at 7.30pm.
As I will need to finish signing up singers before our 20th June concert, please can you look in your diaries now and let me know by email ( pramjungle@hotmail.com ) if you can sing this year. We need a minimum of 30 singers to make a joyful sound.
As usual we will have picnic suppers and sing madrigals in the Dean Garnier Garden after the service.
John Pringle
5. A Date for Your Diary -Summer Party
Our chairman, Daniel Benton has kindly offered to host a Wayns summer party for the choir on Thursday 25th June 2026. More details will follow.
6. A Date for Your Diary - AGM
Make a note now so you don’t miss it…….this year’s AGM will be on Thursday, 12th November 2026.
Wayns Weekly 4th May 2026
Tickets…please!
So the sale of tickets is moving……slowly. Please try and spread the word, we can’t depend on the usual Turner Sims’ supporters to buy our tickets. It’s going to be a very different (from our usual fare) and exciting concert. The links are here - Turner Sims Box Office and our poster/publicity.
Summer in Blue Needs Tops in Blue
Just a reminder that we will all be wearing blue tops (shirts, blouses etc) with black trousers/skirts so don’t forget to check if you have a blue top, if not, please find one by beg, stealing or borrowing; going to your nearest high fashion boutique or just popping into your local charity shop (the greenest and most ethical way to get a nice new blue top).
That way we will really be representing a Summer in Blue.
Wayns Weekly 27th April 2026
Open Rehearsal
Just a reminder that this Thursday is the second of the two open rehearsals this term, with auditions for prospective members the following Thursday, 7th May.
Individual Part Tracks for Mass in Blue
This is a really good site to get learning the difficult notes and rhythms for the Mass in Blue. It’s one thing being able to plonk out the notes on the piano (this is me speaking, I’m sure many of you will do better than ‘plonk’!), but it’s quite another thing to get the rhythms/timings right. We can’t all be a George or an Andy H, after all.
https://global.oup.com/booksites/content/9780193400504/audio/
3. Lauridsen Nocturnes - Practice Tracks
This is the best I can find, the usual electronic stuff but OK. If anyone can tell me a better site, then please do.
Wayns Weekly - 20th April 2026
Summer Concert - a few selling points!
We need to get out and sell tickets for our concert in June.
Here are a few selling points:
We are working again with David Owen Norris, who as many people know is the most extraordinary virtuosic pianist, and brings an incredible energy to any event. The line up also includes a jazz trio with none other than our very own George Castle.
The Mass in Blue will be a lot of fun and rather different from our usual offering , so the concert may well attract a wider audience. We are joined by a local jazz soprano soloist, Hannah Williams, who has a gorgeous strong smoky voice. You can listen to Hannah here: https://open.spotify.com/track/1wL95zlNus1YDeDc3UO7e0?si=VvQrsS1AT4qNvg44MFpSIw
And she’s on YouTube here:
3. The rest of the music will be a mix of atmospheric and jazzy - thematically linked to the nocturne and blues theme.
4. Whilst Turner Sims is a little further for people to travel, it is a superb intimate concert hall with excellent acoustics and sight lines. As a venue it regularly attracts top notch musicians such as Jess Gilliam, Allan Clayton, Courtney Pine, and Paul Lewis. It’s an easy drive from Winchester (20-25 mins) and there is free university parking at weekends.
The flyer is downloadable from the members area and there will be physical copies available from this week.Tickets available from Turner Sims :
Waynflete Singers | Summer Evening in Blue
Many thanks
Sarah
2.Open Rehearsals
Just a reminder that our ‘open rehearsals’ are this Thursday and next (23rd and 30th April) with auditions on Thursday 7th May.
Saturday 25th April 2026, two organ recitals to choose from!
Firstly , Andy Lumsden has a recital at St John the Evangelist Church, Northington, at 7 p.m. in aid of the Mayors Charities, (Home-Start Winchester & Districts, Trinity Winchester and Winchester Action on the Climate Crisis). Programme includes Bach Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Tickets £15.00 via this link here:
Secondly, Thomas Trotter, at 7.30pm in Winchester Cathedral - please read this notice from Joshua Stephens:
Thomas Trotter, one of the world’s most distinguished concert organists, will be performing this Saturday 25th April at 7.30 pm at Winchester Cathedral, showcasing the immense power and tonal beauty of our historic ‘Father’ Willis Organ.
