Author Archives: vhk10

the Festival Choir on the road

Posted on July 14, 2016 by vhk10

Most of the Three Choirs Festival rehearsals are on home territory in Gloucester, but there are a couple of away fixtures at the other two cities.  First up was Worcester, which I had to drive all the way to as … Continue reading →

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the themes of the Festival

Posted on July 8, 2016 by vhk10

I’ve been a bit quiet recently. Most of my singing activity has been rehearsing for the 3 Choirs Festival, and what goes on in the rehearsal room stays in the rehearsal room, or at any rate doesn’t appear here. I’ve … Continue reading →

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Gloucester’s best kept secret

Posted on June 19, 2016 by vhk10

Junction 11a of the M5 is one of the more mysterious bits of the British motorway network. Leaving the motorway there to drive into Gloucester is straightforward enough but try finding the junction starting from Gloucester and it is a … Continue reading →

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the Chantry Singers reunion

Posted on June 19, 2016 by vhk10

The Chantry Singers disbanded in autumn 2010. A couple of years ago there was a reunion, and as it was a success they had another one – in the meantime I’d got myself added to the invitation list as a … Continue reading →

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Bach cello suites at the Festival

Posted on June 16, 2016 by vhk10

Philip Higham played all six Bach cello suites in three lunchtime concerts and between us we got to all of them. The venues were scattered around the city centre: Argyle St URC church, St Swithin’s and the Masonic Hall. This … Continue reading →

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an organist’s wedding and two Festival concerts

Posted on June 9, 2016 by vhk10

There was just too much going on on May 21st. I had been due to sing a concert in Reading but asked to be released from it when I realised there were enough sopranos and some unrepeatable events going on … Continue reading →

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20th anniversary

Posted on June 1, 2016 by vhk10

It’s our 20th wedding anniversary this month – so who from 1996 remains on the local musical scene? (Strictly speaking, I didn’t arrive in Bath till late August, but I started investigating choirs before I moved here.) In Bath, we … Continue reading →

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owning the notes

Posted on May 23, 2016 by vhk10

I am now finding out just how well I know (or don’t) the Three Choirs pieces, and so how much work I need to do on them. The pieces for the six main concerts divide neatly into three pairs in … Continue reading →

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the work I’ve avoided to date

Posted on May 11, 2016 by vhk10

All my life I’ve managed to avoid singing Carmina Burana, but it was bound to catch up with me sooner or later, and that moment has now arrived. This is one of those pieces that polarises singers and audiences. What … Continue reading →

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The adventure begins

Posted on May 9, 2016 by vhk10

At last – some eight months after I auditioned – the rehearsals for the Three Choirs Festival Chorus are starting. Easily the biggest single choral undertaking I’ve ever been involved in. I have cleared my diary, bashed as many notes … Continue reading →

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