Summer Newsletter

Newsletter Summer 2022 www.stuartsingers.com

Sumer is icumen in…...or so says a medieval English round by an unknown composer known as the Summer Canon. The line translates as “summer has arrived”. In fact for the choir, summer has been and gone and we have already started learning Christmas music! Did we sing “Let It Snow” with a bit too much feeling last week as it is still pretty chilly here for the beginning of July?

However, our Summer Concerts in June were a great success. One of Bruce’s friends who came on Friday wrote on our Facebook page, “The concert tonight was absolutely wonderful. A very, very enjoyable evening and thoroughly recommended”. Perhaps her comments partly accounted for quite a few ticket sales on the door on Saturday night. Again, despite our worries about low advance bookings, we had a good turnout with around a hundred people there each evening. The nave of the church felt nicely full and it was wonderful to see how the audience were clearly enjoying the music, sometimes even mouthing the words, and the choir clearly responded to this appreciation. You can read more of Helen’s thoughts about these concerts on page 3. Wendy and Bridget have written about our BEAT Concert and our contribution to the Cathedrals at Night event in Gloucester in May on pages 4 and 5.

We hope we have seen the last of the post-Covid changes in personnel now. I think Mark gave us all a surprise almost as nasty as the positive Covid test results after the Wyndham Concert with the announcement that he was retiring from the choir. Luckily for us, our new members have settled in well. Details on both these topics can be found on pages 6 and 7. Many thanks to all my roving reporters.

I hope it’s still summer when you get to page 8. There you’ll find some songs to remind you of the season, if you can think of their titles, that is! Have a go!

Janet Brown: Editor

Membership It’s a sad goodbye to Terry Pegler and Mark Thomas who have decided to leave the choir.

Contents Membership From the Chair From the Musical Director Quiz Answers The BEAT Concert Cathedrals at Night Mark Thomas retires from the choir From Vic Klinkosz Summer Quiz Dates for Your Diary

Page 1 2 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 8

The Musical Director, Committee and fellow choir members thank them for their contribution to the choir over the years. We wish them both well and hope to see them in the audience at our future concerts.

Helen and the Committee offered Life Membership to Mark in recognition of his outstanding service for 21 years and were delighted that he accepted!

We welcome new member David Thackray to the 1st basses. It is also lovely to have Sharon Brown, Geraldine Curtis and Sue and Charlie Wise back singing with us.

Vicky Hulse: Membership Secretary 1

Chat from the Chair…..

It’s been an eventful few months since the Spring Newsletter and other contributors are covering important topics such as the concert for BEAT, our appearance at Gloucester Cathedral, our 'home' concerts in Minch in June and the departure of choir stalwart Mark Thomas.

Although it's not the most exciting topic I will, then, concentrate on finances which have become more important than ever due to the hiatus in choir income caused by COVID. I'd like to thank Vicky and Mike for their work in consulting with choir members leading to the agreement at our EGM in June to increase our annual subscription rate to £90.00. This may seem like quite a jump but it is still low compared to many other choirs. Based on a membership of around fifty, the subscriptions will cover about half of our running costs so we still need income from concerts and other sources. This led to the decision to use the income from our home concerts in June to boost our own funds. We made a profit of £1854.25 which is a big help in ensuring our continued existence and financial security. Hopefully, come Christmas, we can be donating to good causes again. Any suggestions for beneficiaries would be welcome.

I'd also like to thank Biddy and Wendy for the coffee evenings and afternoons at rehearsals, Lynn and Helen (Salisbury!) for running the monthly raffles and Cheryl and Simon for the book sales. These all make money for choir funds and it’s much appreciated.

Bruce Salisbury: Committee Chair

When bow ties were straight and scarves neatly tied before the Friday Summer Concert, Molly Hulse took some photographs of the choir for our portfolio. Here are a couple of them. Thank you Molly!

More of the photographs can be seen on our website

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Helen here……..

A message from our Musical Director Where did the January to June season go?

Suddenly it is the end of June and we are already rehearsing the Christmas music! However, it was a great time with highly successful concerts.