Programme
Gigout Grand Chœur Dialogué ; Ligeti Musica Ricercarta; Elgar Sonata in G major ; Friml Chanson
Tickets priced £18.00 are still available and can be secured through the following channels:
Online: click here to book; By Phone: 01962 857 275; In Person: Winchester Cathedral Box Office
We look forward to welcoming you to the Cathedral for this spectacular musical event.
Joshua Stephens, Sub-Organist
John Richens - a Founder Member of the Wayns
John Richens was a founder member of the Wayns and well established in the bass section when John Lunt joined ( a long time ago!). John has been informed that John Richens recently died after a long illness. John Lunt said “He taught physics at the John Hanson school in Andover, but after a while - before David Hill's arrival, I think - he moved to Norfolk and was teaching in Thetford. John was very musical - a pianist and organist as well as a very reliable singer”
He had moved into sheltered accommodation in Alton to be near his family.
Wayns Weekly - 13th April 2026
Return to Rehearsals
Just a reminder that we start rehearsals this Thursday, 16th April. Most of us have copies of the Lauridsen Nocturnes but many of us will need to pick up the copies of the Todd Mass in Blue so please come early so we can start the rehearsal on time.
Tickets for 20th June 2026
The tickets for this concert have been on sale on the Turner Sims’ website for some time. Click here.
Please encourage friends and family to buy tickets - this is slightly outside our usual ‘patch’ so getting our ‘followers’ to buy tickets will help us. It promises to be an entertaining evening with our friend David Owen Norris on the piano, along with George Castle and a Jazz Trio. The link to the poster can be found by clicking here
Happy News
What better news to have than an engagement…..Sophie House (S1) and Andy Hayman have just announced their engagement! Congratulations from us all!
Wayns Weekly - Moving Forward a Change of the Guard 2026/7
Dear all,
In 2002 Andy Lumsden took over from David Hill as Director of Music at the Cathedral. Part of his job description then was that he should be MD of the Wayns, which extended the tradition, since our foundation by Alwyn Surplice, of the Cathedral’s DoM being our MD. In 2002 people were worried about the change, but Andy has proved a brilliant leader for us over the years, not least in our recent wonderful Gerontius. But inevitably, we need to think about succession at some point.
When Andy left his role at the Cathedral in 2024, we agreed with Dean Catherine that we would like him to stay on as our MD “at least until a permanent new DoM was in place who was willing and able to lead the Wayns”, and Andy kindly agreed to stay on for what we all initially thought might be a year and has turned out to be much longer. From September, Katherine Dienes-Williams will be taking up her post and so now seems like the right time to think about transition. Andy believes that it is right that the Wayns role should be tied to the DoM role, as this is part of the tight link to the Cathedral that helps to make the Wayns distinctive. Andy also has a number of new projects in the pipeline, including working in Melbourne from July until October this year.
Our constitution says several things about our close links to the Cathedral, but doesn’t explicitly say anything about our MD, not least because it is based on the assumption that the DoM will be our MD. Having spoken with Katherine, she is very keen to take on the Wayns and has lots of energy and ideas. As those with long memories will know, she accompanied rehearsals under David Hill and conducted the Wayns for a term under him. So Katherine will be taking over from Andy as the MD of the Wayns in January 2027. As you know, we have a new Dean, The Very Reverend Chris Palmer, as our President, who is keen to be involved and interested in music. With a new President and a new MD there will be period of change for us, but we hope that this should provide some positive momentum and new ideas, and be exciting.
To manage the transition, and to ensure that Andy has a suitable final concert, we have agreed that Andy’s last concert as our leader will be at Christmas this year, when we will be performing Bach’s Christmas Oratorio in the Cathedral, which should be a fitting finale. Andy will be in Australia for the beginning of the term, so we will be in George’s capable hands, but Andy will be back after the half-term break to lead us in what we hope will be a triumphant final concert for him. And to reassure you, George will continue to support us and Katherine for as long as he wants to.
We have plenty of time now to plan a suitable farewell and find ways to thank Andy for his enormous contribution and consummate musicianship, and we ought to make sure after 25 years that we do this properly.
