Category Archives: choirs

Building an audience (1): building relationships

Posted on September 3, 2014 by vhk10

This is a perennial problem for choirs, never more so than in these times when choral singing is popular but audiences may have watch their outlay. My comments here are really about the Bath choral scene, which I know about … Continue reading →

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Did the Chantry Singers leave a gap?

Posted on September 2, 2014 by vhk10

I realise it’s a few years since the Chantry Singers disbanded. The choir was flourishing right to the end, but the founder and musical director felt she had achieved what she wanted with it, and sensed that the market was … Continue reading →

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a local première of the Glagolitic Mass?

Posted on March 11, 2014 by vhk10

@bristolchoral I’ve been going round saying that our forthcoming Glagolitic Mass is the first in the Bath/Bristol area for at least 20 years. Then I started to wonder whether it was in fact the first ever. Unless you have a … Continue reading →

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a Bath Camerata workshop

Posted on March 4, 2014 by vhk10

I didn’t attend the workshop which invited others to join the Bath Camerata to rehearse and perform a short programme, but came along to the concert at the end. Partly because it was local, but also to meet Camerata members … Continue reading →

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Is choral poaching wrong?

Posted on February 15, 2014 by vhk10

It’s a strong term for something that it’s unpleasant to be on the wrong side of. I’m referring to the practice of persuading members of other choirs to leave and join yours instead. It’s commonest when there is a shortage … Continue reading →

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two Abbey services and a funeral

Posted on January 31, 2014 by vhk10

I joined the choir of St. Peter’s Caversham to sing a Saturday Evensong in Bath Abbey. Our canticles were Stanford in G and the introit and anthem were selected for Epiphany: Here is the Little Door by Howells, and Mendelssohn’s … Continue reading →

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Remembering the War Requiem

Posted on October 29, 2013 by vhk10

@bristolchoral The War Requiem is associated with remembrance, which is why it gets so many performances at this time of year, especially in these years of the centenaries of Britten and the outbreak of the Great War. But I am … Continue reading →

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the importance of publicity

Posted on October 15, 2013 by vhk10

I have a stack of flyers and a couple of posters for my next concert and must distribute the remainder in appropriate places. I feel very guilty when I find publicity after a concert that I never got round to … Continue reading →

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So what next?

Posted on August 2, 2013 by vhk10

To celebrate singing in all 42 Cathedrals I had a party with a rather special cake: Not surprisingly, I’ve been asked several times what my next ambition is. I don’t have anything definite, as it’s nice after all these years … Continue reading →

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come’n’sings in Bath and Bristol

Posted on May 13, 2013 by vhk10

I have set up a page with details of forthcoming come’n’sing events in and around Bath and Bristol which I happen to know about. I find that I am inundated with information about them on the one hand, and on … Continue reading →

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The Chet’s-RNCM axis

Posted on March 6, 2013 by vhk10

Like many others, I’ve been quite distressed by the evidence emerging of sexual abuse in the past at Chetham’s music school in Manchester, with allegations extending also to the RNCM. This follows the conviction a decade ago of the director … Continue reading →

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The muscle-memory Messiah

Posted on December 19, 2012 by vhk10

#MemorisedMessiah Even up North they don’t do this – sing the Messiah from memory. The Bristol Choral Society do it every year, and although newcomers are offered a rather gentler way in I have decided to do it the hard … Continue reading →

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