June: Our two Summer Concerts took place in Minchinhampton Church. The choir had to work hard following the previous concerts in April and May to ensure that all the repertoire was ready for our ‘home crowd’ supporters. ‘Guys and Dolls’, ‘Oliver’ and ‘Sister Act’ all needed a substantial amount of final preparation, but, as always, the choir members were enthusiastic and dedicated.

The result was that these numbers were the favourites of the June performances for many of the choir and audience. A lot of choir members sang in solos, duets and trios throughout the evening, some of these for the first time, and all were accurate, clear and strong. Well done everyone. We received many accolades for diction, professionalism and performance but one comment surpassed everything previously heard: “The choir were very animated, clapping and moving on stage, really getting into the songs. Everyone was obviously enjoying themselves – wonderful”.

April: We performed a joint concert with the Wyndham Singers in St. George’s Church, Nailsworth. Much was written about this high-quality event in the Spring Newsletter. Suffice it to say that promises of “We’ll meet again” have already been actioned.

Please note 20th April 2024 for another joint concert, this time in Devon.

May: The concert in the Sundial Theatre for BEAT, the charity which supports people with eating disorders was challenging. Performing in ‘theatre style’ was different to our normal performance space but, despite not being able to see the audience due to stage lighting, not being raked on a choir platform and not hearing the sound reverberating, we gave a good performance and the audience feedback after the concert was very positive. We don’t perform in Cirencester often and we hope that we have attracted a new audience for our concerts in the future.

Helen Sims: Musical Director Spoiler Alert! Summer Quiz Page 8 Answers below

5.

Summertime from Porgy and Bess Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta

4.

Summer Nights Nat King Cole

Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer In the Summertime Mungo Jerry

2.

Summer Holiday Cliff Richard

1.

Answers

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3.

Also in May the choir performed a whole evening of music for the Cathedral’s participation in the international ‘Cathedrals at Night’ Event. We sang from 8pm to 9.30pm to an audience who wandered freely around the Cathedral enjoying the relaxed ambience. Some people simply sat and listened to us, some people were dancing in the aisle as we sang our Sinatra Medley and some people just stood and watched, transfixed by our stirring Les Misérables Medley, which closed the evening. It is always a pleasure to sing in that vast space with the unique acoustic and the reverb of eight seconds – a long time as you hear your own voices coming back down the nave at the end of a piece.

We will be back in the Cathedral again soon we hope.

Thank you to all choir members, our audience and the Friends of the Stuart Singers who give us their vital support.

BEAT Concert ‘Close to You’, came next, a song that has the feel good factor as it swings along. This was followed by ‘Harbour’, the beautiful song we sing with such feeling, in support of the refugees in Ukraine. We all proudly wore our crocheted yellow sunflowers.

‘Sinatra Medley’ took us up to the interval and it was backstage for drinks and feedback. I think it was generally agreed that we could have done better on some of the numbers!

Sundial Theatre Cirencester This was the third time the choir had performed to raise money for BEAT, a national charity supporting those affected by eating disorders and its campaigns on their behalf. Ticket sales for our concert on May 13th were good, with the final total being around a hundred.

After the interval, we started with the light-hearted number ‘Buffalo Girls’ and ‘The Lion King Medley’ which is always a favourite. This was followed by ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Memory’, ‘Razzle Dazzle’ and yet another stirring performance of ‘Anthem’ from the musical Chess. We finished the concert with our favourite medley from ‘Les Misérables’. The second half seemed to go much better.

When we arrived we all assembled in the ‘Green Room’ behind the theatre and there was a positive buzz in anticipation of the performance. It’s always nice to see drinks provided and there was even a basket of chocolate treats from Pat as well!

Before ‘curtain up’ we went on to the stage to find our places and a quick warm up of ‘Harbour’. The stage lights were quite blinding which was a bit offputting. It’s always nice to look out on to smiling faces and search for a friend or family member during the applause. Also Matt was down playing in the auditorium in the dark which must have made communication between him and and Helen slightly difficult. Still, as always, there are adjustments to be made and we try and rise to the occasion.

