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 Gissing Community Building. (Rectory Road, IP22 5XB, sign post ‘Village Centre’.)
Please arrive from 7:15pm onwards, ready for a prompt 7:30 practice which starts off with some warm up exercises.
We aim to finish at 9:30, with a short break (refreshments provided) at 8:30.
We expect members to attend rehearsals regularly.
Please mark the register with a tick on arrival.
Mark with an ‘A’ if you know you will be absent on a future date.
If you have an unexpected absence, it is very helpful if you could let Christina and Carolyn know by email as soon as possible please.
Subscriptions
We work in eight week blocks with a main break in July or August.
Subs are £20 for eight sessions.
Cash only, please, paid to Geoff at the first session.
These funds cover hall hire, music, photocopying, folders, refreshments, occasional in-house workshops, and any other costs arising.
Sheet Music
On joining, members are given an A4 ring binder with a personal permanent choir number.
Music for this folder has a red sticker with your personal number on it.
Our current repertoire is kept in the folder in transparent pockets, and organised alphabetically for ease of access.
Singers provide their own supply of pockets.
It is important that you make any useful markings IN PENCIL ONLY, and take good care of the music.
After each main season of concerts, music is collected in by our librarian. Our efficient system of sorting and storage is dependent on all singers returning their music promptly in the envelope provided, so please be considerate about this.
We also give you a soft backed folder containing a selection of songs that are short or repetitive, and all easy to learn. We aim to know most of them by heart.
While you are a paid up member this folder is yours to keep on long term loan, to bring to each rehearsal, and to be returned in excellent condition if you leave.
Again, please make any necessary markings IN PENCIL ONLY.
In order to minimise time spent “note bashing” in rehearsal, we encourage singers to practise at home with the recordings on our website.
Concerts and Performances
Between Easter and October we perform selections from our current season’s repertoire at up to three concerts, usually around our lovely 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 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 the way we do it, 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 from less experienced people with good voices, and a good ear, who 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, you should be prepared to work independently to catch up where necessary.
Soundtracks of current music are on the website to facilitate this.
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.
If you would like to receive notification about upcoming concerts please contact Christina who will put you on the mailing list.
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
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 Gissing Community Building. (Rectory Road, IP22 5XB, sign post ‘Village Centre’.)
Please arrive from 7:15pm onwards, ready for a prompt 7:30 practice which starts off with some warm up exercises.
We aim to finish at 9:30, with a short break (refreshments provided) at 8:30.
We expect members to attend rehearsals regularly.
Please mark the register with a tick on arrival.
Mark with an ‘A’ if you know you will be absent on a future date.
If you have an unexpected absence, it is very helpful if you could let Christina and Carolyn know by email as soon as possible please.
Subscriptions
We work in eight week blocks with a main break in July or August.
Subs are £20 for eight sessions.
Cash only, please, paid to Geoff at the first session.
These funds cover hall hire, music, photocopying, folders, refreshments, occasional in-house workshops, and any other costs arising.
Sheet Music
On joining, members are given an A4 ring binder with a personal permanent choir number.
Music for this folder has a red sticker with your personal number on it.
Our current repertoire is kept in the folder in transparent pockets, and organised alphabetically for ease of access.
Singers provide their own supply of pockets.
It is important that you make any useful markings IN PENCIL ONLY, and take good care of the music.
After each main season of concerts, music is collected in by our librarian. Our efficient system of sorting and storage is dependent on all singers returning their music promptly in the envelope provided, so please be considerate about this.
We also give you a soft backed folder containing a selection of songs that are short or repetitive, and all easy to learn. We aim to know most of them by heart.
While you are a paid up member this folder is yours to keep on long term loan, to bring to each rehearsal, and to be returned in excellent condition if you leave.
Again, please make any necessary markings IN PENCIL ONLY.
In order to minimise time spent “note bashing” in rehearsal, we encourage singers to practise at home with the recordings on our website.
Concerts and Performances
Between Easter and October we perform selections from our current season’s repertoire at up to three concerts, usually around our lovely 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 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 the way we do it, 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 from less experienced people with good voices, and a good ear, who 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, you should be prepared to work independently to catch up where necessary.
Soundtracks of current music are on the website to facilitate this.
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.
If you would like to receive notification about upcoming concerts please contact Christina who will put you on the mailing list.
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