member resources

We continue to be guided by “Making Music”, our national membership organisation for music groups and promoters.

The previous mandated restrictions have, of course, been ended, but that does not mean that Covid has been conquered, rather that the impact of contracting Covid is now much reduced following the vaccination programme, increased immunity after having had the disease and mutations in the virus itself.

However, that is a general statement of the “on average” type and we need to remember that some people still get Covid very badly indeed whilst others are more vulnerable to catching the disease. Similarly we can remind ourselves that some of our members have more vulnerable people at home or for whom they are carers and I believe we each owe them a moral duty not to knowingly expose them to the disease as the consequences for them and their loved ones may be significantly worse than any symptoms we experience ourselves.

Making music therefore advise a set of “safer behaviours” which I would strongly recommend we each adopt, please :

1. Getting vaccinated – including all available boosters.
2. Letting fresh air in if meeting indoors, or meeting outside. We will have windows open at rehearsals so please dress appropriately
3. Wearing a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces, especially where you come into contact with people you do not usually meet, when rates of transmission are high.
4. Trying to stay at home if you are unwell.
5. Taking a test if you have COVID-19 symptoms, (if available) and staying at home and avoiding contact with other people if you test positive; and
6. Washing your hands and following advice to ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it’.

The single most important point is that no one should come to rehearsals if they have the slightest symptoms or if you suspect you have been in contact with someone who is carrying the disease. Can we each, please, adopt this as a personal obligation to our fellow choir-members.

I hope you will agree that these are a reasonable set of clearly-stated behaviours and that you can personally commit to their adoption.

Rehearsals for our Autumn 2025 concert

Rehearsals are on Tuesdays between 8 and 10pm at the new Walthamstow Hall Junior School building in Bayham Road, Sevenoaks, TN13 3XA (note that this is a new venue for this year) and will run from 2 September to 25 November, with the concert taking place at 3pm at Pamoja Concert Hall, Sevenoaks School on Sunday 30 November.

We will be singing :

• Rutter, Mass of the Children
• Rutter, Te Deum
• Advent Carols from the Orange Carols for Choirs Book 2

Scores

Our Librarian, Brian Shirreff, has hire scores available at £2 each for the Mass and Te Deum and £1 for the Carol Book  – correct money would be appreciated please. He will be there early at the first few rehearsals – please allow a few extra minutes when you come to collect your scores so that Robyn can start the rehearsal promptly at 8pm.

Rehearsal Aids

The following links are available to support your learning :

Mass of the Children

Choralia : Choralia Click Here

John Fletcher (subscription of £4.40 for four months) : John Fletcher Click Here

Te Deum

Cyberbass (free online usage) : Cyberbass Click Here

Recordings

To help you get the shape of the work and the “feel” of the performance one of our members has recommended the following YouTube performance  for you to follow along with your score.  :

Performances

Mass of the Children – Click Here

Te Deum – Click Here