Pat Ayres MBE, who set up the Cirencester BEAT Support Group, thanked the choir and paid tribute to our dedication in striving for high standards of singing.

In her subsequent letter of thanks, she told us that she had sent just over £1500 from ticket sales to BEAT and had an additional £500 from raffle monies and donations for the local support group. She was delighted with this result.

Thanks to the committee and all who helped to organise and bring the concert about, especially to Helen for her musical direction, Matt for his wonderful accompaniment and Tom for his great drumming!

Pre-concert instructions from Lynn?

With this performance over, it was off to do it all again at Gloucester Cathedral the next night!

Wendy Lea

We opened the concert with ‘Let the River Run’, which has already become a firm favourite of the choir, especially with the addition of Tom’s drum throughout. This was followed by ‘Oliver’ and then ‘He Ain’t Heavy’, He’s my Brother’ from the ladies.

The men sang the chirpy ‘Always Look on the Bright Side’ and this raised a few chuckles from the audience. In a complete change of mood, we then sang the contemplative ‘Cantique de Jean Racine’.

We got a mention on Page 160 of July’s Cotswold Life

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Cathedrals at Night: Gloucester During the interval I was stopped by a young mother who asked the significance of our scarves and the yellow flowers we were wearing. I explained that Lou’s mum had crocheted the sunflowers to raise funds for Ukraine and the scarves were part of our Stuart Singers’ uniform.

“Oh” she exclaimed “the Stuart Singers, I’ve heard you are amazing! We’ll definitely come in to listen”

We opened the second half with the loud ‘Hey’ of ‘Buffalo Girls’ causing heads to turn. During the ‘Lion King Medley’ it was noticeable that visitors were sitting for longer and listening, some joining in with well known songs. Then followed ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Memory’ from Cats and the old favourite ‘Razzle Dazzle’. The evening closed with three powerful pieces that we love singing: ‘Fix You’, ‘Anthem’ and ‘Les Misérables’. By now lots more visitors were sitting in their seats listening, many staying until the end.

On a Saturday evening in May we arrived at the beautifully floodlit Gloucester Cathedral. This was part of the ‘Cathedrals at Night’ initiative, where cathedrals around the country welcome all comers to experience these magnificent buildings. We were there to sing while visitors wandered freely around the cathedral.

It felt very different from our more formal concerts and at first it was rather disconcerting: we were a long way from each other; from Matt; from Helen; and the ‘audience’ was everywhere!

However, Helen gave us her encouraging ‘Ready….this is it’ smile and turned to Tom and his drum. The vibrant beat of ‘Let the River Run’ sounded out catching visitors’ attention. We love singing this song and all strangeness fell away as we joined in. We followed on with the lighter ‘Oliver Medley’ and the ladies sang ‘He Ain’t Heavy, He’s my Brother’. As the men sang ‘Always Look on the Bright Side of Life’ we heard laughter from the public, confirming that they could hear us. By now we were relaxed and enjoying ourselves!

I found it a wonderful evening; a truly uplifting experience to make music in the magnificent candlelit cathedral.

All the choir members I spoke to really enjoyed the experience and are pleased we have been asked to sing again next year.

The floodlit cloisters

I enjoy hearing Matt play the lovely introduction to ‘Cantique de Jean Racine’ setting the mood of the piece, but it wasn’t the same with a background of chatter, coughs and squeaky shoes on the floor! I still particularly enjoyed singing this beautiful piece in the lovely candlelit surroundings.

Music has been part of the Cathedral’s history for hundreds of years. I wonder what those from long ago would have thought about this inclusive, informal and enjoyable evening? Long may these events continue.

Bridget Seward Then followed ‘Harbour’ a song written for refugees, especially poignant in view of the war in Ukraine. We closed the first half with the ‘Sinatra Medley’ and were pleased to notice some visitors singing along.

