News from the Choir ...

The Choir has donated £100 to this theatre group in Stourbridge. Their own website can be viewed here

The Choir took part in the 'Flower Festival 2006' held at the Elim church, with a flower arrangement entitled "A journey into Faith" and which was based on Genesis 28: "the top of the ladder reached into heaven .... and above it stood the Lord."

After many months in the planning and weeks of rehearsals, 3 of which were joint practices with the Halesowen Choral Society, we finally performed!! Our guests that night were the Deputy Mayor & Mayoress of Dudley MBC, Lynda Waltho member of Parliament for Stourbridge and Councillor Charles Fraser-Macnamara, deputy Leader of the Council - so we were welled served with dignitaries! The Staffordshire Band again performed with us during the evening, even having two joints items. Our soloist for the Concert was Elizabeth MacDonald; and we were again delighted that Michael Collie, of BBC Midlands Today, felt able to again compere the evening for use with his unique style of narration.

The Choir's first Concert of 2006 will be held at Holy Trinity, Wordsley, on Saturday 22/4. We join with the Halesowen Choral Society and the Staffordshire Band. More details of the Concert can be seen here. The soloist for the Concert, Elizabeth MacDonald, is shown here practicing with Hilary Bradley & Sarah Herbert, the two Choirs pianists, on Tuesday 11th April 06. Also shown is George & Stephen putting up an advertising poster outside Holy Trinity church!!

The Choir has a new logo which we will be using on our website, letter heads and all other publications.

At the AGM of the Choir, David Hayward stepped down as Chairman after almost 5 years. He handed over the reins to Lawson Bant. Also elected on to the Choir's Committee was Colin Foxall. The photo shows the Choir's MD, Stephen Bradley, handing over a gift on behalf of all the Choir members.

We held this Concert to help raise funds for them - it was their annual Flower Festival that weekend

This Concert was held at Redditch Baptist Church, Easemore Road, Redditch  and raised funds to support their Mtwara Baptist Church project. [see their website: www.redditchbaptist.org.uk]

This very special Concert was jointly held with the Halesowen Choral Society providing a Choir of 110+ singers. The Staffordshire Band also joined us in a programme very much geared towards English & British composers & music to celebrate our National Day - indeed, elements of a "last night of the proms" feel to the programme ensured the whole audience participated in enthusiastic singing of Jerusalem, I vow to thee my country, Rule Britannia & Land of Hope & Glory. Michael Collie, from BBC's Midlands Today, was an excellent compere for the evening and many sought to chat to him afterwards and get his autograph. We were pleased that His Worship the Deputy Mayor of Dudley also attended.

The tsunami disaster - choir donates £500 (January 05)

During our Annual Christmas Concert held at Holy Trinity Church, Old Hill, on Saturday 11th December 2004, a cheque for £2k was handed over to Ros Bratt-Wyton, who is the fund raising co-ordinator for the Georgina Unit at the Russells Hall Hospital. The Unit specialises in leukaemia. The money represents the total amount raised from the ticket sales of this sell-out Concert. Click the photograph to see in more detail.

Part of the choir joined with other Midlands choirs to form The Massed Choir at this year's Birmingham Tattoo held at the NIA on 27th & 28th November 04. The NIA's website describes the event as "This year’s spectacular Birmingham Tattoo at The NIA will mark the 60th Anniversary of D-Day, as massed military marching bands, dog display teams, dancers, a motorcycle display team, standard bearers and many others join the cast of over 1,000 to put on a three hour show for all the family. "

The Choir received a 'Gold Award' from Action Heart's representative [on the right] at a presentation at a choir rehearsal on Monday 11th October. Receiving the award on behalf of the choir is our Chairman, David Hayward, together with the younger members of the choir.

The Choir sang for the first time in the Cornbow Hall in Halesowen on Saturday 9th October. Our special guests that night were pupils from the Windsor High School who performed various items during the evening and were an excellent accompaniment to the Choir and an were an excellent example for the good work of the school

The Choir was asked, and several members took up the invitation, to temporarily join up with other local choirs to form the 'Midlands Symphony Chorus' which is taking part in "One Day More - From Les Misérables to Miss Saigon and Beyond" the world premiere of which is taking place at Birmingham's Symphony Hall on the 16th & 17th September 04. Angela Rippon is comparing both concerts - with BBC R2 recording the Friday evening. The practices, held in Walsall, are hard work but we were fortunate indeed to have Claude-Michel Schönberg, who wrote the music for Les Misérables & Miss Saigon etc, come to one of our practices on Thursday 2nd Sept 04. It is a rare privilege to have the composer of any music give you his interpretation of how he wants certain items sung etc and a moment we shall treasure.

A message from a proud family: "Chris has passed his final Trade Test and will take his place with the Band of The Corps of Royal Engineers from the 7th August. He will be playing with them at Shrewsbury Flower Show on 13th and 14th August for anyone who has a free day! Thank you to all members who have kept in touch with Chris and have asked about him regularly. It has meant a lot to us as a family to have your support. Tracy, Alan and Rachel xxx"