Tenor Richard Flewitt write about the value of singing with others… Why do thousands of people all over the world choose to gather together every week to sing in a choir? From the outside it could look a little crazy – these groups of singers repeating the same songs and phrases over and over inContinue reading “In Harmony – why singing together changes everything”
Author Archives: choiradmin
Happy Birthday!
No matter our age, birthdays are special. Alto Mags writes about her NCS experience of celebrating ‘the big day’, and the choir sings to February’s birthday trio – Mags, Jenny and Chris! Nottingham Chamber Singers’ members will find any excuse for a cheerful sing, a happy celebration and of course cake, and what better thanContinue reading “Happy Birthday!”
Sir John Rutter comes to Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall
Soprano Helena (and others from NCS) ventured out on a soggy Sunday for an uplifting afternoon… Rufus the swan is well-known to social media followers of Sir John Rutter. An affectionate ‘Ah’ came from hundreds of singers when John pulled a cuddly Rufus out of a bag! John has run workshops in the city forContinue reading “Sir John Rutter comes to Nottingham’s Royal Concert Hall”
The health benefits of singing in a choir
Soprano Rachel Bacon explores how belonging to a community that sings together can be transformative… If you sing in any sort of a choir, you know it’s a big commitment and comes with expectations: travel time for weekly rehearsals, learning the music, drumming up an audience for concerts, performing in concerts, and many other activities.Continue reading “The health benefits of singing in a choir”
Inside out or outside in?
Bass Jonathan Lupton reflects on being in the audience rather than the choir for one of our performances. Do you ever wonder what you sound like? We all hear our own voices as we sing or speak, but not in the same way that other people hear us (mainly because the sound gets to ourContinue reading “Inside out or outside in?”
Time Signatures
Bass John Hobbs guides us through the wild world of ever-changing beats, and makes a timely mention of The Apprentice as a new series begins. Do you like a whirling waltz, a merry minuet or a stately sarabande, or would you prefer a military march, a torrid tango or a perky polka or do you like them all? Maybe something more irregular would beContinue reading “Time Signatures”
Might you be a tenor?
Postcard from the tenor section – by another of our Rachels, Rachel Emmett. About 20 years ago I returned to choral singing after a few years away and found my teenage second alto voice struggling at the top end. A wonderful female tenor (thanks, Jen) persuaded me to join her in the tenor section, andContinue reading “Might you be a tenor?”
Cecilia McDowall’s Piano Music
We sang Cecilia McDowall’s sparkling Music of the Stars in last November’s concert. In this postcard, bass John, who is also a pianist, explores some of the composer’s piano works. Though McDowall has written many pieces for choir, I first encountered her music through her Four Piano Solos (1999). These are a marvellously varied collectionContinue reading “Cecilia McDowall’s Piano Music”
Five facts you might not know about Nottingham Chamber Singers – aka NCS!
Soprano Rachel (we’ll leave you to guess which one) opens the New Year with some fun facts about the choir. We’re a diverse group with diverse experiences! Some of us have been around for ages in a ‘part of the furniture’ sort of a way, others are much newer. But did you know…. Why haveContinue reading “Five facts you might not know about Nottingham Chamber Singers – aka NCS!”
Carols we love
Our NCS ‘choiradmin’ asked members to name their favourite congregational / audience Christmas carol. A lively discussion ensued. Two postcards were planned from the contributions but as there won’t be an #MfEMondays on 22 December we’ve gone for something resembling a concertina of postcards. THE MUSIC Demi: God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (minor key carolsContinue reading “Carols we love”