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2017/2018 Committee

Chairperson                                       Alan Grant                                
Vice Chair                                          Vacant     
Secretary                                           Jill Bruce                                    
Treasurer                                           Richard Tanner                           
Music Librarian                                  Maeve McDowall                          
Social Secretary                                         
Publicity                                            
Wardrobe Manager                            Fiona Spence & Kathleen MacKay
Fundraising & Front of House           Fiona Spence & Kathleen MacKay  
Committee Member                          John Smith 
Committee Member                          Iris French
Committee Member                          Derek Reid

2016/2017 Committee

Chairperson                                        Alan Grant
Vice Chair                                           Vacant
Secretary                                            Jill Bruce
Treasurer                                            Richard Tanner
Music Librarian                                   Maeve McDowall
Social Secretary                                  Kathleen MacKay       
Publicity                                             John Smith
Wardrobe Manager                             Ann Thorpe
Fundraising & Front of House             Pam Morton
Committee Member                            Irene Mitchell
Committee Member                            Fiona Spence
                           

Erecting the Staging for the Summer Concert 2016

 

           

Thanks to Maeve for sending me the pictures

Taken during our surprise visit to you at rehearsal on 11th May 2016. It was great to see you all again and meet some new faces too......

 

                       

 

Thanks to Rob Rowe our Facebook Page is up and running which will probably be more up to date than our website. If you are a FB user then just search for Inverurie Choral on Facebook and get the latest information. If you don't have Facebook then our website is still here

2015/2016 Committee

Chairperson        Alan Grant
Vice Chair           Vacant
Secretary            John Smith
Treasurer            Ann Thorpe
Librarian             Maeve McDowell
Committee          Kathleen MacKay       
                            Pam Morton
                            Iris French
                            Maeve McDowall
                            Richard Tanner
                            Jill Bruce

2014/2015 Committee

Chairperson        Jenny Greener
Vice Chair
Secretary            John Smith
Treasurer            Ann Thorpe
Committee           Kathleen MacKay       
                            Pam Morton
                            Iris French
                            Maeve McDowell
                            Alison McLaughlin
                            Richard Tanner
                            Jill Bruce

2013/2014 Committee

Chairperson        Jenny Greener
Secretary            Wendy Mayne
Treasurer            Ann Thorpe
Committee          Patty Corbett           Music Librarian
                           Iris French               Ticket Sales
                           Pam Morton               Fundraising
                           Kathleen Mackay       Social
                           John Smith                Publicity
                           Maeve McDowall
                           Alison Mclaughlin       looks after new members

Thanks to Patty who sent me this picture taken recently of the rehearsal at the Acorn checking out the new staging. Looks pretty impressive guys and good to see the number of people there.

 

Jon Bailey kindly sent me this picture of a painting done by one of our former lady members. See if you can recognise some of the men who you might know

 

 

Your New Committee has been elected (2012/2013)

Chairperson        Jenny Greener
Secretary            Wendy Mayne
Treasurer            John Smith
Committee          Patty Corbett           Music Librarian
                           Iris French               Ticket Sales
                           Pam Morton               Fundraising
                           Kathleen Mackay       Social
                           Maeve McDowall
                           Alison Mclaughlin       looks after new members

Thanks to all who "volunteered"

 

It is with sadness that we learned of the death of Donald Hawksworth at the age of 82. For those members with longevity with the Society will remember Donald as accompanist both on piano and organ for us.

 

 


At the AGM on the 29th September 2011, the following Committee was elected

Chairperson - Ann Thorpe 
Vice Chair - Patty Corbett
Secretary - Jenny Greener
Treasurer - John Smith
Committee Member - Kathleen McKay
Committee Member - Pam Morton
Committee Member - Wendy Mayne
Committee Member - Iris French

We are very pleased that Moira has now returned as our Musical Director, once again. Thank you , Paul, for all your sterling work when you stood in for Moira

 

WELL DONE PAUL! - AGAIN

The Choral Society would like to offer their congratulations on the announcement of the engagement of Paul Tierney to Miss Nicola Auchnie. I hear through the grapevine that Nicola is a talented violinist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WELL DONE PAUL!

