Report of Committee Meeting

On Monday 31^st March 2025

• Apologies for Absence: Jenny Hyams, Heather Butcher and John Formston

• Minutes of last meeting (29^th January 2025): These were approved.

• Matters arising

 Choir members had reported that it was sometimes difficult to hear Justin and those giving notices.  We have been looking into using a microphone but have yet to find a solution.  It was thought that there are still a number of people speaking in rehearsals which makes it difficult for others to hear.  Justin has been walking into the middle of the aisle to try to reach those at the back.

• Treasurer’s report 

• Subscriptions -Malcolm highlighted the subscription income for the spring term which was £3,095 – the highest ever, and we now have 69 members.  This also helps with Gift Aid.
• Library costs -These have gone down this term as we only have one work and there is no photocopying involved.  Some people bought their own copies.  It is thought that a lot of members will already have their own copies of Messiah for Christmas.
• Bonus Ball -The figure for Bonus Ball has gone down a bit and only half the choir are engaging with this.  

• MD’s report

Percussion section -This is now in place and they will have their own separate rehearsal with Justin prior to the concert. 

• Concert promotion Justin would like us to start promoting the concert early so that we can get more ticket sales.  This year, tickets and posters etc will be sent to the printers on the 7^th May and will be available a few days later.  Justin also reported that there is an expectation in his Wymondham choir that each member will sell 2 tickets.  We agreed that, although this may be difficult for some people, we should make an extra effort generally.  The children’s involvement for this concert should help a great deal.
• We also agreed that, when the posters do come out, all choir members should make every effort to distribute as many as possible in a wide area.  
• We also discussed Justin’s query about printing the children’s names on the programme.  We agreed that this would be nice for the children and their parents, but we will need to speak to the school regarding this.

• Anniversary Events

Summer Concert

• Poster  – Jo had sent us a copy of the poster designed by Paul.  We agreed that the picture was lovely but just needed a few adjustments to the font so she will arrange this with Paul.
• Raffle  – As discussed previously, we will have prizes from the voice parts, 3 from sopranos, 2 from altos and 1 each from tenors and basses.  The voice part representatives will co-ordinate this.
• We questioned whether or not we could actually hold a raffle in the school so Stella will ask Jayne at her next meeting.

• Dress  – This will be all black for percussionists and the children would be in their school uniform.
• Car parking  – At the Rec or Co-op during the day and the Co-op and Factory Shop in the evening.  There is also plenty of street parking nearby.

Messiah workshop

• 16^th August at St James Village Hall.  10am – 1pm, 2pm – 4.30pm.  Tickets £10.00.
• We agreed that the title, ‘Come and Sing Handel’s Messiah’, was a bit misleading as we will only be singing 4 – 5 choruses so it will be ‘Come and Sing Workshop with Handel’s Messiah’.
• Music  – Julia will order the music in time for this. If participants would like to use their own copies, they need to know we are using the Novello Prout edition.
• Lunch  – Julia has offered to make a lunch of soup and rolls, charging £5.00.  We will offer coffee and tea at the morning break.
• We will need posters and flyers for this so that we can start booking places in May.

Garden Party

• John and Julia have kindly offered their garden for this.  Possible dates are the 12^th or 19^th July at 2.30pm.  Further details to be discussed at the next Social SC.

Christmas concert

• Music  – Julia will already have ordered the music (see above) and we have the orchestral scores.  There will be a string quartet and 2 oboes.
• Raffle  – This will be along the same lines as at the summer concert.

7. War VE Memorial Event

• This will be held at the War Memorial on the 8^th May at 9pm.  We have been asked to lead the singing of ‘I vow to thee my country’ at 9.30pm.  We will have a short rehearsal for this on Monday 5^th May at 7pm.

8. Making Music platform

• Nikki, Jo and John A have agreed to form a Sub Committee for this together with Paul.

9. Sub Committee reports

     Publicity 

• We discussed the article about our 25^th anniversary year in the Village People magazine and it was pointed out that this is delivered to 60,000 households.  Members of Justin’s Wymondham choir had pointed it out to him.  Caroline had also had 2 enquiries about the workshop.

Social SC 

• As well as the lunch, which was covered in January’s meeting, Caroline discussed the very successful quiz.  We raised £698 and the raffle, organised by Fiona, made £215.
• John Awty pointed out that we really need more help with putting away tables and chairs at the end of events like these.
• Caroline also mentioned the Garden Party (see above).

10. Members’ feedback

• Julia reported that a choir member wished to bring along an assistance dog to rehearsals.   We agreed that Jo would tell members at the evening rehearsal about the request and ask anyone with any objections to speak to their voice part leaders.

11. AOB

• We confirmed that the autumn term would start on 1^st September so Fiona can now send out new list of dates (see attached) which will be available on the website.

12. Date, time and place of next meeting – 21^st May 2025 at 2pm

Term Dates

2025

Autumn Term

Monday 1st September Choir 7pm for a 7.30pm start

hand in Carmina Birana and Claim new books if needed

No Bonus Ball

Monday 27th October Half Term – rehearsal as usual

Monday 1st December Last Monday Rehearsal/Concert Check Meeting 7pm

Friday 5th December Rehearsal St John’s Church, Harleston -Time TBC

Saturday 6th December Afternoon Rehearsal St John’s Church, Harleston 

Time TBC

Saturday 6th December Concert St John’s Church, Harleston -Time TBC (Choir

in Seats)

Concert Starts 7pm

Dates for Diary

Saturday 19th July HCS Garden Party at John and Julia Awty’s from 2.30pm

Onwards

Saturday 16th August Messiah “Come and Sing” Day – St James Village

Hall

Timings starting at 10am – 1pm Hour for lunch then 2pm – 4.30pm

Many thanks to Fiona for compiling these.

