Well, would you believe it? … the 1st of October already!
The Choir has returned reinvigorated after the summer break and the Ladies are getting to grips with the challenges ahead as we work towards Christmas ( not long now! ) We have been joined by several new potential members who are interested in singing with us and it’s great fun arriving at practice each Thursday not quite knowingly how many chairs we need. The sections of the choir are beautifully balanced now and the sound continues to grow in confidence and richness.
To see our concert diary for the Christmas period click HERE
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Our new red jackets have arrived – fashion show soon.
Really looking forward to our 50th anniversary Gala Dinner 14th October
At the end of July the choir held a fund-raising event to boost the choir funds so that we can invest in some new winter uniform, the current red jackets (pictured below) having served us well for quite a number of years.
Events such as this normally involve coffee mornings, jumble sales and the like but Stithians Ladies tend to Think Big so a dinner was held at our very own Stithians Centre.
~ Pure delight … “seconds” of Monica’s Special Trifle! ~
The dinner was planned and prepared by intrepid choir members Molly and Monica together with their trusty band of helpers. The tables looked lovely with flowers by Suzanne, there was a bar and a raffle and entertainment from Anne Parkes which included spontaneous dancing from Lee!
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It was a really happy occasion, sharing good food and fellowship with each other, friends and family. It marked the end of a half year which had been filled with friendship, music and laughter and the sharing of those precious gifts with the wider community at our concerts. The Ladies now have their summer break in order to recoup and rejuvenate ahead of a busy Autumn and Christmas season.
The good news is that a total of £485 was made at this lovely fund-raiser and that will go towards boosting the coffers to acquire our new winter uniform – watch this space for a fashion show!
Our latest concert at Gwennap Church was another resounding success. Resounding to the fabulous singing of the Ladies, to the warm applause of the audience and to the crashing sound of the piano as our wonderful accompanist Rico surprised us with The Warsaw Concerto!
The Ladies relax after a job well done
Where has Vivienne hidden this time?
In the gentler moments Peggy and Sylvia told some humourous tales and Jo and Pat sang beautiful solos. The good people of Gwennap Church provided excellent refreshment and a tableful of homely produce was available to purchase as well as raffle tickets to win a lovely painting.
The weather was clement, the surroundings beautiful and the company entertaining in every way. What more could you wish for in Music For A Summer Evening?
Beautiful Gwennap Church holds a series of concerts in June and July each year entitled Music For A Summer Evening. The evening starts at 7.30, there is an interval for refreshments and a sales table with delicious fresh produce and jams to tempt you. Entry is by donation.
Saturday July 2nd found the Ladies singing at St Budock Church, helping to raise money for the Cornwall branch of the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
An unusual perspective of the choir!
Pictured together with guest performer Anne Parkes and accompanist Rico Gerber. Not pictured is deputy MD Vivienne Nicholas who managed to hide behind the pulpit!
A large and enthusiastic audience appreciated the varied programme sung by the Ladies which contrasted nicely with the jazz and blues songs provided by Anne Parkes and the piano solo from Maestro Rico Gerber. Peter Asplet as compère held the whole evening together – “Together” being the final number from the Ladies and the recurring theme of their enduring harmonious friendships.
The event was beautifully organised by Connie and Peter Asplet with scrummy refreshments by members of the Church and well over £500 was raised for MND Cornwall. A huge thank you to everyone!
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Click on our Facebook page for some audience feedback.
Any trip out of County with a large number of travellers takes a deal of organisation and the Choir is fortunate indeed to have Chairman Peggy who excels at such matters. There is the travel and transport, the accommodation, the concerts and, most importantly, the recreation and leisure time!
The organisation was impeccable and there was no hint of difficulties until we met traffic on the M5 … static traffic that is. This meant a one and a half hour delay, a less than leisurely lunch and a very condensed rehearsal with Nigel, our accompanist for the first concert. The coach driver took us on a most interesting route into Bristol – at one time we thought we were going via London – but we did eventually get to our lovely hotel in time to change and have dinner before it was time to retrace our steps to St Mary’s Clevedon.
The concert was a great success, enjoyed by performers and audience alike and we were treated to some refreshments afterwards – yes, alcohol was involved and we travelled back to Bristol with a warm glow.
We were able to have a leisurely breakfast and then most people opted to join the excursion to Bath whilst some did retail therapy ( the shopping experience in Bristol is highly recommended ) or had a quiet stroll. After an early dinner we departed for the nearby village of Long Ashton where our team of “keyboard shifters and putter-togetherers” sprang into action. Choir members acquainted themselves with the layout and acoustic of the church which is both beautiful and peaceful – that is if you could ignore the persistent strains of a nearby rock concert!
The joy of this particular concert was working once more with our young friends The Beatroots
They are consummate musicians, lively, confident performers and genuinely warm people – it was a pleasure to share a concert with them once more and we are really grateful that they made the journey to be with us.
Refreshments were again provided and it was lovely to share some downtime with the performers, audience and the loyal choir supporters who were travelling with us. For some this was a late night compensated for by a late and leisurely Sunday morning breakfast. On the way back to Cornwall we stopped off at the National Trust property Tyntesfield and had several hours in the glorious gardens enhanced by glorious sunshine. Luckily the journey home was without incident and we all got home safely. This year’s Choir Tour was as successful and memorable as all the others and, as we approach our 50th anniversary celebrations, who knows what adventures the future will bring?
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A note about the video above
This song is a departure from our usual repertoire in that is has a band backing track. The ladies feel that the words of the song “Together” from the musical Gypsy encapsulate the feeling within the choir that we are always there for each other during challenging times and so it has been for the past 50 years. Strong, supportive, encouraging, caring.
It’s countdown to this year’s trip away and we are really looking forward to it. Our final practice is on June 2nd and we travel by coach to Clevedon on Friday. That evening we give a concert in St Mary’s Church, Clevedon where we will reconnect with our ex-accompanist Nigel Guzek and his wife Bridget.
Our wonderful team of organisers has arranged a two night stay in a top Bristol hotel and an excursion to the city of Bath on Saturday.
Saturday evening sees us in the village of Long Ashton near Bristol singing in All Saints Church, again accompanied by Nigel.
On this occasion we are joined by our friends The Beatroots from Oxford who shared a charity concert with us last summer at Budock Church. It is a privilege to work with such a talented group and we look forward to hearing their eclectic selection of A Capella vocals.
Our trip continues on Sunday with a visit to the National Trust property and gardens at Tyntesfield and then we come home! We will have lots to tell when we get back so watch this space for a full report.
STITHIANS LADIES CHOIR 