Paul Tierney raised over £500 in a marathon which ran through the great glen from Port Augustus to Inverness last Sunday.   He was  running for a charity (I think Marie Curie) and it took him 5hrs and 40 mins -which is pretty good.   He said it was really hard, as much because it was so lonely - there were not huge crowds..   I hear that he had recovered his breath in time for the rehearsal on the following Wednesday.

 

A new Committee was elected at the 2010 AGM

Chairperson - Ann Thorpe 
Vice Chair - Patty Corbett
Secretary - Jenny Greener
Treasurer - John Smith
Committee Member - Kathleen McKay
Committee Member - Pam Morton
Committee Member - Wendy Mayne

As I said last year, in order to keep our Society in the manner it has become, more help is needed rather than resting on the well wearied shoulders of the faithful - and we all know who you are..........

 

You should have received the links for learning parts for "The Messiah" from me. Cyberbass and ChoraLine provide a good learning aid. When I was singing, I found them invaluable.

 

 Very many congratulations to Paul Tierney who has been awarded his Doctorate.

 

 

Dr Paul Tierney

 

We would like to welcome another new member and welcome back a former member:     Ann - Alto and Alison - Soprano

We would like to welcome our new members:    Ian - Tenor,  Mary-Margaret  - Soprano (but now sheltering with the Alto's I hear), Sarah - Soprano and Margaret  - Soprano

Welcome to one of the friendliest Choral Societies in the North East

 

cross  HELEN MILNE

It is with great sadness that we have learned of the death of Helen Milne.   Helen died suddenly early this week of a heart attack.

In the Inverurie Choral Society (ICS) Helen sang as a soprano.  It will be remembered that she was a quiet and reserved lady yet the smile on her face in the accompanying photo (Castle Fraser 8th Dec) showed that she enjoyed her singing.

This can be further recognised by the fact that individual ICS members recall singing with her in other societies.  I sang with her at Haddo for many years, and Ann Thorpe recalls singing with her at the Garioch Musical Society.  Many of us will recall her singing with the Garioch Linties at the Aberdeen singing festival.  

As I noted earlier Helen was quiet and reserved but just as she was committed to singing I can report that she spent many years even more committed to looking after her late husband to whom she was immensely devoted.

Our prayers are with her surviving relatives

John D M Smith

Acting Chairman

 

Message from Moira (6/1/10)

Moira would like to let everybody in the choir to know that she is doing fine and wishes us all a Happy New Year

A "Jot" from Jane (Winter 2009/2010)

We can step confidently into the new decade after a wonderful end to 2009. The Armed Man was the performance of our lives, the carol evening at Castle Fraser was a sell-out, sharing the ‘pit’ at the Winter Gardens with the Bon Accord Silver Band and a cast of thousands for the communal carols, was an experience and a tribute to the determination of choir members who braved snow and ice, not to mention an icy venue for two rousing performances.

We are especially grateful to Paul for stepping in as Musical Director at such short notice and look forward to another exciting concert with him and with Inverurie Orchestra in June in the Town Hall. Our thanks are due also to Christine who is invaluable both at rehearsals & performance.

Meanwhile, Moira has been much in all our thoughts. It was lovely to end the year on an optimistic note and we look forward to her return as soon as she feels that she can face us all again!

On Wednesday, 24th February, the Committee will meet to put together a performance schedule for the period August 2010 – June 2011. If choir members have any suggestions of works, venues or occasions at which they may like to perform, would you please put these in writing and leave in the ‘Suggestions Folder’ before the meeting.

The new committee has been beavering away at this busy time of the year. From January 7th, copies of committee meeting minutes and of the proposed agenda for the next meeting will be available at every rehearsal. There will also be a ‘Suggestions Folder’. Please add any comments or items for the agenda so that we know your views. The next committee meeting will be held after choir on Wednesday, January 20th. It will be chaired in my absence, by John Smith.

There is a brief profile of the Committee Team attached to this Newsletter.