CARMINA BURANA
Download as printable pdf file here
MONDAY 3RD FEBRUARY
NO.20 VENI, VENI, VENIAS pages 97 – 98
Sopranos and Altos with Karen
Tenors and Basses with Justin
2010 – back together and work through both pages
BREAK
NO.7 FLORET SILVA pages 43 – 47
NO.18 CIRCA MEA pages 93 – 95, recap

MONDAY 10TH FEBRUARY
NO.20 VENI, VENI, VENIAS pages 99 – 102 (3rd bar)
Sopranos and Altos with Karen
Tenors and Basses with Justin
2010 – back together and work through, then recap from page 97
BREAK
NO.7 FLORET SILVA
work through pages 48 – 53, then recap whole number
RECAP NUMBERS IF TIME

MONDAY 17TH FEBRUARY
Sopranos and Altos with Karen – work on No.8 pages 54 – 56
Tenors and basses with Justin – work on no.8 pages 54 – 56 and no. 12 page 72
2010 – back together and work on no. 8
BREAK
NO.20 VENI , VENI, VENIAS – work through pages 102 – 103, then recap
RECAP NUMBERS AS NEEDED

MONDAY 24TH FEBRUARY
RUN NUMBERS 1 – 7 (pages 5 – 53)
BREAK
Run through no.8 (pages 54 – 56)
CHUM, CHUM, GESELLE MIN – pages 60 – 62 – work through

HARLESTON CHORAL SOCIETY
REHEARSAL SCHEDULE MARCH 2025

Download as printable pdf file here
MONDAY 3RD MARCH
Sopranos and Altos with John, Tenors and Basses with Justin
Swazhie gat umbe – pages 58 – 69
2005 – together to work through whole number page 58 – 64
BREAK
Numbers 1 – 8 that need extra work after last Mondays run
2115 – semi chorus only to work on number 20

MONDAY 10TH MARCH
Sopranos and Altos with John, Tenors and Basses with Justin
S/A – work through numbers 7 and 8, to fine tune etc
T/B – In taberna , page 75 – 78 (last 2 bars), then recap
2000 – together and run numbers 7 and 8
BREAK
no, 24 Blanziflor et Helena – begin work
2115 – semi chorus for no, 20

MONDAY 17TH MARCH
Katie Vaughan playing
Run pages 43 – 66
BREAK
No 20. Veni, Veni, venias – run with the semi chorus
Sopranos and Altos finished
Tenors and basses – work on In Taberna – pages 78 – 79, then recap
– begin work on no.13 – pages 73 –74

MONDAY 24TH MARCH
No. 24 – Blanziflor et Helena – continue work
Swazhie gat umbe – work through
BREAK
Sopranos and Altos woth John – work through anything you feel needs extra work
Tenors and Basses with Justin – In Taberna – pages 80 – 82, then recao from the beginning
no. 13 – continue work (page 73 – 74)
no. 12 – page 72 run

MONDAY 31ST MARCH
Run numbers 1 – 10 (pages 5 – 66)
BREAK
No. 14 – In Taberna (tenors and basses) – pages 75 – 82
No. 18 – Circa mea pectora – pages 93 – 95
No. 20 – Veni, veni, venias – pages 97 – 103
No,24 – Blanziflor et Helena – pages 115 – 117

Concordia “Time and Concord” Sunday 2nd March (Fressingfield) and Sunday 9th March (Wortwell).

A Spectrum of Song

A vibrant workshop for all who enjoy singing music for worship

Saturday 8th March 10am-4pm
St Mary’s Church Halesworth

From Tallis to Townsend – an enthralling musical journey through Christian worship music. Explore a wealth of eclectic styles, from the music of the early church to the vibrant sounds of today’s worship. Something for everyone!

Led by Richard Hubbard
St Edmundsbury & Ipswich Music Development Director

Tickets £10 from http://www.stedscathedral.org/inharmony

or

Contact Jason Busby (Organist @ St. Mary’s Halesworth) via
 

halesworthparish@gmail.com or 07817863533 to book a ticket and pay on the day

Tallis Chamber Orchestra

St Peter’s Church,  Westleton, IP17 3AQ.

On Sunday 9 March at 3pm we hope you will be able to join us for a lovely spring programme of music for string orchestra, directed by David Alberman (violin).

In addition, a string quartet made up of members of the Orchestra will be putting on a coffee morning concert on Saturday morning 12 April at 10.30 am.

Sunday 9 March 2025, 3:00pm | St Peter’s Church, Westleton, IP17 3AQ

Director: David Alberman (violin)

Fantasia upon One Note – Henry Purcell

Fantasia No. 6 – Henry Purcell

Concerto for String Orchestra – Grażyna Bacewicz

Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky – Anton Arensky

Lullaby – George Gershwin

Admission will be by programme, £15 at the door (cashless payments accepted). 

Saturday 12 April, 10.30am | St Peter’s Church, Westleton, IP17 3AQ

Tallis Chamber Orchestra String Quartet

Divertimento in F major, K. 138 – W. A. Mozart

String Quartet in C minor, Op. 18, No. 4 – L. van Beethoven

Free admission, with a collection for St Peter’s Church, Westleton

Any changes to concert arrangements will be posted on our website, www.tco.org.uk

St Gregory’s Orchestra “Concert for Ukraine” Salvation Army Citadel, Norwich Saturday 15th March (Morning)

Phoenix Singers “St John Passion” Bach, Saturday 1st April Framlingham

The Music Summer School and Festival

Gresham’s School, Norfolk 2nd to 16th August

Having grown from a conversation at the inaugural Edinburgh Festival in 1947, 2025 will be the 77th Summer School. You will see from the attached flyer and our website (www.mssf.org.uk) that we offer a wide range of courses aimed at providing an enjoyable and convivial musical experience for participants whilst they improve their musical skills. All the courses are delivered by top level artists whilst the setting, at Gresham’s School on the outskirts of the Georgian market town of Holt is beautiful. We offer a range of residential options for participants as well as non-resident places for those who live locally or who want to organise their own accommodation. Participants can choose to take up to four courses each day whilst every evening there are at least three concerts to enjoy included in the price of the Summer School. You can find some images of last year’s Summer School, to give a flavour of how it works, here: https://www.mssf.org.uk/archive/. 

We’d be really grateful if you might be willing to share details of the Summer School with members of the Harleston Choral Society and anyone else who you think may be interested. Last year we launched an offer whereby if new people registered for the Summer School and mentioned the name of their ‘home’ choir at the time of registration we in turn made a donation to their choir. I’m delighted that we were able to support Coventry Cathedral Choir, Dulwich Choral Society, the Addison Singers and the Cheltenham Bach Choir due to this initiative. We are pleased to relaunch this scheme for 2025. We will donate £100 to the Harleston Choral Society for every participant who registers for The Music Summer Summer School and Festival by 31st March 2025 who has not previously attended the Summer School and who mentions the Harleston Choral Society on their registration. We will pay any donations due once full payment has been made by the participant at the end of June 2025. To activate this donation, those registering for The Music Summer School and Festival should name their home choir (ie. the Harleston Choral Society) in the comments section of the Registration Form on our website at https://www.mssf.org.uk/ss25/register-booking/. 

