25th March 2016

Cari Amici, 

Many thanks to all who sang last Wednesday evening to bid the term farewell. It was such a lovely event, full of warm friendship and good singing! ….. and thanks to every one who helped before and after the evening. Excellent hot cross buns purchased, buttered; wine sourced, opened, poured; chairs fetched and returned . Thank you! The hot cross bun and wine event (a first I think?) which followed allowed for interesting conversations about four years past and years ahead of us.

 I am so happy that Kerry will take you cari Amici on an interesting and fulfilling musical journey over the next few months. I look forward to a recording of the Rutter and Jenkins at the end of next term.

 Three dates of great importance for forward planning to avoid clashes:

 December 21 2016. Christmas concert at St Paul’s Church and at the Colyer Fergusson Hall:

 January 21 2017. Canterbury Cantata Trust concert Sharing singing Caring singing 

April 9 2017. Amici and Cantata Bach St Matthew Passion

Please tell every one what a wonderful choir you are, how welcoming we are, how adventurous we are. Also ensure as many people know about the dates above to ensure no clashes with other choral groups (metaphorically and literally!)

 Have a lovely Easter 

 Grenville

23rd March 2016

Dear Amici Chorus

Firstly, thank you for a wonderful concert this evening. I was so impressed by your singing and enjoyed meeting some of you afterwards. As some of you already know, I am a singing teacher and choral director based in the Canterbury area and I will be taking Amici rehearsals during Greville’s absence.

Like Gren, I start rehearsals with a vocal warm up before moving on to the repertoire. We will be looking at Rutter’s Feel The Spirit – a cycle of seven spirituals. (there are some very good recordings of these and some interesting videos on you tube). Having heard you sing this evening I think you will really enjoy them and do a great job. 

We will also be looking at three or four of Karl Jenkins’ Motets. These are good fun and sound fantastic. I thought you might like to have a listen to the Exultate Jubilate:     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Roj8cARcfJU

The aim is to have fun and put together a programme for a Wednesday evening performance at the end of term. I usually encourage choir members to bring their mobile phones along to rehearsals and record any tricky passages in their part to practice between rehearsals. If you think this would work for you please do bring your phone along – the voice memo facility on most phones is perfect for this purpose and can make rehearsals much easier.  

I am really looking forward to working with you all. Our first rehearsal for the Summer term will be on 20th April at the usual time.

 Wishing you all wonderful Easter break

 with best wishes

Kerry

March 15th 2016

Cari Amici,

A very energetic rehearsal last week! Congratulations on your continued engagement with such challenging music. More of the same tomorrow:

• Bernstein
• Parry
• Finzi
• Faure
• Lauridsen.

We will start at 17.30 promptly and finish at 19.00 as I have an orchestral/choral rehearsal of Bach St John Passion following.

 A wonderful song recital at Canterbury Music Club on Thursday (17th)…St Gregory’s at 19.454., Sarah jane Lewis, winner of the Kathleen Ferrier award with the wonderful Simon Lepper. 

 You will all be aware of the sad news that Sir Peter Maxwell Davies died on Monday. A great friend, it was such a privilege to welcome him into the Music Department at  Canterbury Christ Church University and work alongside him for so many years. He was inspirational, humble and generous with his time and advice to students who had the fortune to be touched by his genius.

 Grenville

March 8th 2016

Cari Amici,

Another splendid rehearsal last week and looking forward to Wednesday’s rehearsal in advance of our end of term celebration on March 23rd. This will be friendly and informal … a snap shot of what we are rehearsing. Please invite a friend or two to come and listen!

 Remember a page is available for you to down load and print music that we can use all of which is out of copyright and in the public domain. Please go to the Members page where you can download the music.

 We will rehearse:

• Bernstein
• Parry
• Lauridsen
• Fauré
• Mozart

If you do not have a copy of Fauré Cantique de Jean Racine, please print one for this Wednesday rehearsal and a reminder that we will hold an extra rehearsal on Tuesday March 22 at 17.30.

 Look forward …….don’t forget your tickets for Bach St John Passion 

 Grenville