Information For Members

Celebration Lunch 26th October…

On Saturday 26th October a lovely event was enjoyed by all. The sun shone as we looked out across the beautiful Cranborne Chase from Horton Village Hall, and tucked into a delicious ‘bring and share’ lunch.
Current choir members were joined by former members and friends, as well as some of our regular accompanying musicians and soloists, to celebrate 47 years with Christopher Dowie at the helm of our choir, as he approaches his retirement. We also took the opportunity to mark the end of Marion Brown’s long and brilliant tenure as Chair of the Society.
Between the courses, tributes and thanks were offered, presents were given and memories shared. Finally, we cut (and consumed!) the lovely cake made specially for the occasion.

Thanks to Liz and Diana for the photos - see below for a selection.



Notes from Chris (originally sent by e-mail 16 Sept 2024) …

Subject: Auditions and AGM
Good morning everyone. We have made an excellent start to this term and it has been good to see a good number at the two rehearsals we have had so far. It is also good to see a number of returning members, some of which have been away from the fold for quite a while. Welcome back!

Three things:-

      1. A reminder that we are auditioning three would-be Directors this coming Thursday (19^th). Please be seated by 19h15 so that we can start promptly at 19h30. The candidates will have 30 minutes each so we can’t afford to lose any time.

      2. This coming Saturday (21^st) is our Workshop Day at St.Nicholas Church, Corfe Mullen – 30 Wareham Road, Corfe Mullen, WIMBORNE, Dorset. BH21 3LE

Here’s the timetable:-

      9.30am – 10.00am Registration

      10.00–11.15 am : Session I

      11.15am–11.45am : Coffee/Tea and biscuits

      11.45am–1.00pm  : Session II

      1.00pm–2.15pm    : Lunch (not provided)

      2.15pm–4.00pm :  Session III

      4.00pm–4.30pm    : Coffee/Tea and biscuits

     4.30pm–5.30pm :   Final Sing Through

Marion has asked me to remind you to bring your lunch and perhaps a cake or sausage rolls or something for the afternoon Tea. Also, please make sure that you have told your voice Rep that you are coming – You’ll all be there of course – a great opportunity to get inside the piece and we need all the rehearsal time we can get for it!

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3. The AGM is on Thursday 26^th September at St.Catherine’s Church, Wimborne – 4, Lewens Lane, WIMBORNE, Dorset. BH21 1LE

A reminder that the meeting is timed as 7 o’clock for 7.30

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Please find attached “Come and Sing” Poster and Recruitment Poster – It is still not too late for people to come next Saturday so do encourage all your friends. Likewise let’s get a great audience for my Swan Song! I will send you a poster for that when they are available.

Christopher Dowie : 16.09.24

Notes from Marion (originally sent by e-mail 2 Sept 2024) …
Hello Everyone!
Welcome back to a new and exciting term.

Formalities first:
                                                    WIMBORNE CHORAL SOCIETY AGM
                                                                      26^th September 2024
                                                              St Catherine’s Church   7.00pm     
You are all cordially invited to attend WCS’s Annual General Meeting on 26^th September at 7.00pm
This is a very important meeting, especially so this year, and I very much hope that all of you will attend.
If, for any reason, you are unable to be there, please give your apologies to your Voice Representative.

I shall shorty be sending you copies of the Agenda, the Minutes of the AGM 2023, and the Treasurer’s Report for 2023/24
Just to remind you, we hold our AGM at St Catherine’s because we have a raffle, which is not permitted in the Methodist Church if it involves alcohol, and our raffles usually do. Contributions will be gratefully received, but please bring them on the night, not before.
This will be my last AGM as Chairman of WCS, and I shall be standing down after 20 years in the role, although I shall continue as Librarian for the time being.
This term will be one of firsts and finals. It is Chris’s final term as our Musical Director and we all know what a loss that will be to the choir, but is also when we will appoint our new MD. The Auditions for the post will take part on 19^th September, our third rehearsal of the term, and I hope that everyone will be there. While you will not actually be voting, you will have the opportunity to record your preferences at the end of the evening and taking these into account, the final decision will be made by the Sub Committee who selected and interviewed the candidates, and who will let you, and the successful candidate, know the result as soon as possible.
We have some beautiful music for our final concert with Chris: Mozart’s Requiem and Choruses from Bach’s B Minor Mass. While most of you are familiar with the Mozart, the same is not necessarily true for the Bach. Even if you have sung it before, it is not easy, and I would really hope that you take the opportunity of being at the Come and Sing which Chris will lead at St Nicholas Church, Corfe Mullen on 21^st September. It is free for all of you and will give you a good foundation for learning or refreshing this great work.
Looking forward to seeing you all on 5^th September
Marion
 
Notes from Chris (originally sent by e-mail 2 Sept 2024) …

Forthcoming Dates …
5th September 2024       Rehearsals re-start 
19th September 2024     Audition Reheasals (New Musical Director: 3 candidates)
21st September 2024      Workshop Choruses from Bach's B Minor Mass
                                                       (Open To Non-Members, Free To Members) 
30th November 2024      Concert "A journey Through Mozart and Bach"

Notes from Chris (originally sent by e-mail June 2024) …
May I remind you of the following plans for next term:-

      Thursday 5th September - Rehearsals begin in Wimborne Methodist Church - 7.30 to 9.30. There  will then be 10 further Thursday rehearsals, and 1 Wednesday rehearsal, but please note the following:-
            The rehearsal on 19th September will be shared by our three would-be WCS auditionees.
            There will be no rehearsal on Thursday 26th September when we will have our AGM at St.Catherine's Church, Wimborne.
            There will also be no rehearsal at Half Term on Thursday 31^st October.

      On Saturday 21st September there will be a Workshop Day when we will explore Bach's B minor Mass. We hope that a number of singers from other choirs will join us but the point of this day is to give Wimborne Choral Society a chance of becoming as well-acquainted as possible with the movements we are likely to be performing in our concert on 30th November:-
            The opening “Kyrie”.
            The first movement of the “Gloria”.
            Possibly “Cum Sancto Spiritu” following “Quoniam tu solus sanctus” (Bass solo).

      Incidentally, for those of you who wish to have their own copies of the music for November, here are the details:-
            Bach - Mass in B minor – BWV 232 - New Novello.
            Mozart – Requiem – K 626 - Bärenreiter Edition.

      I know this is an imposition but it will really pay off if there is as full an attendance as possible of Wimborne Choral Society members.


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