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
Wayns Weekly 22nd January 2026
Appointment of New Cathedral DOM
All,
As many of you will know, it has been announced that Katherine Dienes Williams has been appointed as Andy's successor at the cathedral and will be taking up the post in September 2026. Several of you have written to me to ask what this means for the Wayns. The short answer is that we don't know yet.
The Wayns was founded by the Cathedral, has the Dean as our Patron, and has always had the DoM as our MD. When Andy was appointed to the Cathedral in 2002, leading the Wayns was part of the formal job description. When Andy left his role, I agreed with the Dean that we would stay with Andy "at least until there was a permanent appointment in place who was able to lead the Wayns and who wanted to", and was delighted that Andy agreed to stay with us. I also made sure that the job description for the new appointee gave us some flexibility : "the DoM is usually invited to conduct the Waynflete Singers".
So where are we now? The cathedral has a new DoM, who is not yet in place, to whom we have not yet spoken and may not have the opportunity to do so for a little while . We are lucky still to have Andy after 24 years, but we also have to realise that at some point in the medium term we will inevitably have a new MD. What I and the committee, with Andy, need to work out is what a plan should be that does three things:
1. Is fair to all concerned
2. Maintains our link with the Cathedral, which is a point of advantage and differentiation for us
3. Most importantly, is the best solution for the future of the choir.
At the moment, it is simply too early to say what any plan might be. The Committee and I will work with all parties to work out what a plan should be and will keep you all in the loop.
In the meantime I expect / hope that Andy will continue to lead us at least for the whole of 2026.
Thanks
Daniel
Wayns Weekly 19th January 2026
Tickets for Gerontius
Sales are going well and these are the last few days for priority booking - details here.
Tickets go on ‘general release’ on 23rd January, so keep plugging the concert to friends, neighbours, enemies etc. etc….. all details as on the link above.
2. Booking Music for Next Term
As explained at last week’s rehearsal, Kate Baker (Treasurer) has been working very hard to set upa new booking and payment link. you just need to click here to get the link which will enable you to order and pay for next term’s music. Please do so by the 13th February. The site is very easy to use, but should you have any problems then please don’t hesitate to contact me kate.spencer15@gmail.com ; Kate Baker kbaker2609@gmail.com or Sarah Jones sj@luminaconsulting.com. or talk to one of us at a rehearsal and will talk you through it.
I used it yesterday and have ordered and paid for my music already!
3. Outstanding Choir Subs due
This is for those of you who have elected to pay in instalments. Please make sure you pay your outstanding amounts. Thank you.
4. Message from Ashley Solomon, Director of Florilegium
“I wanted to share the link below to BBC Radio 3’s Early Music Show which went out on 28/12 as I thought members of the Wayns would enjoy listening to it. It explores a project that I have been involved in for the past 6 years - working with a remarkable collection of original 18th century flutes.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002npsb
All very best wishes for 2026 and we look forward to working with you all towards the end of this new year.
Wayns Weekly 12th January 2026
Gerontius Tickets - 27th March 2026
As mentioned last week in the ‘extra WW’, advanced booking is now available on the Cathedral website. Remember to use the following code ELGAR26C. Booking can be in person, by phone 01962 857275 or on the website . for a reminder of the details click here to take you back to last week’s information.
There was a glitch earlier where members and friends were being charged a booking fee. This should not have happened. The box office has put this right, but, should you have been charged a booking fee then please get in touch with the booking office, either by phone or by person. They will cancel and then rebook the tickets without the fee.
Open Rehearsals
They are this Thursday and next (15th and 22nd January). We have 10 people but mainly women. Just 2 Basses and not a Tenor in sight. Please welcome them as you always do. Thanks.
Rose Road Carols - The End of an Era - A Message from Heather Aspinall - please read!
The Carols in December 2025 was the last one. I organised it for 16 years and it's time to hang up my hat. Over those years the service, which included 9 congregation and choir only carols each time, raised a total of over £47,000. Young people and families from Rose Road attended. Click here to find out more about Rose Road.
I had a dual facing relationship because I was the CEO of RR before I retired and have continued doing it for the last 9 years as a volunteer, very willingly, but all things change and move on.
Rose Road is a fantastic local charity and I'm sure will continue to get huge support. They have said "we completely understand your decision and sadly at some point these things do come to an end. Please pass on our thanks again to the choir for all the hard work they have done over many years."