Following the AGM in November, the committee considered the general financial situation of the choir. We voted to keep subs at the present level for January. Patti has kindly volunteered to organise a fund-raising table or raffle during the break in rehearsals on the last Thursday of each month. Christine has generously offered to paint & donate a large abstract picture for choir funds. After the concert in June, the Committee proposes to look again at our financial situation and decide on the level of subs for August 2010. It seems inevitable that subs will have to rise and your suggestions will be welcome. For example, consideration will be given to monthly payment by direct debit to spread the payments evenly throughout the year & to lighten the load on the Treasurer.

To maintain the social life of the choir and to keep it separate from fund raising, Kathleen is now our social affairs secretary. She will approach the three sections of the choir (sopranos, altos, & we’ve put the tenors & basses together!) to request that each propose and organise one social activity per year. Each activity, which may or may not involve payment, will be self-funding, & we hope that in the course of the year, every choir member will find that one or all events will appeal to them.

Until we all meet again in January, (or in my case, in February), on behalf of the committee, I would like to wish you all a harmonious New Year with lots of singing.

Jane

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:

6th January

Choir resumes. Please remember to return all borrowed carol books. Copies of ‘Opera Choruses’ will be available to borrow or to buy (price £15) and please also bring your subs of £30 for Douglas to collect at that first rehearsal.

20th January

Committee Meeting after rehearsal.

27th January

Sales Table during rehearsal break.

24th February

Sales Table during rehearsal break.

24th February

Committee Meeting to discuss schedule for 2010/2011.

Saturday 20th March

Aberdeenshire Singing Festival. Ian Fowell will collect names and money. For those who have not been before, the Festival comprises a half day of singing workshops which are great fun. Each choir then gives a short performance in the evening.

3rd March

Contributions please for a Spring Hamper. Prize winner will be drawn at rehearsal on Wednesday, March 24th.

31st March

Easter Break.

Saturday 5th June

Summer Concert of opera choruses with Inverurie Orchestra at Inverurie Town Hall.

THE COMMITTEE TEAM:

CHAIRMAN

Jane Rawlinson (Soprano)

VICE CHAIRMAN

& PUBLICITY

John Smith (Tenor)

SECRETARY

Alison Sharp (Alto)

SOCIAL SECRETARY

Kathleen Mackay (Soprano)

TREASURER

Douglas Harper (Bass)

 

MUSIC LIBRARIAN

& ARCHIVIST

Patti Corbett (Alto)

 

RECRUITMENT

Ann Thorpe (Soprano) – also representing us at Making Music

 

VENUES, TICKETS

& POSTERS

 

 

  

A new Committee was elected at the 2009 AGM

Chairperson - Jane Rawlinson 
Temporary (very) Secretary - Ann Thorpe  (Replaced by Alison Sharp - Thanks Alison)
Committee Member - Jules Davies

All other Committee Members offered to stay on for another year. 

In order to keep our Society in the manner it has become, more help is needed rather than resting on the well wearied shoulders of the faithful - and we all know who you are..........

A Message from our Chairman, Jon Bailey

Dodging between the thunderplumps I am writing to bring you up to date with choir matters and to look forward to seeing you soon. 

Most of you will know that Moira is not in the best of health.  She is hoping to be able to continue with her planned “sabbatical” in the spring and rejoin us next autumn.  I know you all very much hope so and continue to send your love and best wishes to Moira.  More sad news was Lady Aberdeen’s death: several of us (including Moira) were able to sing at the Memorial Service in the Cathedral of St Machar, where Elgar’s Go Forth  from The Dream of Gerontius was extremely moving.  June had done so much for music in the north-east and inspired so many. 

I am glad to say we have been able to appoint Paul Tierney for the coming session (and of course for the spring as already arranged).  We have also confirmed that Christine will be able to accompany us for several rehearsals as before.  We all welcome Paul and Christine and look forward to working hard with them, starting on Wednesday August 26th at 7.45pm – 9.45pm (note later start and finish) at the West Church Hall in Inverurie.  Breaking only for one week (14th October) we will rehearse Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man – a Mass for Peace for a performance jointly promoted with us by the West Church on Armistice Sunday (8th November) at 7.30pm, preceded by an afternoon rehearsal.  The West Church is underwriting any loss we may make but hopefully there may even be a profit which will be donated to the Royal British Legion.   