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Mark Thomas Retires from the Choir Write a few lines about Mark’s amazing contribution to the Stuart Singers over the last 21 years, said Janet with her Newsletter Editor’s hat on. (Editor’s note: I did say please!) She also acknowledged that as Mark and I go back a long way I could probably fill a whole Newsletter based on all those conversations we’ve had in the car on the way home. (But I’m afraid I cannot repeat any of those - what is said in the Lexus, stays in the Lexus!)

Mark pictured just before a Summer Concert this year.

Who knew what he was thinking?

I know he will be missed by the choir as a whole for all the hard work he has devoted to us, by the basses for his voice (did I mention he was an OK singer?) I will miss him arriving way too early to pick me up on a Thursday, I will miss our chats in the car (he could easily have a second career as a counsellor) but above all I will miss our shared love of singing together as part of a choir. But, as the song says “….let that lonely feeling wash away, ‘cos maybe there’s a reason to believe you’ll be OK.”

I had to phone Mark to ask him why we started going to choir together. I cannot use the term carshare because I rarely drove. Was this just some sort of unwritten rule or does he think I am a bad driver?

I can count the number of times I have driven him on a Thursday on one hand and still have fingers left over. But that’s the thing about Mark: he gives and doesn’t expect anything in return. He has given a lot to our choir over the last 21 years - his time, his expertise, his energy and enthusiasm and, I suppose, his talent as his voice is OK too!

You Will Be Found in the audience Mark and, on behalf of the Stuart Singers, I want to say thank you for everything you have done for us since becoming a member 21 years ago. Enjoy your Life Membership and there will always be a place for you on our barricades!

If Mark is passionate about something he is involved in then he makes sure it is successful. When a committee had to be formed to move the choir forward after Gerry and Sheila retired, Mark was the obvious choice to be the Chairman. His calm, fair but at the same time firm control of the choir meant it went from strength to strength. He was always mindful though that it didn’t lose that ‘family’ feeling that the Stuart Singers has always been renowned for.

Jane Widdowson Here are just a few of the tributes to Mark posted on our WhatsApp group: I have to say that we will all miss you greatly, not only for your commitment in every aspect of choir life but also for your accuracy when singing. I know it will not be just me who has been kept right by your lead at so many

Now he is ready to leave that family and give to something else. I tried to persuade him to stay but I knew he wouldn’t change his mind. Do you know why? Because another thing about Mark is that he is usually right! He knew the time was right to step down as Chairman and he knows the time is right to leave the choir now. He was also right to ask me if I wanted a lift every week once he realised we lived in the same village. We have become fabulous friends, not just myself and Mark but our families as a whole and he and Gill are godparents to our third daughter Jemima.

concerts. I would like to say that I am proud to have sung with you and enjoyed your company over so many years. Thank you!

Simon Ritter Mark, you will be so much missed. Who is going to roar for us or call us to the barricades?

Gill Brain Very sad news! Many thanks for all the help and encouragement you gave me on joining Phil Chubb

Enjoy your choir retirement and thank you, Mark!

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In late 2019 we decided that our very rural French life was just a little too quiet and that we would move back to the UK. Anne had a couple of old friends from her university days who lived in Stroud and when we visited them, we always found something was happening including lots of live music. Also two of our three grown children were living in Bristol and Cheltenham. On the strength of that, we ended up selling our Hampshire home and buying a house in Eastcombe.

Relatively new member Vic Klinkosz writes how he and Anne found the Stuart Singers……. ……...or from Central France to Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire

Anne and I moved to Gloucestershire in September 2020 at a strange time for all of us with COVID restricting everything we did. We had been living in France for four years and before that we lived in Romsey, Hampshire.

It was difficult to meet people due to COVID when we first arrived but people we met on our dog walks or through online quizzes were all very friendly and welcoming. We also began to make use of our local pub, The Lamb. We started to research joining local choirs and this included listening to the Stuart Singers lockdown recordings on the website. We like the challenge of four part (or more!) singing, making a good sound and taking part in concerts and the Stuart Singers ticked all the boxes! Anne was the first to brave joining, coming along in September 2020. She loved it and found everyone very friendly. I had joined a local brass band that rehearsed on a Thursday so was a bit unsure as to what I should do. But in November last year I came along to a rehearsal and like Anne was taken with the friendly and welcoming atmosphere and decided I wanted to join you.