WACTON SPRING QUIZ in Wacton Village Hall

As announced the week before last by James, there will be a quiz in Wacton Village Hall on Saturday 1st March starting at 7.00 p.m. Hall Lane, Wacton NR15 2UH.

Hot food included. Cash bar. Funds raised to go towards the Church Restoration Fund. Ticket price £10.00. Book early to avoid disappointment by email: wactonchurch@gmail.com   or by text/ WhatsApp / phone: 07971590565

This is in aid of Wacton Church and would be an excellent way of sharpening your brain cells ready for the Harleston Choral Society Quiz on Saturday 22nd March.

Time and Concord

Time and Concord are two concerts by the new chamber choir “Concordia”, one at Fressingfield Church on Sunday 2nd March at 3.00 p.m. and the same programme on Sunday March 9th at 3.00 p.m. at Wortwell United Reformed Chapel.

Hayden Creation in Framlingham

Come and Sing with the Framlingham Earl Singers. Saturday 15th March Haydn Creation.

Haydn Nelson Mass come and Sing on March 4th

Dear Singers,

You are invited to the third year of Choir of the Earth’s UK tour’s visit to Norwich on Tuesday March 4th  with inspirational conductor Ben England.
We will be revising Haydn’s much loved Nelson Mass for a performance at 4pm, finishing at 5pm. The concert is free for the audience.

Once more we have four excellent soloists.

This time we are singing in the beautiful Ocatagon Chapel, not far from the cathedral and within easy walking distance of the station and city centre.
There is a wide choice of places to eat close by.

The score and rehearsal resources are available for you online.
Dress is informal.

Doors open at 9am and we start at 9.30am.

And a cartoon version of Carmina Burana…..

Can be downloaded here as a printable pdf

Held On Wednesday 29^th January 2025 At The Dell, Billingford, IP21 4HL

1. Apologies for absence: Jenny Hyams, John Awty and Julia Awty.

2. Minutes of last meeting (6^th November 2024):  These were approved.

3. Matters arising: covered by items below.

4. Treasurer’s report (please see attached) 

Main points included:

• The subscriptions for the spring term should reach £3,000
• The forecasted cost of the summer concert is £5,000 with income around £2,000.
• Fundraisers will help.  The quiz last year made over £900, the Bonus Ball, over £550 and there were gift aid receipts of £450.
• The card reader was used for the first time at Christmas and 50% tickets were paid for this way.  It’s also been used for music purchases. 

5. 25^th Anniversary Events

• Lunch 25^th January.  This was a great success.  Members had each brought a plate of food which resulted in a wonderful buffet.  Stella had provided a beautiful cake bearing our anniversary logo. Nathaniel Gee made a speech and Julia read out a speech that Chris had sent as he was unable to attend.  Fiona organised a raffle which raised £142.
• Archives. These were displayed on a table near the stage. They comprised of beautifully curated display boards and 2 folders of posters, programmes and other items of interest from over the years.  They generated a great deal of interest and conversation throughout the afternoon.  
• Quiz. This will be on the 22^nd March 7pm for 7.30pm start.  Fiona will run the raffle and will ask members to bring in prizes on the night or the Monday rehearsal before. 

Heather offered to provide some flyers to go on the seats at rehearsals. They will have Caroline’s contact details and people will be required to book either singly to make up a team or as a ready-made team. 

Julia will make Lasagne and committee members will provide puddings. 

• Summer Concert 

At Harleston Sancroft Academy on 28^th June 7pm with the usual Friday evening and Saturday afternoon rehearsals.  We will be using the main hall and the adjoining cafeteria area where drinks will be served.

Pianos – We are hiring 2 pianos which will arrive on Friday afternoon.

Staging – We will be using the school’s staging.

Parking – There is some parking at the school and nearby streets within walking distance of the school.  The ‘rec’ car park across the road will close at 9.30.

School Choir- There will be a small choir of school pupils singing with us for part of the performance.

Poster design – We will ask if the pupils can make some posters featuring our 25^th Anniversary logo. These can be displayed around the school. Heather will be working with Paul to design our own posters. 

Banner – John F will organise this.  It will hopefully go up on the school railings.

Percussion – We now have a group of percussion players.

Publicity – Advertising will be via social media, local publications, Diss Express, ARTSeast and community newspapers etc.  

Raffle – It had been decided at the Music SC meeting that we would revert to asking voice part members for prizes.  This will comprise of 3 from the Sopranos, 2 from the Altos, 1 from the tenors and 2 from the basses.  

• Christmas Concert 

On 6^th December 7pm Handel’s Messiah

The 3 soloists and orchestra (string quartet and 2 oboes) provisionally booked.

We will be singing Part one.  There had been requests from members that we sing the Hallelujah Chorus as part of the programme.  We agreed this 

should be sung as a stand-alone encore.

Justin has invited choir members to choose 3 favourite carols and the highest-scoring will be sung in the second half.  

6. Making Music Platform

Jo reported that John has received an email to say that our application is progressing.

7. Facebook

Nikki has set up our Facebook page and has posted photos of our Anniversary lunch.  She will keep this up-to-date, adding anything she feels relevant.  She suggested that some of her photos can be put on the website for those that don’t use Facebook.

8. Microphone for announcements and MD

Some members have said that they can’t hear Justin or other announcements.  We are looking into the technicalities of using a microphone.

9. Members’ feedback – There was none.

10.The next meeting will be held on Monday 31^st March at 2pm

Saturday 25th January 2025. St James Village Hall

FRONT OF HOUSE

Throughout the time the Choral Society has been running, it has always been necessary to have a ‘Front of House Team’ for the performances. We are indebted to the many volunteers who have helped with ticket checking and sales at the entrance; selling programmes and raffle tickets. At the interval, selling and serving the refreshments! Now, we include a glass of wine, or soft drink, and a programme in the price of the ticket, a much better idea!

