The Way We Work
The Way We Work
It is our policy to maintain our balanced and cohesive choir at around twenty committed singers.
Gissing Singers has no formal constitution. We work on the basis of co- operative participation and have regular whole-choir discussion and feedback meetings. We value good communication and keep members informed in a weekly email about rehearsal plans and other musical matters.
Meetings
We meet on Monday evenings in the award-winning Gissing Community Building. (Rectory Road, IP22 5XB, sign post ‘Village Centre’.)
Please arrive from 7:20pm onwards, ready for a prompt 7:30 practice. We aim to finish at 9:30, with a short break for refreshments at 8:30.
We expect members to attend rehearsals regularly.
If you have an unexpected absence, please let Christina and Carolyn know by email beforehand.
Subscriptions
Subs are £20 for eight sessions. Cash only, please, paid to Geoff at the first meeting. These funds cover hall hire, music, folders, occasional in-house workshops, and any other costs arising.
Sheet Music
When you join we will give you two binders to bring to each session:
1. A rehearsal/performance binder for current repertoire.
2. Another with a collection of songs that are short and easy, and which we aim to know by heart.
Both are yours to keep on extended loan while you’re a member, to be returned in good condition if you leave.
Please make any necessary markings in pencil only, and keep all music in alphabetical order for ease of use.
You will also have an archive binder to keep at home to store all music not in current use - again, to be returned if you leave.
Current music for rehearsal is posted on our website, with scores, voice parts and links to recordings. You are responsible for printing your own sheet music when required and for supplying your own punched pockets.
In order to minimise time spent “note bashing” in rehearsal, we encourage all singers to practise at home with the online resources provided.
Concerts and Performances
Between Easter and October we perform selections from our current season’s repertoire at up to three concerts, usually around our beautiful East Anglian country churches. We often include a couple of poetry interludes at these concerts.
Between October and December we prepare our Christmas repertoire which we perform up to three times, usually as part of a church carol service.
Concert dress is black or a black/white combination of your choice, with a splash of scarlet (e.g. scarf, tie, flower, necklace etc.)
Sometimes, in the warmer months, we wear ‘garden party’ clothes in bright colours of our own choosing for a more informal and summery feel.
New Members
As a prospective new member you may attend up to three sessions free of charge to see if you enjoy what we do, and for us to check that your voice blends well with our existing singers.
We give priority to people with some choral experience and/or who can read music, though we also welcome applications if you are less experienced but have a good voice, a good ear, and learn quickly.
We may need to check your voice range and make sure that you can pitch notes well and sing in tune.
As we have a significant repertoire to draw on for our concerts, please be prepared to catch up where necessary, using the website resources.
If you are interested in joining us please email Carolyn to find out whether we currently have a vacancy in your voice part. You will be made very welcome.
Likewise, if you are an events organiser with a suitable venue to offer, and a potential audience, please contact Carolyn if you would like us to sing for you on your patch.
To join our mailing list for notice of our concerts please contact Christina.
Choir Contacts
Website: gissingsingers.co.uk
The members’ area is password protected and you will be given the password on joining. In order to protect copyrights please do not share this with anyone outside the choir.
Honorary President:
Andrew Pierssené (who started and led the choir 2008 - 2017)
Main Choir Leader:
Carolyn Moulton, carolyn28872@gmail.com
Librarian & Newsletter Editor:
Christina Wakeford, christa.wake@gmail.com
Treasurer:
Geoff Moulton, geoff28872@gmail.com