The Committee
Martin Neary’s Thanksgiving Service Tuesday May 5th 12pm to 1pm
Martin conducted the Waynflete Singers from 1972-1987.
Penny Neary would be delighted if any Waynflete friends were able to come to the Service. Please click to find the invitation and the link on Eventbrite for tickets.
Wayns Weekly - 29th March 2026
Concert Review by David Owen Norris
Wow, what an evening! I still have all those tunes running around in my head. David Owen Norris has written a review of it which mirrors that feeling. Click here to read Oh, and what a nice touch, refreshments in the interval, who knew?
Many thanks to Veronica for liaising with the cathedral and sorting out the seating, no mean task.
Also to Andy Lumsden, George and Andy Hayman for this term’s wonderful rehearsals.
A Message from Elgar’s Great Great Niece on Friday’s Concert
“That really was quite wonderful. Certainly one of the very best, if not the best, Dream of G's I’ve seen.” (As a child her father knew Elgar well; he was a noted prankster in the family apparently!)
The Summer
We will be singing our ‘Summer Evening in Blue’ at Turner Sims with David Owen Norris and a jazz trio including one George Castle. Tickets are already on sale.
Next Term
We Start on Thursday 16th April, other dates are on the front page of the members’ section. Please come early if you need to collect your music, the new system is far quicker but we still want to start rehearsing at 7.30. There’s a lot to learn and the music isn’t our usual ‘style’!
Have a lovely Easter.
Wayns Weekly 24th March 2026
No Rehearsal This Thursday 26th March
Details for Friday 27th March
The rehearsal on Friday 27th March is from 1pm to 4pm. Please don’t arrive before 12.30pm but be ready to start on time at 1pm. If you are unable to attend the Friday rehearsal, please ask someone to save you a seat.
If you can no longer sing in the concert, please inform your part rep; Veronica Shaw, veronica.kshaw@gmail.com or Kate Spencer, kate.spencer15@gmail.com
Concert dress is all black, with jackets. No ties. Women to wear trousers or full (ankle) length skirts.
Please do not wear perfume as there are some choir members with allergies.
We will use folders, which are available from Miranda Austin (S2) who will bring some to the next two rehearsals.
The seating plan can be found by clicking here.
Please arrive for the concert no later than 7.15pm and be ready to line up to go on stage at 7.20pm
3. Ticket Sales
We have sold 603 tickets and have just 146 left to sell. Nearly there! Here’s the link.
Wayns Weekly 17th March 2026
Reminder - Last Thursday Rehearsal this Week
Just a reminder that this Thursday is rehearsal as usual but there will no rehearsal next Thursday, 26th March.
There will be a rehearsal on Friday afternoon from 1pm to 4pm. Please don’t arrive before 12.30pm but be ready to start on time at 1pm. If you are unable to attend the Friday rehearsal, please ask someone to save you a seat.
The concert is that evening, starting at 7.30pm. Please be ready to come on stage by 7.20.
Tickets - A Final Push…….Please
We have pretty much sold out the front two thirds of the nave, which is great. There are still quite a few tickets left in the £25 and £20 price brackets, and the side aisles. The Cathedral video screens will be in use, so people will have a decent view of the action from wherever they are sitting. Link to ticket sales
* If everyone sells just one more ticket the centre nave will be more than full, please do share the flyer again wherever possible
*keep a look out for our social media posts on Instagram and Facebook, ‘like’ and share
* however if you have flyers that you’re not going to get round to circulating, please return these to our rehearsal on Thursday as we shall do a last-minute blitz of city centre hotels early next week.
Thank you!
Sarah Jones
Wayns Weekly - 9th March 2026
Rehearsals and Concert - A Message from Veronica
Next Thursday’s rehearsal on 19th March is the last Thursday rehearsal this term as there is no rehearsal on Thursday 26th March.
The rehearsal on Friday 27th March is from 1pm to 4pm. Please don’t arrive before 12.30pm but be ready to start on time at 1pm. If you are unable to attend the Friday rehearsal, please ask someone to save you a seat.
If you can no longer sing in the concert, please inform your part rep; Veronica Shaw, veronica.kshaw@gmail.com or Kate Spencer, kate.spencer15@gmail.com
Concert dress is all black, with jackets. No ties. Women to wear trousers or full (ankle) length skirts.