Choir Member Memories CAROL – SOPRANO

The Anne Gee years are particularly well documented in the Archives and are inspiring. It’s amazing that the choir produced three concerts a year at various venues. In 2002 Anne also organised a “Come and Sing the Messiah from Scratch” event at Wingfield Church. The proceeds were donated to a local charity. One can sense the excitement and energy generated by the formation of Harleston Choral Society. There was an audience who appreciated the opportunity to hear choral works in their own community. It is good to know that 25 years later our concerts remain popular and well attended.

Choir Memories RUTH – SOPRANO

I was fortunate enough to have attended the first concert performance of the Harleston Choral
Society and sitting in the audience listening, made me realise how much I had missed singing
with a choir. At the age of ten I joined the church choir of St John the Evangelist, in
Colchester. Under the direction of Mr Harry Pitt, I sang with them until I moved to north
Suffolk in 1975. Here, in Harleston was the opportunity to sing with a choir again! No
auditions…..just come along and sing! I joined in 2001 and have had the privilege of meeting
and working with some extremely talented people and being part of the team, as secretary for
a several years, helping with catering for orchestras and soloists, doing the bonus ball. Being
the Friends secretary for a number of years. Calling on local businesses and trying to sell
advertising to fund publishing the programmes. Above all it has been the joy of singing, at
the beginning of a new season to pick up a score and not even know the first note and then a
performance with orchestra and soloists. Needless to say, there have been the times when
things haven’t gone quite to plan but we won’t mention those. How good we all feel at the
end of the concert of something accomplished! The friendships that have been forged. The
strong health benefits from learning how to breath and stand properly, and it is acknowledged
the mental health improvement gained from singing!

Choir Memories JENNY – SOPRANO

The year 2000 was a very significant year for me: I enrolled at UEA to do a part-time History degree; I started the Patient Participation Group at my local GP practice; and I became one of the original members of Harleston Choral Society. HCS was founded by Anne Gee in January 2000, after a one-day workshop in Wensum Lodge in Norwich, when she managed to get us to sing Vivaldi’s Gloria in one day ! Anne, who died in 2010, strongly believed in teaching people to sing, especially those who were unaware that they could actually sing. She was a pioneer of this approach to teaching and encouraging amateur choirs, which she called “singing for those who can’t”. But for Anne’s vision and enthusiasm Harleston Choral Society would not exist today, and you would not be able to enjoy the experience of live choral music in Harleston.

Choir Memories Pat Soprano

With a certain amount of intrepidation, off I went to Harleston. It seemed when I arrived at the primary school there were quite a few other people who felt the same way. I had seen a poster in the garage in Fressingfield, inviting anyone who wanted to join a choir to go along and sing the ‘Messiah’. I was familiar with the piece because it was one of my father’s favourites. I had never sung it before, but I thought “What an opportunity – shall I have a go?” We filed into the hall of the school and Anne Gee greeted each one of us. At a table, a lady was taking names and which voice we would feel comfortable singing. Then we shown where our section would be and then we took our seats. Once everyone had been booked in, Anne had a unique way of getting us relaxed and into the mood to sing. We all stood up and turned to our left, so we were looking at the back of the next person. She told us to close our eyes and then imagine ourselves on a lovely warm sunny, sandy beach with the sea lapping at our feet, holding a glass of a lovely long cool drink! You could almost taste it! We then came back to reality and began singing ‘Messiah’. Halfway through the evening we had a break, when two ladies offered us, tea, coffee or a cold drink. They actually made the tea in the school office kitchen, in a teapot of course, all in 20 minutes. At the end of our practice. Anne would thank Jenny, our accompanist on the piano, and we would give them both a rousing applause. We still do that to this day. I really enjoy those two hours a week singing with other people and I have met some lovely people over the years. I have to say the pieces that have really become my favourites are ‘Messiah’, ‘The Creation’, and ‘Elijah’. Amongst all the other works we have sung, I even braved it one year and sang a small solo in ‘Dido and Aneaus’! Singing pieces in Latin was quite a challenge, nothing phases us now though, we may not always know what all the words mean, but as long as the music and singing is enjoyed by our audiences, that’s what matters I have missed a few concerts through illness, but through all the years, I still keep coming back.

TIME LINE OF PERFORMANCES

FROM 2012 TO PRESENT

JULY 2023:

Summer Concert – Haydn: ’Stabat Mater’ and a selection of Mozart opera arias, choruses and

ensembles, and – as a tribute to our new King – Handel:  ’Zadok the Priest’

DECEMBER 2022:

Christmas Concert – Ronald Corp: ’A Christmas Mass’, Christmas carols

JUNE 2022:

Summer Concert – Fauré: ‘Requiem’ and solo pieces

DECEMBER 2021:

Christmas Concert – Excerpts from the ‘Messiah’, carols and choral classics.

DECEMBER 2019:

Christmas Concert – Chilcott’s: ‘Twelve Days of Christmas”’ and ‘Behold that Star’ and Vaughn

Williams: ‘The First Nowell’

SUMMER CONCERT 2019:

An Evening with Henry Purcell. Purcell: Dido and Aeneas; three anthems (‘Thou knowest Lord

the secrets of our hearts’; ‘Remember not Lord our offences’; I was glad) and ‘O Sing unto the

Lord’.

CHRISTMAS CONCERT 2018: ’Blessed be that Babe’. Handel: ’Messiah’ [part 1],

Telemann: ’German Magnificat’.