You have all been magnificent, many of you signing up eagerly every year and singing with commitment whatever has been demanded of you. Turning up in car parks in December's wet and rainy Winchester streets for rehearsal and service, on top of the Cathedral concert and all your other commitments in the same busy month. Thank you, each and every one. Some of you - you know who you are! - have done it every one of the 16 years. You've made it a joy for me to do.
I would like to thank Clare Talks for her support all those years at the College.
Enormous thanks go to our conductors and organists, such as David Owen Norris in the earlier years. Thanks especially since 2017 to Mark Williams, who has been an inspiration and pleasure to sing for. He always drew up a stimulating and balanced programme and organised it without me needing to chase him. And Andy Hayman who has been our fantastic versatile organist since then too, introducing us to a wide range of voluntaries.
Prior to this commitment, the Wayns sang Carols in the Brooks for a number of years for another very deserving charity, and I'm sure this won't be the end of Wayns (including me) giving hearts and voices for others.
On behalf of the choir (and Rose Road) thank you Heather for all you have done over those 16 years.
Local Concerts
I have been given details of 2 concerts; one from Martin Tomsett on March 7th in support of Home Start Winchester (he is a trustee) https://www.equinoxsax.org.uk/ and the other is a Come and Sing Opera at Southampton University’s concert hall, Turner Sims, on Sunday 15th February. led by our friend David Owen Norris (who is joining us for our summer concert) https://www.davidowennorris.com/dickens-opera/ .
More details will appear on our Local Concerts page, shortly.
Some of you may have heard a bit of David’s Organ Symphony on Radio 4 this week (organ as in bodily organ not the keyboard kind!). https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002bs1n
Wayns Weekly - Gerontius Ticket Sales- 6th January 2026
Dream of Gerontius choir priority booking
Now is the time to drum up support for our concert this term as choir priority booking will open from Monday 12th January onwards. As with last term, choir have an online priority booking code and can book directly using code ELGAR26C through the cathedral website Winchester Cathedral | Book online
Ticket prices are:
Rows: A - M - £50
N to T - £40
U to HH - £30
JJ to PP - £25
QQ to back - £20
Side Aisles £15.00
Under 16’s: £10 accompanied by a paying adult
Full time students and unemployed/concessions all tickets: £15.00
Public booking will be open from 23rd January.
Please share the flyer widely with friends and family - you can download it from the website here and it will be shared by your partreps on WhatsApp.
Key selling points:
One of the most glorious works in the English choral repertoire
We have Dame Sarah Connolly appearing as the angel. Other soloists include Andrew Kennedy as Gerontius ( he sang the role with us back in 2012) and Andrew Foster-Williams as the Priest
It should be of interest to anyone who has seen ‘The Choral’ !
With everyone’s support, this concert should be a sell-out, but we really need each and every choir member to do their bit to spread the word!
Thank you!
Sarah
Wayns Weekly 4th January 2026
Welcome Back
A Happy New Year to you all and welcome back to rehearsals on Thursday 8th January.
We are, of course back to rehearsing The Dream of Gerontius for our concert on Friday 27th March.
Please remember to arrive early if you still need to pick up music and come armed with your payment card.
Just a reminder that there is no rehearsal on Thursday 19th February as it is half term.
Also a reminder to come to all rehearsals where possible and that if you have missed two and are likely to miss another, then please get in touch with Daniel Benton daniel.benton@btinternet.com and let your part rep know. Please also make sure you sign the register every week and put an A in when you are going to be or have been absent. That way you won’t be chased up by your frazzled part rep!
2. Rose Road Carols 2025 - A Thank You from Heather Aspinall
The 2025 Carols for Rose Road (roseroad.org.uk) took place on 18th December in a new venue, St Paul's church, and was a joyful successful event, raising £4370 for their valuable work.
41 Waynflete Singers took part, directed and conducted by Mark Williams with Andy Hayman on the organ. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it, and there were many compliments for the wonderful singing. It included Rutter's Nativity Carol and Michael Head's The Little Road to Bethlehem, and The Carol of the Bells was the highlight of the night!
Thursday 18th was very stormy, with rain, wind and floods. Despite this, all the choir made it, sang brilliantly, and mulled wine and mince pies afterwards helped us on our way home.
Thank you to everyone.
Heather Aspinall
We should also thank Heather for all the hard work she puts in to making this Carol Service such a success.
Wayns Weekly 9th December 2025
The Messiah
I’m sure you will all agree it was one of our best. There have been many very favourable comments including one from Ashley Solomon, Director of Florilegium, who said we sounded brilliant and he really loved the mixed up arrangement.
