Started singing: voice lessons in school, several workshops for early
music in Germany and Switzerland, choirs and ensembles in 5 countries
mostly with a mixed repertory of early and contemporary music
Favourite music: early music, jazz, live music of any kind
Fave composer: Monteverdi, Bach, Chopin, Debussy, Ravel. I particularly
enjoy early Christian music from the 'new world', performed Gabriel
Garrido and his ensemble Elmya.
Fave director: John Eliot Gardiner
Fave CML concert: Bach B-minor mass in 2008, my first concert with the CML
Hobbies: museums and architecture, 1000 UNESCO heritage sites you must see
before you die, hiking, alpine skiing, golf, indoor climbing
PLEASE NOTE: the first rehearsal for this concert (September 1) is now cancelled. There will instead be a rehearsal on Saturday morning, September 25 - at Guy's Chapel, St Thomas Street, SE1 9RG.
Download a colour poster here.
Download a black and white poster here.
Orange sashes abolished!
At the last committee meeting in June it was agreed to ditch the controversial orange sashes, with a more elegant sartorial solution sought.
Concert and rehearsal venues
The Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer (abbreviated to H.R. above) is situated at Exmouth Market, London, EC1R 4QE. Exmouth Market is on the junction of Farringdon Road and Rosebery Avenue. A map of how to get there can be found by clicking here.
Buses :19, 38, 63, 341
Tube: Farringdon (Hammersmith & City/Circle); Angel (Northern)
Overground :Farringdon, First Capital Connect
St James’s, Piccadilly is at 197, Piccadilly, London W1J 9LL, on the south side of Piccadilly about 250 metres from Piccadilly Circus. A map of how to get there can be found by clicking here.
Weekday rehearsals are nearly always at The Church of Our Most Holy Redeemer and are usually on Wednesdays from 19:00 to 22:00; rehearsals on the day of the concert are normally at the concert venue and are usually from 14:00 to 17:00 (these rehearsals may last longer, but there will always be a sufficient break between the rehearsal and the concert). Each rehearsal always begins with a warm-up. Please arrive at the venue in good time to begin the rehearsal. Remember also that sometimes there are services taking place in the churches before our rehearsals begin, and you need to respect the need for quiet for those who are attending the services.
Scores
CML always supplies music for concerts, the cost of which is now factored in to subscription rates. However, knowing that some choir members occasionally like to buy their own, details of which editions we will be using for the coming concert can be obtained from the choir librarian, Judith Meier, who can be contacted by e-mail by clicking here. It is also worth remembering that the choir can often buy music at discount rates, and you should ask about this before buying retail. A list of music that the choir keeps in its library can be found at the library page of this site.
Pronunciation
CML prides itself on using the pronunciation of Latin and other languages appropriate to country and period; in the table below, we'll always provide a guide to any non-standard pronunciation for whatever piece(s) CML is doing in its current concert.
All of the choir's pronunciation guides can be found on this website; click here to access these pages.
Concert Dress
The choir dress for concerts is:
Black long-sleeved shirt with (dark) button front and pointed collar and breast pocket + black trousers + black shoes
Black long-sleeved shirt with (dark) button front and pointed collar + black long skirt + black shoes
no jewellery or decorations
Subscriptions
Some of our concerts are quite expensive to put on, if instrumentalists or professional soloists are involved let alone a full orchestra. In common with nearly all other choirs, our members pay subscriptions to assist towards expenses. It assists administration if subscriptions are paid by cheque, but cash is accepted when necessary.
Subscriptions comprise two elements; the rates for the calendar year 2010 remain unchanged since 2007, as follows:
Basic membership: A membership fee for the calendar year, payable by all singers other than those still completing their two probationary concerts - £35. (This includes any former members who now take part in concerts only occasionally.)
For those whose first concert as a full member, after completing their probationary concerts, falls in September or later, a reduced rate of annual membership, at £20, is payable for the remainder of that year; the full rate will then be payable from the following January.
Note that membership does not guarantee selection for all concerts. It does however confer a right to vote at General Meetings, and to stand for election to the Committee.
Concert participation: All singers, including those on probation, must also pay £25 per programme they take part in. A 'programme' may either be a single concert or a concert which has two performances.
Concessionary rates of £25 (membership) and £20 (concert fee) are available for full-time students and those who are unemployed - acceptable proof required. Please note that the concessionary rate is not applicable to pensioners, or those not working because they have retired.
Gift Aiding your subscriptions
The government will add an extra £2.82 to every £10 paid in membership fees, subscriptions and any additional donations if the member pays tax in the UK and signs a simple Gift Aid Tax Declaration (available from the Subscriptions Secretary or available as a downloadable pdf by clicking here). The same applies to any outside donors.
For those who pay tax at the higher rate there is a further bonus in the form of a reduction in your own tax bill as well.
Ongoing commitment to pay is not a condition for this, and every member in a position to complete the Gift Aid form should do so without question.
Committee meetings are held about four or five times per year and choir members are always invited to submit any business for discussion to the Secretary in advance of each meeting.
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