SUMMER CONCERT 2018:

Rossini: ‘Petite Messe Solennelle’

CHRISTMAS CONCERT 2017:

Bach: ’Orchestral Suite No 4 in D Major’, and Bach: ’Christmas Oratorio’

SUMMER CONCERT 2017:

Mozart: ’Requiem’ and Haydn: ‘Maria Theresa Mass’

CHRISTMAS CONCERT 2016:

Vivaldi: ’Gloria’, Faure: ’Cantique de Jean Racine’, ‘The Shepherds’ Farewell’ from

Berlioz: ‘L’Enfance du Christ‘, Franck: ’Panis angelicus’ and carols

SUMMER CONCERT 2016:

Bach: ’St John Passion’

CHRISTMAS CONCERT 2015:

Handel: ’Messiah’

SUMMER CONCERT 2015:

Brahms: ’Requiem’

21 JUNE 2014:

Haydn: ‘The Creation’

29 JUNE 2013:

Mendelssohn: ‘Elijah’

16 JUNE 2012:

Handel: ‘Zadok the Priest’, Vivaldi: ‘Gloria’, Vaughan Williams: ‘The Old Hundreth Psalm

Tune’, and Mozart: ‘Coronation Mass’

<p><strong>FIONA– ALTO</strong></p>
<p>
Fiona Bartlett is a Founder Member of Harleston Choral Society (HCS).	She joined the Choir
for its First Rehearsal in January 2000.	This was at Canon Pickering Junior School which was
later called Harleston Primary School and is now Harleston Sancroft Academy Primary
Phase.	There were a lot of members who joined on the first night and some are still
members 25 years later.
Fiona has seen a lot of members coming and going for various reasons including the
deceased of the Membership.	In Fiona’s time at HCS there have been 7 Music Directors and
6 Accompanists. There have been lots of works by different composers throughout Fiona’s
years with HCS but her favourite year was when we did 2 concerts when Stella Brownsea
took the choir on for a year.	The choir did a Gilbert and Sullivan Evening for the Summer
Concert.	This was excerpts from G&S operas, and Trial By Jury was performed by the Choir
as the Chorus, and several Singers that Stella knew from Music Societies she worked with
doing the principal parts.	For the Christmas Concert with Stella the Choir did St Cecilia
Mass by Charles Gounod, and Carols sung by the Choir and Audience accompanied by an
amateur Orchestra made up of Players from Societies Stella worked with.</p>

Click here for a printable pdf file

Here are some learning aids from Justin for Carmina Burana including a pronunciation guide which is available here as a printable pdf file.

There is a lot on YouTube. The link here will take you to a list of voice parts on YouTube.

Can be downloaded here as a printable PDF file.

Held on Wednesday 6^th November 2024

1. Apologies for absence:  Jenny Hyams and Amanda Fletcher

2. Minutes of last meeting (23^rd September 2024): these were approved.

3. Matters arising: 

• Stella has confirmed the booking for the concert with the school for 28^th June 2025.
• The Archives Sub-committee now includes some of the founder members of the choir (please see attached list) and has begun work on the displays.
• We have chosen a logo for all anniversary publicity.
• Nikki is going to set up a Facebook page and we agreed that there needs to be some discussion about member’s privacy.  She will use this to post various information such as rehearsal schedules.
• Stella is going to speak to Paul Morgan regarding the photos from the last concert so that these can be used on the website.
• Julia will compile a list of possible dishes to bring to the January lunch after Christmas when people have more time to decide.

4. Treasurer’s report (See attached) main points were:

• The subscription income of £2,915, the highest amount ever to be collected in one term.  We have 64 members with 40 people supporting gift aid.
• The quiz in the spring will be a good fundraiser as well as the Bonus Ball which raised £550.
• All of the above will help with our big concert next year.

5. Christmas 2024 Concert

• John F reported that the banner has been done and he now just has to ask permission from the church to put it up.
• The posters and tickets are done and ready to be distributed.   John A said he could send out a pdf version for members to send to friends.
• There will be a raffle.
• We now have all the musicians, including Tony who will play the flute.
• Stella and Julia have been to the Dove Inn at Alburgh and have booked it for our after-concert coffee morning.

Front of House

• We will offer wine or a soft drink in the price of the ticket but, this year, we will use larger cups as the smaller ones didn’t safely hold a proper measure!
• Heather suggested getting a card reader for on-the-door ticket payments.  These are linked to PayPal and the choir business account and are as cheap as £29. We agreed this would be a good idea and hope to have it in place for the Christmas concert alongside cash payments. It can also be used for other events.

6. 25th Anniversary events

      January lunch

• Julia will compile the list of dish suggestions in the new year.
• Fiona has been to the party shop in Harleston and they can do personalised items such as banners, balloons, napkins and paper plates.  As there are plates at the hall and napkins can be bought more cheaply in Asda, we agreed to stick with the banners and balloons.  Fiona will order these at the end of the month.  Nikki also suggested helium sculptures for the food table.
• Partners will be invited.  There is a legal limit of 100-seated people but we agreed that many people would be standing or walking around.
• People will bring their own drinks.
• We discussed the possibility of having a ‘sing-song’ and Caroline knows someone who could provide a keyboard for this.  We agreed that this would need to include well-known music to avoid people feeling uncomfortable.

Archives

• It was thought the display boards could go up at the party, at the summer concert and the Christmas concert.  John F suggested showing them at the first rehearsal after the party for those that did not attend.  He also suggested an ongoing display of the archives (in folders) at occasions such as the first rehearsal of the term for new members.

Summer Concert

• There was much discussion about the logistics for this and it was decided that there would be a Music SC meeting in January to discuss arrangements in more detail.
• It had been suggested that we ask senior pupils from Harleston Sancroft Academy to help with FOH as they know about the layout.
• John F has spoken to South Norfolk council regarding grants and Stella said that SNC have been offering grants of £1000 for local events which may be relevant as we are working with the school.

7. Making Music Platform

• We have applied for this online organisational tool that can be used alongside our website.  https://www.makingmusic.org.uk/mm-platform 
• We discussed the need to inform choir members that we are handing over their information to a 3^rd party and that we need to get reassurance from MM that this information is secure and complies with our GDP policy.

8. Feedback from SCs (see attached reports from the Archives and Publicity SCs)

• The Archives SC is meeting again on the 3^rd December.
• The Publicity SC hope to meet again before the end of November.
• No other SCs have met since the last committee meeting.

9. Members’ feedback

• It was agreed that members know who their reps are as they had been introduced at the AGM.
• John A reported receiving very positive feedback from new members who said they found us to be very friendly.

    10. AOB

   Rehearsals next year

• Justin has said there will be rehearsals for all bank holidays leading up to the concert with the exception of Easter Monday.

    11.  Date and time of next meeting.

Wednesday 29^th January 2025 2pm 

Financial Report

The autumn term subscription income is £2,915 which is the highest amount of subs ever collected in one term to date, beating the previous highest in the spring.   There are currently 64 people in the choir and we think that some not here this term will be back for the spring and summer, so this is really good news for the choir finances, as well as for the continuing enjoyment of singing in a large choir.  As we all know all costs have increased and so this income is vital for us to remain in a strong financial position to be able to fund future concerts etc.   Additionally there are currently over 40 people supporting gift aid which gave us extra income this term of £450.

