Latest News

Term 6, 2010 (Ahhhhh...............)

My fellow Lushers,

Wahooo! We made it! The first year completed, 3 stonkingly good concerts, (better than I ever dared hope)... -You are all officially wonderful!

There are some photos up on the main website (http://gurtlush.yolasite.com/pictures.php)

& some live recordings too. (http://gurtlush.yolasite.com/live-recordings.php)

Still no video clips, which is a shame...... ….Anyone film anything?

In fact, I'm so t'rifikly proud of you all, that I'm not going to mention it again, as it will fast become obnoxious. So back to business....

Future Concerts

The plan is to try doing just 2 official concerts each year. One at the end of term 3 (late February), & the other at the end of term 6 (Early July). So far the only suitable venue free on dates that suit us is St Mary Redcliffe....

Beyond that, there will always be events that we are asked to, such as........

Bristol Festival of Song

This October, there will be a Festival of Song happening all over Bristol which we will certainly be involved with in several ways. (Doing the 'old' material, of course.)

F.f.i. http://thesoundworks.ning.com/events/gathering-voices-festival-of

Alongside strange & improbable outdoor 'Song Raids' & other such fun, we have also been asked to sing on the evening of Sat 23^rd October at St Georges, -an absolutely superb venue!

Put it in your diaries!

New Repertoire

I'm horribly behind, but the first of the new Autumn repertoire arrangements are finally on the website, & you should be able to print them & hopefully even listen to them.

This is a new way of doing it, & you will probably have to install a free 'plug-in' (download a program) called 'Scorch' to make it work. It's well worth trying, as it usually works easily & it can really help to see the computer playing the score.

http://gurtlush.yolasite.com/play-print-the-music.php

I've finished versions of 'I'm a Believer', 'Agua de Beber' & 'Songbird'. More arrangements to follow, inc. Joe Blench's arrangement of 'Patience' & a little 13^th century 'Alleluia Psallat'.Check out the repertoire links page to hear other peoples versions of the songs.

http://gurtlush.yolasite.com/repertoire-links.php

Website Updated

The website has been extended these last weeks. -It now has a 'Learning resources' section, where you should be able to hear & print the scores, or find links to free training downloads.

It also has several new pages full of background information on the songs we've sung & a shortlist of songs we may sing in future! We hope also to add a single Gurt Lush Members Forum to the site, replacing the 3 ning sites, which never really 'caught-on'.

http://gurtlush.yolasite.com/learning-resources.php

Next Term

As previously announced, as of now, OAP's will pay full rate & not concession. Other concessions are unaffected.

We'll start another big recruitment drive.

We still need to refine the way we accommodate newcomers.

We will extend the free-taster to 3 sessions at Redland & Hotwells. Still just one at St Barts.

We will have regular meetings with all the voice reps, to improve feedback & accommodation of newcomers & to encourage sections to build their own identities & to sort out sectional rehearsals & such-like.

We will have more admin meetings too, to try & get organised further in advance.

Grateful thanks to Jess Milton for volunteering to take over from Jules as Membership Secretary for Hotwells. We seem to be developing crack teams of helpers at all 3 choirs!

Music Theory

Did anyone try any of the teach-yourself-music-reading-stuff? If so, any feedback?

Guest Tutor

None this term, of course, but the October G.T., at the end of Term 1, will be Suzy Prator, all the way from Brighton. Suzy is a wonderful workshop leader, known for her Gospel expertise, amongst other things. She's coming to the West just for us.... -Be There!

Right! Enough!

Have a wonderful summer & see you in September,

Sam.