For those of you who can access X this is a post by Florilegium
Derek Beck has sent the attached review to the Hampshire Chronicle.
A huge thanks to Veronica for organising our seating and working with the Cathedral staff to make things run smoothly.
And , of course, to George for his fantastic playing down to Baroque pitch for the term (do you really just move your hands to the left, George?!) and for stepping in to take rehearsals; to Andy Hayman for standing in from time to time (sometimes at the very last minute) and to Andy Lumsden for his inspiring direction. May they all have a restful and Happy Christmas.
Next Term - Dream of Gerontius - What isn’t there to like?
Reminder we start on Thursday 8th January, 2026, with open rehearsals on 15th and 22nd and auditions for prospective new members on 29th. We particularly need more men and even more particularly more tenors, so if you know anyone who might be interested in joining us then please let them know the above dates.
The New Dean of Winchester
Traditionally our President, the new Dean has just been announced. He is the Revd Canon Chris Palmer from Exeter Cathedral. I am reliably informed by Daniel, that he is has a real interest in Music, which bodes well for us and, of course, for the Cathedral music department. You can read more about him here.
And finally……..really
Enjoy your singing over this period, especially those singing at the Rose Road Carols with thanks to Heather Aspinall for arranging this every year.
Wayns Weekly 2nd December 2025
Information for Saturday's Rehearsal from Veronica
Rehearsal is 1pm to 4pm.
Please arrive15 minutes before the rehearsal starts, particularly as there might need to be a bit of moving around. But don't take your seat before 12.30 as we need to ensure the seating is correct.
If out of town, use park and ride or public transport as parking is really tricky at Christmas. Please note you can’t use Park and Ride for the concert itself as the last bus is at around 8.30pm.
Water only on stage for the rehearsal (not the concert) No food at all in the cathedral please
Keep bags with you
Toilets are in the North transept
Please use folders
Concert dress – All black as usual. Full (ankle) length skirts/trousers. Jackets should be worn. We will be wearing gold scarves/handkerchiefs
Please don’t wear any perfume and keep any triggering aromas to a minimum as this can set off asthma attacks in some individuals
Splits are as in the rehearsal.
All seats will have a coloured label as per the rehearsal. Please leave them there so I can collect at the end of the concert.
Programmes on concert day from Chris Town
In the evening arrive by 7.10 – bear in mind traffic, parking etc.
Line up at 7.20 and after the interval at the first bell
Video screens will be in use with multiple shots, so please stay focussed at all times and smile and enjoy
Return hire copies at the end – in the boxes at the bottom of the steps
Let Veronica know any special requirements
Sits and stands - Andy will be going through these
We have a full house (again)
Music to be Ommitted - no 39
Further to last week’s list please could you omit no. 39; ‘Their Sound is Gone Out’ so the full list is now:
The Messiah – Novello/Watkins Shaw
Part 1: Complete
No 6 – But Who May Abide – Alto Version
No 20 – He shall Feed – version for Alto and Soprano
Part 2: Complete but omitting numbers 34, 35 , 36 and 39
Number 40 – Why do the Nations…..No recitative at the end
Part 3:
Numbers 45,46, 47, 48 (short version) and 53 only
Concert Programmes
Chris Town will be bringing copies of the Messiah programme to Thursday’s rehearsal.
They will be £2 each for singers, only one per singer (not families/guests/friends) or free for official Friends of the Waynflete Singers. Please make payment by card.The limit per singer is that so the programmes can be sold to our audience at £4. We don’t want to run out of programmes and we do want to recover the costs of producing them.
Return to Rehearsals
Our first rehearsal after the Christmas break is on January 8th when we will be continuing our rehearsal of The Dream of Gerontius.
Please can I remind singers to sign the registers and to mark when there are absences. We do ask that you attend as many rehearsals as possible, if you are going to miss 3 or more then you will not be able to sing in the concert. Any concerns should be addressed to Daniel Benton at daniel.benton@btinternet.com but please take personal responsibility for this. This is so members are well rehearsed in the work, even if you have sung the work numerous times, there will always be bits that are changed or that you have forgotten/never quite got right! This applies to all members to make it fair to all.
Happy Christmas
In case this is the last WW of 2025 (probably not!) and the ‘author’ has consumed too many mince pies and mulled wine, the Committee would like to thank you for your continuing support and wish you a Very Happy Christmas and New Year.
See you all in 2026!