Please do not wear perfume as there are some choir members with allergies.
We will use folders, which are available from Miranda Austin (S2) who will bring some to the next two rehearsals.
We have the Chamber Choir joining us for the next two rehearsals. Their seats will be in a central block and will have labels on them. Please make them all feel welcome.
The seating plan has changed and can be found by clicking here.
2. Tickets
Keep selling! Those back seats are being very stubborn, although the banner is going up so that should help.
3. Programme Sellers
We now have 4 people who have offered to sell programmes but we could ideally do with 2 more. They would have to be at the cathedral by 6.30pm. We have card machines available (really easy to operate) but will also take cash.
Wayns Weekly - 3rd March 2026
Gerontius Rehearsals
Just a reminder that we are now back for the last few Gerontius rehearsals, so back in 2 choir formation, please.
The Chamber Choir will be joining us for rehearsals on the 12th 19th and 27th March - please note that there is no rehearsal on the evening of 26th March.
Seating Plan - for Gerontius
You can find the seating plan here - notice that the tenors are in the middle in the front two rows. This may cause some issues re seeing our conductor, so if you are tall, then please show some consideration for those who are not and sit on the row end or at the back so as many people as possible can see Andy - pretty important really!
Ticket Sales
Keep selling tickets. The link is here
Programme Sellers for the Gerontius Concert
Any more volunteers, please? We have four - two more would be ideal. Please contact Kate Spencer kate.spencer15@gmail.com or Veronica (veronica.kshaw@gmail.com Thank you
Tenor Shortages - This Scarcity has now Reached the Economist…….
There are two articles from The Economist about the sad shortage of tenors (unless of course you are in Italy….). Click here to read.
Wayns Weekly 24th February 2026
Welcome Back - Lauridsen Music
Yes, half term is over and we resume again this Thursday. Don’t forget that you have some summer music to pick up so please arrive in plenty of time - no payments this time, though.
A New President for The Wayns - a Message from Our Chairman
Chris Palmer is being installed in March as the new Dean of Winchester Cathedral. Chris is a keen musician, and is both an organist and an ex-chorister. As you know, the Dean of Winchester is traditionally the President of the Waynflete Singers, and Chris is delighted to accept our invitation to become our new President and is very keen to attend our Gerontius concert. Hopefully he will be actively involved with us.
Gerontius Ticket Sales
They started off well but have slowed down so please get out there and sell some more. We’d hate our new president come to a concert that is badly attended.
Support Cathedral Music
Daniel Benton is a trustee of Cathedral Music Trust, which is a charity which works to support cathedral music across the UK. He supports it not just because of the importance of cathedral music, but also because of its impact on the UK's wider musical life : most of the conductors, composers and soloists I know all started as choristers. In case you haven't seen this already, we've launched a campaign to get our choral tradition (music and performance) listed s a UNESCO intangible cultural asset, which would mean that the government has some responsibility for supporting our music.
This is the link to our petition to get this listing. https://www.cathedralmusictrust.org.uk/unesco-living-heritage/
Local Concerts
When I, or someone else, recieves information about local concerts, I send it to Chris Town who puts it onto our members’ section of the website under Local Concerts and Services. Please have a look on a regular basis as it is constantly updated with concerts that (mostly) involve members of the choir or their close associated. You can click here to find it look down the left hand side and click on Local Concerts and Services. Thanks to Chris for keeping it updated.
Programme Sellers for the Gerontius Concert
Any more volunteers, please?
Wayns Weekly - 17th February 2026
No Choir This Week!
Programme Sellers Needed for Concert on 27th March - Please read this carefully
We need a small group of non-singers to sell our concert programmes at the cathedral for our concert on 27th March. They will need to be at the cathedral from 6.30pm until the concert starts and be able to sell programmes for cash or with a card reader, which we will provide. The cathedral have decided to stop providing volunteers for this role, so it will be only our group selling the programmes for this and future concerts. If you have a friend/relative who can help at this concert please could you email Kate Spencer kate.spencer15@gmail.com or Veronica Shaw veronica.kshaw@gmail.com Thank you.
Veronica
Wayns Weekly 10th February 2026
Half Term Break - 19th February
Rehearsals 12th and 26th February
A reminder that we will be rehearsing the Laurisden Nocturnes at these two rehearsals and that the music will only be lent out on the 12th and must be returned to Susan Rees at the end of the evening. Please don’t mark them up.