We will then prepare for our stint of carols at Castle Fraser.  The original date of Tuesday 8th December may be changed to Saturday 12th at their request – meanwhile please confirm to Ann Thorpe (details below) a.s.a.p. if you could make the Saturday instead.   

Before that we have our annual social event of a BARBECUE, this year Christine Ross and husband have kindly invited us to Hillhead House at Keith Hall on the afternoon of Sunday 9th August.  I know Christine is dying to show us her recently developed garden but she has ample room inside if the weather is bad.  We need help with barbecue “machines” and also we traditionally bring a dish of something suitable, especially desserts but also salad and savouries.  The main barbecuing items will be supplied, but we need to bring our own wine, etc, which is then pooled, if you see what I mean!  Important: please telephone or email Ann (Thorpe) as soon as possible to confirm numbers, including vegetarians, with offers of barbecues and food to bring (( 01467 620040, email secretary@inveruriechoral.org.uk ).  I do urge you to come to the event which is always very relaxed and enjoyable (bring families, of course).  Times and directions will be posted on the website when Christine returns from holiday. 

Shortly after we begin rehearsals we have what is probably the most popular of social events, the Ceilidh at Daviot Village Hall on Saturday 19th September.  It may be, nay is, popular but it is also a risk financially as good bands don’t come cheap, so please make every effort to come and recruit family, friends and neighbours, etc.  That way we may make enough profit to keep the Treasurer smiling when he computes our likely membership fees for the year!  It would also cheer our hard-working Fundraising Group after the dispiriting turn-out of choir members at the recent Race Night.  The time of year turned out to be bad for this but it can make a lot of money so we shall no doubt look to sweet-talk the organisers into a repeat when we don’t have excuses not to attend! 

A final date, this time for next year’s diary: Choruses from the Operas, jointly with Inverurie Orchestra, on Saturday 5th June in Inverurie Town Hall.  This will sell out quickly so don’t hang about when tickets come on sale..... 

Looking forward to seeing you again at the BBQ and when rehearsals restart, and don’t forget to contact Ann..... 

Yours 

Jon (Bailey), Chair/Chairman/Chairperson, take your pick.

 

We would like to welcome all our new members.    A very warm welcome to you all

At the recent AGM, new Committee Office Bearers were elected. We welcome our new Chairman Jon Bailey (thanks Ann for the sterling work over the last 3 years), new secretary (limited time appointment) Ann Thorpe - where have I heard that name before?? Committee Members Jane Rawlinson and John Smith. As owner of the website name, I have allocated our Committee "inveruriechoral" email addresses as you can see on the <Contacts> page.  If you need to contact any of our Committee by email then just send it to their "inveruriechoral" email address and it should forward it to their personal email address which of course will not be known to anyone but them and I (and Membership Secretary)

 

BETTY SHEWAN (2/10/34 - 18/6/08)

I know our website is followed by past and present members of the Society so it is with great sadness that I have to advise you of the death of Betty Shewan  on 18th June 2008. Betty was a founder member of our Choral Society and sang 2nd Soprano for us. Her Memorial Service took place at Meldrum Parish Church on Thursday 26th June 2008. A combined choir of the Society (some 20 members were able to attend) and Meldrum Parish Church (10 members) sang "Ave Verum Corpus" at the service. Remembering that this was the first piece of music we performed at Inverurie Town hall in the Summer of 1998, it is a special piece of music to us. The service was very well attended, which showed the love and high esteem in which Betty was held. We received favourable comments on the singing at her service. I have asked Society members to pass on to me their thoughts and memories of Betty if they so wish . I will attach them here in the near future.