The quiz night which will be held in the spring should be an excellent fundraiser as it was in March this year earning a net income of over £900..  With the bonus ball income of over £550 this is all a major contribution from the choir members.

The expenditure for the upcoming concert in December will be in the region of £2,800.   Income probably will be around £1,200.   So this is a deficit which is always the case at our concerts.   However, the extra income mentioned above supports the concerts and this makes a major difference.   With a large choir and with it the income it generates we are in a strong position to afford a larger than normal concert as we will be doing in June 2025.  We still need to establish the costs of musicians and soloists and the cost of instruments, but this needs to be decided in the next couple of months.   I am certain that we will cope with these costs pretty well.

Malcolm Butcher

Treasurer

Report from Archive Sub-Committee meeting, 22^nd October

Present at the meeting were: Fiona Bartlett, Ruth Cawcutt, Jo Curry, Jenny Hyams and Pat Thompson.  Apologies for absence from Amanda Fletcher.

It was decided that the Archive Sub-Committee’s remit was to collect and organise information and artefacts for display boards to be on display at the major events celebrating the 25^th anniversary of HCS next year, viz the get together on 25^th January at St James, the Carmina Burana concert at Archbishop Sancroft on 28^th June and the Christmas concert on 6^th December.   If possible, it would also be nice to have them at our London Road Church practice venue at some point but this will need investigating.  It was noted that we will need to get permission from these venues to put up the display boards.  Some of the material gathered could also feature on our website.

A list was made of all the aspects of the choir’s history which would be needed and members of the committee volunteered to research and compile information.

John Formston has very kindly offered to supply us with the boards and Linda Barden, who cannot at present attend choir, has offered to help mount the displays.  She has a lot of experience in this field and we are very grateful for her help. The question of where to store the display boards is being investigated.  Carol Hammond has kindly offered to take charge of the Archive File and to rationalise it.

Thanks to Carol for hosting us.

Our next meeting to monitor progress will be Tuesday 3^rd December at Ruth Cawcutt’s house.

Jo Curry 

23^rd October 2024

Publicity sub committee report for Committee meeting 6 December 2024

• copy continues to be sent to the parish magazines etc at the beginning of each month for their next editions 
• website updated regularly (and many thanks to Paul, who is currently in Canada) 
• Heather has created a brilliant poster for the Christmas Concert, plus tickets, all of which will be available for distribution from Monday 4^th
• Malcolm has taken tickets and a float to HIP
• ARTSeast:  Sarah Veness, Editor of the free Arts magazine for the Eastern Region, is putting copy in the November issue about our Christmas concert, with the pic below – Heather’s Christmas concert poster wasn’t available to meet their copy deadline.

• John F has the banner in hand for our Christmas Concert 
• Jenny starts work on the programme this weekend
• we need to have a meeting about publicity for our 25^th anniversary (and also to consider the overlaps with the Archives sub committee/Jo), before the end of November.  Jenny will send out possible dates in the next week.

Jenny Hyams

3 November 2024

Archives Sub Committee

Jo Curry

Jenny Hyams

Fiona Bartlett

Ruth Cawcutt

Carol Hammond

Pat Thompson

Amanda Fletcher

.

HARLESTON CHORAL SOCIETY
Held on Monday 7 th October 2024
at 8.15pm in The Church on London Road, Harleston

Stella welcomed Justin, Karen and choir members and declared the meeting open

1. Apologies for absence
   Apologies were received from Jo Curry, Philip Hall, Lynda Bradley, Alison
   Dumbell, Anne Pickstock, Felicity Todd, Robyn Challis and Lou Townsend.
2. Minutes of the last AGM (held on Monday 9 th October 2023)
   The minutes were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.
3. Report by Music Director
   Justin delivered his report (see attached). This was proposed by Caroline
   Rodbourne and seconded by Ivan Tammas.
4. Report by Chair
   Stella delivered her report (see attached). This was proposed by Nikki
   Wilkins and seconded by Jenny Hyams.
5. Report by Treasurer
   Malcolm delivered his report (see attached). This was proposed by John
   Formston and seconded by Julia Awty.
   He had also brought along copies of the annual accounts for choir
   members that wanted them and these will be filed with his report.
6. Appointment of Auditor
   Mr Robin Farrar was, again, appointed as Auditor for the year.
7. Election of Committee members for the year 2024/25
   Jo Curry, Amanda Fletcher, Fiona Bartlett and Heather Butcher were all
   due for re-election this year and have all agreed to stand again. This was
   proposed by Tony Pringsheim and seconded by Tom Crisp.
   This left one vacancy and Nikki Wilkins, who was co-opted earlier in the
   year to deputise for Malcolm, as Treasurer, was proposed by Malcolm
   Butcher and seconded by Julia Awty. Heather Butcher had volunteered to
   stand down if anyone else wanted to join but there were no further
   nominations.
   It was proposed by Ruth Cawcutt and seconded by Ivan Tammas, that
   John Awty, who has been acting as Membership Secretary, be elected permanently in this position.

Stella had announced in her report that she is standing down as Chair.
Caroline Rodbourne and Jo Curry were proposed by Tony Pringsheim and
seconded by Ruth Cawcutt, as Chair and Vice Chair respectively (for the
purposes of the constitution), although, in practice, they will share this
position equally.
Stella encouraged people to join the committee and invited them to come
to a meeting if they wanted to see how we work. She also told them about
the various sub-committees and explained that members are welcome to
join any of these without being on the main committee.
Stella declared the meeting closed
Date of next AGM: Autumn term 2025

TREASURERS REPORT

Income and Expenditure Report downloadable here
We commenced the year with a membership of 60 and during the year we
have kept the numbers of choir members at the same level which is an
indication of the strength and success of the choir and the enjoyment of
taking part in a thriving team.
The income from subscriptions in the year was £7,720, an increase of
£1,300 on the previous year.. In addition to that we raised a further
£1,249 from Gift aid, and a further £917 from the Quiz night. Also, we
have increased the earnings from the bonus ball to £550. Thank you
Fiona for continuing to manage this and thank you all for your
contributions to all of these fundraising incomes which are vital to
provide the necessary support to the choir.
The cost of the hire of the London Road Church was up by £120 this year
to £1,539.
The library costs in the year are considerably less than the previous year,
at a net figure of £1,096 which is £239 less than last year and this is
because some choir members have purchased their own copies.