You will be given your copies at the rehearsal after half term - 26th February.
Ordering Music for the Summer
In case you haven’t yet ordered your music, please do so a.s.a.p by using this link. If it doesn’t appear to work - don’t fret - try again.
Gerontius Tickets
Sales of these have hit ‘pause’ so please encourage people to buy. It will be an amazing concert but also an expensive one so we need to sell, sell, sell! Just click here.
Rehearsals for Gerontius
A reminder that there will not be a rehearsal on Thursday 26th March. The rehearsal in the Cathedral on the afternoon of the 27th March will be from 1pm to 4pm.
Wayns Weekly - John Cutter RIP
It is with great sadness that we learned that Father John Cutter passed away on Wednesday 21st January in Kent, to where he had moved to be closer to his two daughters. John was an ardent supporter of the Waynflete Singers, and our first and only Honorary Lifetime Gold Contributor. He was also a regular attendee at our concerts for over 25 years.
John was a steadfast supporter of the Music Department at the Cathedral, offering generous financial, emotional and spiritual support. In later years this earned him the grand title of Companion to St Swithun, an honour the Cathedral came up with just for John, in honour of his incredible service. He was particularly beloved by the Choristers, who always got a tenner from him on Christmas Day, and an extra bonus if they managed to translate Latin poems he wrote for them!
In addition to his Gold support to the Wayns, he generously supported the Chamber Choir, on one occasion putting up funds for a performance of a Bach Cantata conducted by the one and only George Castle!
John’s funeral will take place in the Cathedral on Monday 16th February at 1.30pm, where we will be able to remember and celebrate the life of this kind, empathetic man and his acts of service to the music world in Winchester.
Caroline Wainwright S1
Wayns Weekly 3rd February 2026
Rehearsals
There is a slight change to our rehearsal schedule.
5th Feb - Dream of Gerontius
12th February - Lauridsen for the summer term
19th February - Half Term
26th February - Laurisden
Other changes will be notified shortly.
Laurisden Music
Susan will hand out copies on the 12th February but as she hasn’t got a complete list yet, they must be handed back at the end of the rehearsal. Please do not mark them up as they are not your copy!
You will be handed your assigned copy on 26th February.
Music Orders
These are coming in but there are still some outstanding orders so please ensure you order your music a.s.a.p by using this link. If it doesn’t appear to work - don’t fret - try again. The worst that can happen is that you might find you’ve ordered more than once - this can be easily rectified. Mostly it’s just the website being temporarily awkward.
Members’ Photos
We are getting more of you to send your photos to Sophie ( Sophielouisehouse@gmail.com ) but we still need many more. It’s only between members and is very useful to help you identify people. Interestingly………..our new members have been far more proactive than our estabished ones!
Concerts 2026/27
2026
Friday 27th March - Dream of Gerontius
Saturday 20th June - Turner Sims Concert
Saturday 5th December - Christmas Oratorio
2027
Friday 19th March
Saturday 26th June (t.b.c)
Saturday 4th December
More details to follow.
Tickets for Gerontius and the Summer Turner Sime
Keep selling the tickets! Gerontius here and Summer, Turner Sims here
Apologies - Choir Address list
I have had a little glitch but will endeavour to sort it out in the next few days. Thanking you for your patience
Wayns Weekly 26th January 2026
Gerontius Tickets on General Sale
Tickets for Gerontius are now on sale to the public. Some of you may have noticed that it was not possible to book any at the weekend, a glitch by the cathedral I’m afraid but now all is well. This will take you to the site for booking. Apologies from the cathedral booking staff.
No Rehearsal on Thursday 26th March
Some of the more eagle eyed amongst you may have spotted that there will not be a rehearsal on Thursday 26th March (the day before our concert). There will, however be one on the afternoon of the 27th - times to be confirmed very soon.
Tickets for Our Summer Concert ‘Summer Evening in Blue’ on Saturday 20th June - Now on Sale
The booking for this concert at Turner Sims has just gone ‘live’ - early I know! Click here for the link. Please remember this is an ‘away’ concert so it is very important that we drum up support and sell tickets. Here is the link to our flyer