Information for Members of Choir 2000

Forthcoming Social Events

• Ceilidh (Saturday November 27 2010)
• Dinner (Saturday January 30 2011)
• Variety show (Saturday February 26 2011)

Details of all events to be circulated separately.

Rehearsal Schedule

Please let Beatrix know of any absences. Please make sure you are available for both concerts if at all possible.

Rehearsals are on a Wednesday (plus one extra in the concert week, usually on a Monday, see schedule), and start at 7.30.

Music for rehearsals

These can be downloaded from John Hooper's website - thanks to John for the time and keyboard-bashing required to make these files!

Thanks to Sarah Payne for preparing the following Instructions for choir members on how to download the files from John's site.

These are MIDI files. They can be played with the following free programs (listed in alphabetical order), links open in separate windows:

• Apple's iTunes. Playlist facility.
• Chris Hills' Midiplay . This allows you to stop/start, and change speed or emphasis of parts, which is handy for practising those tricky bits.
• Noteworthy Player
• Session John uses Session to emphasise the parts: at the above link are also his comments on using it and links to download.
• Van Basco Karaoke player Similar features to MidiPlay. Playlist facility.
• WinAmp Start/stop/pause, but no adjustment of tempo or volume of parts. Playlist facility.
• Windows Media Player (comes as standard with Windows) Has option to slow down the play speed

Windows Media Player and iTunes can sometimes misread the emphasised files: recommended players are probably (in no particular order) MidiPlay, Van Basco, WinAmp or Session (this last subject to issues discussed on John's website at link in list above).

There are usually CDs or audi cassettes available (at a small price) to choir members of the rehearsal music for each part. The people who make these may do this as a private venture or in aid of choir funds, but they will make it clear where your money is going in either case.

These CDs can be ripped on to an MP3 player in the usual way, so you needn't have to try and make CDs or MP3s yourself. If you are interested in making your own CDs or MP3s, John Hooper on his website describes one way of doing this .

John Hooper's website also lists other rehearsal aids.

Dress code for concerts

Ladies: White top, black skirt or trousers; Men: DJ and black bow-tie.

Division of voices

Occasionally the choir performs items where sections are divided into First and Second. In order to do this fairly, the committee will appoint a member within each section to ask their fellow singers if they are more comfortable in either the upper or lower part of a particular voice's range, and the division will be made on that basis.

Where the ensemble is divided into "Choir 1" and "Choir 2", the process will be similar, except that we will try to ensure that each separate "Choir" will have a balance of high and low.

Divisions into e.g. "Alto 1", "Alto 2" will be shown in the register forms, as a reminder at the start of each rehearsal. Please sit together with the others in the same group as you !

In all cases, the committee will try to ensure that the information about the divisions is ready soon after the start of rehearsals for a particular concert. Please speak to a member of the committee if you have any concerns you wish to raise about this.

Choir Library

The choir now has a library of vocal scores which are listed in this document. Members may borrow single copies free of charge, by arrangement with Angus Macaulay (tel 01223-526616).

Items for which we have more than 6 copies are also available for hire (contact Angus Macaulay, details above). Please pass the word round to your musical friends, so that we can try to get some extra income for the choir by hiring these out.

Chamber Choir

Within Choir 2000 is a Chamber Choir consisting of members who enjoy singing in a small group and a repertoire of part-songs is gradually being built up. This document (opens in separate window) gives an idea of the kind of items which have been performed in the past. New members are welcome to join this group: there are no auditions, but it is an advantage to be able to read music and commitment is also very important.

Ideally the group needs to consist of a balanced group of SATB voices. Normally there are at least two rehearsals prior to an engagement depending on the length and type of programme required. Peter Britton will usually conduct.

The Chamber choir usually sing at the Variety Show in Feburary, and at a number of community events throughout the year. In the past, we have performed as part of Histon Feast Week, in local residential homes, and for local musical appreciation societies such as the Cambridge Music Circle. See the "Past Events" page for details of others.

Any member interested in joining the Chamber Choir please contact the Secretary, Anne Dover either at rehearsal on Wednesdays or by email

Chat mailing list

Would you like to keep in touch with other members of the choir over the summer? Suggest meeting up for non-choir events, or just getting together in the Red Lion on a Wednesday evening when we aren't rehearsing? E-mail other people in the choir about things that you have heard about (or are involved in) that you think would interest them?

A 'chat' mailing list has been set up for the choir, for anyone who is interested. Membership is entirely voluntary of course, and if you join you can leave again any time if you decide that it isn't for you. Anyone who joins this list can send e-mails to everyone else who has signed up.

1. Create a Google account if you don't have one (if your e-mail address ends in @googlemail.com or @gmail.com this means that you already have a Google account, and can use it to join the list).
2. Apply to join the group (this sounds very formal,but no-one from the choir will be turned down!)
   • If you don't know how to do set about this, click on this link to see some step-by-step instructions
   • If you don't need instructions, just go to the group's link and join up.
   • any additional enquiries

For SALE

100 copies of the Red Novello "CAROLS FOR CHOIRS", edited William Llewelyn. £500 the set, or in batches of 10 at £5 per copy. Offers, enquiries: contact the webmaster at email address at foot of page.

Listings

Contacts for Choir 2000

Contacts

Health and Safety Policy

The choir now has a written Health and Safety Policy to cover our rehearsals and concerts. If you want to to see a copy, please contact a member of the committee.

Privacy Policy

The choir now has a written policy on Privacy to comply with the requirements of the Data Protection Act, to cover the information we gather from members, patrons, supporters, musicians and others. The policy is published via the website: see link at foot of main pages of the site.

Minutes of committee meetings

Copies of choir committee meeting minutes can be inspected by contacting a member of the committee.