Concert income from the two concerts was £3,254 and the costs
amounted to £5,560.. This is fairly consistent as we have not had large
orchestra numbers, but obviously if we do then the costs will multiply
while the income does not increase very much because the audience
number that we can fit into the church is restricted. Also, if we charge too
much then fewer people may attend. However, the income from the
December concert, Vivaldi’s Gloria, was the highest we have ever had.
Probably the most significant cost in the year is that we had to purchase a
new digital piano, because the old one decided enough was enough. This
cost was £1,139. Also, regrettably, the workshop that we planned had to
be cancelled due to a lack of interest. We will have to reconsider what we
do in the future.
Apart from increased rent, all costs are steadily increasing. The fees for
our Music Director and Accompanist have risen, quite rightly, and
although we have been fortunate to acquire talented soloists and
musicians at fairly lowish costs, there is ongoing pressure for their fees to
be increased. So, this will put further pressure on our income.
Subscription costs rose from £40 to £45 in the year and I know some of
you are paying £50, which is very generous.
We have two concerts ahead of us in the next 12 months and the costs of
these will test the resources, both of the management and the finance. The
concerts I am sure will be very enjoyable and challenging. There will
always be changes in the circumstances in the year and these need to be
managed by everybody.
I hope we have a very successful year both musically and financially.
Malcolm Butcher – Treasurer

MUSIC DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Another year has flown by – a year packed with musical achievements
and triumphs for the society. Casting our minds back to December 2023,
we delivered a blistering version of Vivaldi’s Gloria which rightly
received rapturous applause. Other highlights included Stella doing
sterling work on percussion in “Do you hear what I hear?” ,Tony on flute
and my thanks to Ivan, Brenda and Fiona-Catherine for their solos within
the concert. Audience numbers were up and I think the general feeling
was a wonderful evening all round.
The choir worked very hard during the spring and summer months on the
double bill of Saint-Saens Requiem and Dvorak Mass in D. I know some
of the choir found the music challenging at times but come June, and
even with a sizable number unwell on the night, the choir delivered
singing of high quality combined with commitment and confidence. The
reception at the end – including cheering, was testament to all your hard
work and I thank you so much for this. We were very fortunate to have
our quartet of soloists back for this and they are all returning this
Christmas for the Haydn Missa Sancti Nicolai.
I’d like to thank Karen for her humour and unswerving determination to
make rehearsals fun and informative. I would also like to thank John
Witchell for stepping in and playing the rehearsals Karen was unable to
do earlier in the year. The choir is growing in number and quality, which
brings me neatly on to my next point….
So, 2025 is the 25th anniversary of the formation of Harleston Choral Society. As you already know we will begin the year’s
celebrations with an event towards the end of January. But what about the
music we will be singing next year? Well I can now reveal the concert in
June is going to be Carl Orff’s masterpiece Carmina Burana. I used to
sing this every year in the children’s choir and it was the piece that started
my parent’s interest in “Classical music” so it’s very dear to my heart. The
piece is epic, bonkers but a lot of fun to perform.
Christmas 2025 we will be performing Messiah part 1. The Messiah was
the first full length work performed by HCS so it seems very appropriate.
As this anniversary belongs to all of you – I would like you all to get
involved in choosing the numbers in the second half of the concert. If
everyone in the choir sends in their 3 favourite pieces, I will collate them
and the most popular will be included! Details on voting will follow in
due course.
It only remains for me to say a big thank you to our ever hard working
committee, without whom the society simply couldn’t exist and a VERY
big thank you to Stella who has steadied the ship this year and provided
me and the committee with invaluable help, support and advice.
Thank you all so much for making Harleston Choral Society what it is
today – fun, committed and boy do we pull it out of the hat come
performance day!

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
It is with pride and great achievement we can look back on the
year just gone. We have continued to develop all the different
areas of the choir renewed after Covid – membership numbers,
musicality and most important of all friendship.
The year started with our Christmas concert under the direction of
Justin – Vivaldi’s “Gloria” with old friends Jo Westaway and
Joanna Gamble joining us for the evening. The rest of the
programme contained so many lovely items both known and
unknown. (Berlioz, Rutter, Whitaker, Holst to name a few.)
The new venture of the previous year – hampers for the raffle –
was repeated, making another substantial profit.
Quiz night held its usual position in March. Such a well attended
evening. Thank you to John Formston for the even more frustrating
questions, to Fiona for the raffle and to Julia and her team for the
exquisite food.
Our Summer concert at the end of June really tested all our brains,
memory and ability to connect sight to sound. Part I was Dvorak’s
Mass in D Major and Part 2 Saint-Saens’ Requiem. A few weeks
beforehand our much loved friend and Membership Secretary
Joanna had died and everyone agreed we should dedicate the
concert to her memory. Her husband Paul was overjoyed at this
decision. He attended the concert and told me afterwards she
would have loved the music.
Our Garden party was held in July, lovely weather, quizzes and
finger food. What more could we want. A further development this
year was a quiz to identify trees and plants around the garden.
Thank you to Caroline for hosting and to members who brought
food.
Our projected workshop planned for August unfortunately had to
be cancelled due to lack of numbers. Difficult decisions had to be
made at the last minute before money was spent. Thank you to
Amanda for dealing with all the contacting of prospective
attendees.
Also, as you have already heard from Justin about next year’s