In Romsey we had joined a community choir after not singing since being in school and church choirs as teenagers - just a few years ago! We both love music of all types and wanted to start a new hobby bringing people together with the common purpose of making good music and performing. I also joined a male voice choir and performed a number of concerts with them, including in Romsey Abbey and Winchester Cathedral and on tour in the Channel Isles. We also loved the 'afterglow' sessions with the male voice choir in the pub after our concerts!

When we moved to France we tried to get involved with the local community and one way was to join a local French choir. It certainly helped us with our language skills. We sang a great variety of music mostly in French but also in other languages which proved a little challenging at times. The choir was fairly small and as is often the case tenors were hard to find but we made a pretty good sound when everyone was there. Anne also convinced me to start playing the trombone again after giving it up in my early twenties. I started playing with a French brass band, not quite Black Dyke but still another way to help with our integration and enjoy music.

We have not looked back. We enjoy the weekly rehearsals and find the alto and tenor practices with Jennifer really helpful. We loved the concerts at Christmas and more recently in Cirencester, Gloucester Cathedral and Minchinhampton. All our family and local friends have come along to hear the choir and have been very impressed. It’s been great to make new friends and get to know the area through them.

We are both now starting to learn the music for Christmas and looking forward to many years with the Stuart Singers. Thank you for welcoming us.

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Summer Quiz

Dates for Your Diary 2022

Do you know which songs these lines come from and who sang them? It helps to hum!

We’re goin’ where the sun shines brightly

2.

If her daddy’s rich, take her out for a meal If her daddy’s poor, just do what you feel

Concert with Dursley MVC, Wycliffe College

Dec 9

Winter Concert: Minchinhampton Church

Dec 10

Winter Concert: Minchinhampton Church

Dec 12

Longfield Light Up a Life, Minchinhampton

Dec 19

Gloucester Cathedral Informal Concert

2023

Hint: All the song titles contain the word ‘summer’

1.

Oct 29

March 4

Concert at St. George’s Nailsworth

April 21

Concert at Tetbury Goods Shed

May 13

Cathedrals at Night, Gloucester

June 9

Summer Concert, Minchinhampton

June 10

Summer Concert, Minchinhampton

June 23-25 Christchurch, Ringwood, Salisbury Tour (tbc)

3.

Those days of soda and pretzels and beer

4.

I met a girl, crazy for me Met a boy, cute as can be

2024 April 20

Wyndham Concert, Devon

Business Supporters We are very grateful as always to our business supporters.

5.

Fish are jumpin’ and the cotton is high

Answers on Page 3

GOLD TSL Accounting

Tony Hawkins

Knockdown Stone Co

Edgeworth & Co

StroudPrint

The Kitchen

Minchinhampton Cotswold Club

SILVER

L Taylor & Sons Ltd

Freya Rose Beauty

Autonumis Ltd

Brooke’s Hair & Beauty Ltd

The Ram Inn (Bussage) THE STUART SINGERS Musical Director

Helen Sims

01453 873544

helenssims@aol.com

Newsletter Editor

Janet Brown

07927 317825

jandj.brown@btinternet.com

Music Librarian

Paul Hubbard

01453 542684

paulhubbard023@msn.com

Chair

Bruce Salisbury

07779 413936

brucejsalisbury@gmail.com

Treasurer

Mike Thomas

01453 882520

miketonto1@gmail.com

Membership & Social Media

Vicky Hulse

07531 824696

victoria.hulse@ymail.com

Marketing, Tickets & Transport

Lynn Bevis

01453 882440

lb1969@hotmail.co.uk

Concert Secretary

Janet Brown

07927 317825

jandj.brown@btinternet.com

Music Secretary

Erika Jones

07919 418858

erikadawnjones@gmail.com

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