The concert was a delight to attend and with which to be involved.

However, the venue – the ‘New Music Room’ and part of Rugby School – was in need of a vigorous tidy before we could begin our pre-concert rehearsal. A useful performance room with tiered seating, left in disarray at the end of a working week. Such a pity.

Not enough to thwart us though. Rehearsals complete, the RMU audience began to arrive early, as they always do. The programme started promptly at 7.30pm with three young singers who each sang three songs, by a diverse collection of composers to include Head, Stanford, Blake, Dunhill, Lotti and Reger. One of the singers in particular reminded me of myself at that age; her voice was I thought most interesting and promising, with its clear, pretty tone, good diction and perfect musical delivery, if rather shyly given.

Just before the interval we were treated to a complete contrast by way of an early Burns Night celebration with Quigley’s Favourites, a local folk band. Their infectious enthusiasm and spontaneity got feet tapping and people smiling. Lovely to see a group of people so well used to playing together and having fun.

During the interval, my singing colleagues Ruth Hanson, Bill Griffiths and Henry Herford and I got ready for our performance of the Brahms Liebeslieder. It had been decided that we should dress UP rather than DOWN for this performance, to give an air of the romance of the period. We looked a treat, complete with tails for the men, feather boas and even a fascinator for the women. The piece went well, with Rosemary Robinson and Jo Foote providing a very competent four-hand delivery of the rich and luscious piano accompaniment.

Brahms wrote such beautiful, glorious music – but such a hard sing, as was generally agreed.

There is to be another wonderful weekend of music, open to all interested singers, on Saturday February 25th & Sunday 26th at Nottingham Trent University, led by Director of Music, Matthew Hopkins.

This time it is the fabulous Faure Requiem that will be echoing down the corridoors of the Arkwright Building and I will be singing the soprano solo, the much loved Pie Jesu.

If you are interested in taking part in this Come and Sing event, just follow the link for all the details.

The Rugby Musical Union gives it’s 1737th concert on Saturday 21st January at Rugby School and as a member I have been asked to sing soprano in a performance of the Brahms Liebeslieder Op.52, with Ruth Hansford (Mezzo) William Griffiths (Tenor) and Henry Herford (Baritone)

The Rugby Musical Union was founded in 1895 for gentlemen living in the Rugby area to meet and arrange concerts by members for members. Since its inception it has held 15 concerts per year and in May 2009 held its 1700th concert. There is an annual subscription of £15 which permits a member to attend all concerts accompanied by a named Associate, usually a spouse. Concerts are held mainly in the Chapel, the Memorial Chapel, the Temple Speech Room and the New Music Room of Rugby School, the Alexander Youngman Music Centre at Rugby High School for Girls and the Lawrence Sheriff School. All take place on Saturday evenings starting at 7.30pm and there is always a coffee interval. After the second world war ladies were permitted to join and now are as active in arranging concerts and playing in them as are gentlemen, and in nominating an Associate. Although in the early days all music was performed by members, today musicians young and old are invited to join playing members to take part in Chamber and Vocal music, and members’ children also take part. For more details or to join, contact the Secretary, Stephen Robinson on: 01788 567613.

NEWS UPDATE: The next Women’s Chorus’ meeting will be on Tuesday January 10th 2012 at Friend’s Meeting House, 28 Regent Place, Rugby, CV21 2PN from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. I am always keen to hear from ladies who might be interested in joining us, so please do get in touch if you feel tempted. The Women’s Chorus is open to all female voices, irrespective of previous vocal experience. You will be most welcome.
FURTHER DATES for the NEW YEAR are as follows: January 24th, February 28th, March 13th and will all be held at the usual venue, 28 Regent Place, Rugby.

Ladies, the next scheduled Women’s Chorus rehearsal will be on Tuesday 13th December from 7.30pm until 9.30pm at the Friend’s Meeting House, 28 REGENT PLACE, RUGBY CV21 2PN.

There has been quite a lot of activity online with articles to do with the art of singing, all very pertinent and dear to my heart. For instance, have you been following the wonderful story of Gareth Malone and the Military Wives ladies’ choir? I’ve been reading them with interest during the past two weeks and posting about them on Facebook.

Stirring stuff indeed. I’m really pleased that the media attention is resulting is a genuine renewed interest and curiosity in singing.

I hope you might follow the links above and read the content. Just think what might become of the Women’s Chorus! Please remember, new members are always welcome!

email me here

Ladies, the next scheduled Women’s Chorus rehearsal will be on Tuesday 29th November from 7.30pm until 9.30pm at the Friend’s Meeting House, 28 REGENT PLACE, RUGBY CV21 2PN.
New members are always welcome; please do contact me for more details about how to join the throng!

Future rehearsal date before Christmas: 13 December.

I’ve been asked to sing the soprano solos in the Rutter Requiem this weekend, 22/23 October 2011 as part of the Come and Sing Weekend led by Director of Music at Nottingham Trent University, Matthew Hopkins. Singers of any age are welcome to take part if they so wish. Fancy coming along? Click the link above for full details.

My apologies to interested singers who might be confused by recent changes to arrangements!

I am very pleased to be able to report that the first session for the Women’s Chorus has now been moved forward to Saturday November 5th. Updated details can be found on the Women’s Chorus page.

If you have any questions about Women’s Chorus I’d be very happy to answer them – just send me an email, and I’ll get back to you.

Be on the lookout for this newly placed advertisement in the September 2011 issue of ‘The Rugby Register’ arriving shortly through local letterboxes!

What a fabulous setting!

400 Rugby school children delighted their audiences with their wonderful singing in three concerts held over two days at the prestigious Temple Speech Rooms in Rugby. To see so many children so happily engaged in singing together was a sight to behold and SO good for the soul!

Let’s have MORE of this.