work we are involving the High School with singing and hosting the
event. Contact is now very much in hand and several of the
committee have paid fruitful visits.
All this doesn’t happen, as you realise (or perhaps not) without a
great deal of hard work behind the scenes. First of all, thank you to
the Committee as a whole for their support and willingness to help
whenever there is a challenge. Justin had commented to me
earlier this year he had never worked with such a pro-active
committee. Thank you to Amanda for all her organisation and
minute taking. Thank you to John Awty for all his hard work as
Assistant Membership Secretary, sending out reminders for
everything from Schedules to dress code. My grateful thanks to
Julia for all her amazing work as librarian (and to Fiona and
Sharon who have helped her on handout days) It is important that
you listen to her requests and abide by them. Thank you to them
both for lending a listening ear when I needed it. A very big thank
you to Malcolm for his continued, amazing management of the
Society’s money and to Nicky for agreeing to help in that area.
Thank you to Heather for all her work devising the programmes
and posters, to Jenny and her team for dealing with publicity, to Jo
for all her work behind the scenes, to Caroline for being so
generous with her house, garden and time and to John Formston
for quizzes and banners.
Thank you to Fiona for all her help with bonus ball and raffles.
Thank you to Justin for all his encouragement, and hard work over
the last year. He has introduced us to such wonderful music we
didn’t know existed. And thank you to Karen for all her hard work
over what has been a very difficult period for her.
Last year we initiated Sub-committees to help with the working of
the Society and cut down on the length of the main meetings.
These are Archives, Publicity, Music, Social, Workshop. Please
consider joining one of them to learn what goes on and bring your
expertise to the Society.
Finally, I did say last year I was stepping down. Circumstances
slightly changed within the Committee but this year I do mean it
and the Committee have accepted my decision.
However, next year will be an amazing time, much to celebrate
and giving and experiencing the joy of singing.

Stella Brownsea
7 th October 2024

Downloadable here as a Word document

Tuesday 6^th August 2024

Present:  Stella Brownsea, Fiona Bartlett, John Formston, Jo Curry, Malcolm Butcher, Heather Butcher, John Awty, Julia Awty, Caroline Rodbourne, Jenny Hyams

In attendance:  Justin Bindley

Apologies for absence:  Amanda Fletcher

1. Matters arising from the last meeting

Music donation

Stella had reported that we had been offered a collection of music from an HCS supported in Long Stratton.  Julia confirmed that this has now been collected and will be stored at her house, along with other donated music, including that from Joanna.  This will all eventually be catalogued.

2. Treasurer’s Report 

The Committee thanked Malcolm for his report, which overall showed that a healthy bank balance has been maintained.  He will do a full financial report for the AGM on 7 October.  Malcolm and the Committee congratulated Fiona for achieving the best Bonus Ball income ever, at £550.00 for the year.  Fiona explained that she will not be doing the Bonus Ball on the first Monday of the new term, but will pick this up on 9 September.

3. Music Director’s Report 

The Committee thanked Justin for his report.  John A reported that he had received several emails after the concert, one saying that it was the best amateur performance of the music they had ever heard.  Justin said that there were professional singers in the audience who endorsed this, including singers involved with setting up a choir in Fressingfield.

4. Feedback/reports from Sub Committees

1. Music Sub Committee – main points

• Workshop weekend:  it was reluctantly agreed that despite all the publicity, direct contact with last year’s attendees, canvassing at the Garden Party, and numerous emails from John A, the low number of people who had booked did not make this year’s workshop financially viable.  Various options were discussed, including a further possible email to all members, and scrapping the Saturday morning session, but in view of the limited timescale, and the possible loss of £400 overall, there seemed to be little option but to cancel.  Malcolm pointed out that in 2023, £700 was taken for the workshop which 40-50 people attended.  Justin expressed his disappointment at this turn of events and the Committee thanked him and Karen for all his and Karen’s hard work preparing for the workshop.

• Christmas concert:  Julia reported that the choir now knows the running order. She has collected the music, though not ‘Bethlehem’ which will be photocopied.  

• Rehearsal attendance: Justin reiterated his concern about the extent of absenteeism last term.  It was agreed that John A will send out an email to all members at the beginning of the new term, asking them to notify him of all rehearsal absences, whether planned or unexpected, and to confirm their availability for the concert.

• Hiring out HCS catalogue: Julia reported that 55 copies of the Ronald Corp “Christmas Mass” have been hired out to Wymondham Choral Society for the sum of £68.75 

• Carol Service in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind: Stella had been approached by the charity’s local fundraiser asking if we could sing at a “Celebration of Christmas” at St. Nicholas Church, Diss, in 2025, which would consist of choir-only numbers and to support the congregation/audience.  Justin pointed out that Christmas is the busiest time of year for himself and Karen and he is reluctant to commit to it.

• Sectional rehearsals: These have proven to be extremely useful and should be encouraged to continue.  Basses and altos have met at members’ houses; sopranos and tenors have held short sectional rehearsals prior to the main Monday evening rehearsals.  It was also thought that, as they are such a large section, Justin’s involvement with the sopranos would be very helpful.

2. Publicity Sub Committee – main points

• New outlet: Sarah Veness, Editor of ArtsEast, has agreed to put copy and a photo re our Christmas Concert 2024 in the Autumn issue; there will probably be an opportunity to publicise our future concerts too

• HCS website: After Joanna’s death, Paul said that he would continue maintaining the website, for which we are very grateful.  Immediate updates were sent to him re the Summer Concert, and then further updates re the August Workshop.  Jenny will continue to send him updates as and when necessary

• Basil Abbott: Jenny reported that Basil has now reviewed our last three concerts and these reviews have been posted on the HCS website, but not in the Diss Express, which used to be where his reviews appeared.  As he said in an email after our Summer Concert, ‘Nothing in the Diss Express, Jenny, even though I put a note in saying how much the reviews mean to local groups. I feel bad that I am accepting free tickets from you, but you get nothing in return . . . I can still put reviews on social media, which has greater coverage than the circulation of the newspaper, but it is not the same. You can decide whether you want me to continue writing something about your concerts’. Jenny will assure Basil that we are happy for him to post reviews on social media and that the free tickets are a small price to pay.  She will also contact Diss Express to seek an assurance that future press releases will be published.

3. Social Sub Committee

Caroline thanked everyone who had helped at and/or sent food to the Summer Garden Party which had been a huge success.  The Committee thanked Caroline for hosting such a lovely event.

5. 25^th Anniversary

There was considerable discussion about the 25^th Anniversary concert (summer 2025) as well as possible celebratory events throughout the year, leading up to the Christmas concert 2025.  Ideas will be further developed at the next meeting.

6. AGM 

There was a discussion about who is due for re-election onto the committee this year and other changes.  Details will be confirmed on the agenda for the AGM on the 7^th October.

7. Choir members’ feedback

To be carried forward to the next meeting due to lack of time.

8. Date and time of next meeting

TBC

Signed ………………………………… Date ………………………………

Printable Word file here.