JohnW

 

 Jim Hatter has kindly allowed us to use his picture on our home page of our website. However, if you want to purchase that picture then he will be asking £8 (normally £10) for the picture. Please see John Smith for details

 Ann Landels emailed me from La Belle France to say that she will be here on the 7th of June and looks forward to hearing our concert. Welcome back, Ann, albeit as a member of the audience

 We would like to welcome new members

A very warm welcome to:    Sheena, Kerry and Jane

Received from Ann Landels in La Belle France (Part 2)

Miradoux chorale 'Les voix si, les voix la' at Ste-Mere, Gers, Sunday 6 Jan - part of the Ronde des Creches.
 
I'm still the small one in the front row! 
 

The second photos is 'Les Britanniques' (plus a Belgique and Hollandaise doing 'Deck the Halls')

Ann Landels

Received from Ann Landels from La Belle France (part 1)

While you are all singing at Castle Fraser 'La Voix Si et La Voix La' chorale of Miradoux will be taking part in the 'Ronde des Creches' - Peyrecave, Saint-Antoine, Sainte-Mere and Plieux, 4 afternoons between 9 Dec and 13 Jan.

'Les Britanniques' (mainly Scots, but augmented by a Flemish speaking Belgian and a Dutch) have their own spot - 'Deck the Hall' and 'Go Tell it on the Mountain'. Other familiar songs, in French, are ' Angels from the Realms of Glory (Les Anges de Nos Campagnes), 'Still the Night', 'I Saw 3 Ships', 'Jingle Bells' (completely different words - Vive le Vent (d'hiver), and a v. slow version, in English, of 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas'.

Concert dress - all black (skirts or trousers) and gold scarves.

Enjoy the social.

Ann Landels


 

Thanks to everyone who has bought a plant. I have raised the sum of £20 which will be given to Douglas when I see him. ALL MONIES GO TO THE SOCIETY

 

We would like to welcome new members this year.

A very warm welcome to: Alistair , Marie and Peter , Alison , Lynn , Isla , Wendy , Sandra, Alan and Chris

 

Received from Ann Landels (sunning herself in France!!!)

Hi Moira and John, just a quick note to say that all well in SW France - summer finally came late, in September, but a bit chillier now! I had what was probably my last swim in the pool yesterday. Electrician is knocking my kitchen to bits so I have stoor everywhere! New kitchen goes in next week, so that will be a big step forward.

My French is improving by leaps and bounds - I can even speak on the phone now, a real achievement. Have found out about a local choir in Miradoux, a capella, and hoping to go next Tuesday. Seems already a few Scots from Glasgow and Edinburgh so I won't have to speak French ALL the time!

I'm keeping up with your activities on the website - who knows perhaps a concert tour to SW France sometime!

Tell everyone I'm asking for them. Ann Landels  (I have Ann's telephone number and email address if anyone wants to contact her - JohnW)

 

Received from Helen Jones in Cincinnati

Greetings from Cincinnati. I hope you are all well? 

The weather has definitely turned for fall here. A cold, windy Sunday afternoon finds me sat in work writing a review paper when I’m reminded of last Novembers concert as Hymn to the Fallen starts on my ipod.  I hope rehearsals are going well and I’d like to wish you all luck for the upcoming holiday season, I won’t make it back this year but I can imagine the Castle Fraser concerts will be as lovely as usual. 

Well I’d better get back to work, Keep singing 

Best wishes 
Helen 

Dr Helen N Jones
Post Doc Fellow
Obstetrics and Gynecology
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati

 

IF YOU WANT TO FIND MIDI'S TO HELP YOU LEARN YOUR PART, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THESE SITES.

www.cyberbass.com

IF YOU CLICK ON THIS LINK, YOU SHOULD GO STRAIGHT TO IT 

You might also find this link useful

http://www.notation.com/MIDI-Choral.html

or even this one

http://gasilvis.net/

Don't say I don't get you some information :o)

Fund raising

Something all societies have to do to remain solvent.  We have a fund raising group which consist of Mhorag Atkinson, Kathleen MacKay, Jane Rawlinson and Ann Thorpe (thank you ladies).  They have organised a couple of fund raising events.  

More details of these fund raising activities will be found on the SOCIAL page.  It is up to all of us to support, coerce others to attend these functions. The more the merrier and the happier our Treasurer will be!

 

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