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07.07.08

William Allitt Arts Festival

Our final sing before we break off for a summer holiday is at The William Allitt Arts Festival on 18th July. The concert is the final part of a week long Arts Festival which has been held at this specialist Performing Arts School. There promises to be a wide variety of repertoire, finished off with a  firework display.

The venue is The William Allitt School, Sunnyside, Newhall, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE11 0TL

Tickets are available from the school on 01283  216404

19.05.08

'Derby Arts Festival Success'

Friday Voices virtually swept the board at Saturday's Arts Festival event held at Derby Cathedral, winning 5 out of the 6 classes which they entered. The choir won first prize ( and some significant silverware!) in the following classes :

          Madrigal, Gospel, Ladies, Male Voice and Concert Class

The one class we missed out on was the 'Mixed' choir class where we were adjudged to have been in contravention of the class rules and were disqualified !

The acoustic at the Cathedral was wonderful and the choir had an enjoyable and successful day !

25.04.08

'Anyone found a tenner ? ........... sorry tenor'

The choir has recently lost one of its stalwart Tenors, Alan Cloves, who has retired gracefully to the Golf Course. Alan leaves us with many happy memories (apart from his snoring in France!) Friday Voices would like to thank Alan for his contribution over the years and wish him well for the future. However, as they say, The Show Must Go On........ so if there are any Tenors in the Midlands area who would like to join a vibrant, high quality choir, which works hard and plays hard, ring Derek on 07767 806677.

25.04.08

'Sligo Here We Come ........... '

Great news, Friday Voices have been invited to take part in the Sligo International Choral Festival. They must have been impressed with the CD !

The standard will be very high but the choir is extremely excited to be attending and will have to ensure we're on top form !

18.04.08

'Time just flies........... '

It doesn't seem 2 minutes since we completed our hectic Christmas schedule and we're already moving towards the end of April. The choir is now working hard towards its first competitive appearance this year at Derby Arts Festival on 17th May and we are competing in a number of varied classes on the day. So come along to Derby Cathedral if you wish to support the choir !

We are also waiting to hear about Sligo International Choral Festival in November. Any choir who wishes to enter had to send in a CD sample of their music as you have to be invited to take part. We have been warned that as it is their 21st Celebration, the entry standard will be very high, featuring choirs from many countries !!!! Fingers crossed that we get invited !

20.11.07

'Yet more congratulations  ........... '

Our recruitment process is almost complete with the addition of Ollie and Heather Longbottom to our choir. Ollie and Heather have gained excellent experience with youth choirs over the years and have now joined Friday Voices following their move to Derbyshire. Whilst they will no doubt contribute significantly to the choir, it is also pleasing to note that they have also reduced the average age of the choir by a good few years !!!!!

Welcome Ollie and Heather !

12.11.07

'Voices'  ...........

Friday Voices came third in the Adult Choirs Section of Peterborough Choral Festival. The choir felt that they sang well and were pleased with their overall performance, finishing with the manic Pseudo Yoik ! Once heard ... never forgotten !

Singing against some good quality opposition, the choir were nevertheless disappointed with the outcome and keenly look forward to the next challenge.

8.11.07

A Bottom Bass .........................  

Our recruitment procedure has been a great success with a new alto and soprano already accepted into the choir and another alto and tenor about to undertake their auditions. However, we feel our choir would be complete if we could just find a true bottom bass to assist our 'natural born' baritones who are struggling to hit their bottom 'D's. So if their is an experienced Bass who is Midlands based and wishes to join an excellent choir, contact Derek Gardner on 07767 806677.

As mentioned earlier, many of the singers live in the Staffordshire / Derbyshire area but we also have members from Nottingham, Birmingham and Leicester. Its worth the travel for the sing !

Rehearsals are held at Rolleston Methodist Church, Rolleston on Dove, Staffordshire every Friday during term time 8.00 - 10.00pm (and afterwards in the pub, if you wish!)

1.10.07

A Welcome to Liz and Marian .........     

Following their successful auditions on Friday night, the choir welcomes a new alto, Liz Dandy and a soprano, Marian Goodall into the choir.

19.9.07

Fancy a Sing ??????     

As can be seen from our Concert/Competition programme for the remainder of this year and into 2008, Friday Voices are going to be very busy !!

We are always looking for good quality choral voices who may like to join us. We are particularly looking for male voices ....... even more particularly bass voices !!! However, whatever part you sing, you would be welcome to 'come and try'.

What normally happens is that anyone interested comes to sing with us (or just listen!) for 3 weeks practice or so ........ just to make sure that they would enjoy singing with us. After this period, the Musical Director will then carry out a short audition to see whether the person's voice is the correct blend for the choir.

Providing everything is good for the singer and the choir, you would then be invited to join. As the web site suggests, we do have great fun at our rehearsals. Enjoying ourselves and socialising is a very important part of being with Friday Voices ..... but as soon as the singing starts .... we're serious !!!

Many of the singers live in the Staffordshire / Derbyshire area but we also have members from Nottingham, Birmingham and Leicester. Its worth the travel for the sing !

Rehearsals are held at Rolleston Methodist Church, Rolleston on Dove, Staffordshire every Friday during term time 8.00 - 10.00pm (and afterwards in the pub, if you wish!)

So if you would like to come down, contact Derek Gardner on 07767 806677

18.9.07

Planning for 2008  .................

Following its return from its summer recess, the choir is currently developing its plans for 2008 !

Notwithstanding the fact that there will no doubt be a number of concerts booked as we move into the year, we have decided that our favorites are traveling to Harrogate in Yorkshire in March for a British competition. At the end of May, we shall return to France for a highly competitive international competition in Tours and the final competitive action will be at the prestigious Sligo International Choral Competition in Ireland.

So it looks like we have a very busy year ahead and we still have the Peterborough Choral Competition in November this year followed by our Christmas Concert at Tutbury Church, Tutbury, Staffordshire on 14th December.

18.5.07

The choir obtains uniform sponsorship from NEXT     

  NEXT, the Leicestershire based retail company have kindly offered 

  sponsorship to provide a new uniform for Friday Voices. The choir is

  delighted to be associated with such a prestigious and professional

  organisation and thanks NEXT for its generous support

23.2.08   

Friday Voices achieve success at the Bangor International Choral Festival

The choir had great success at the above festival gaining 4 first prizes, 4 second prizes and was also given the 'Best Overseas Choir ' award. More details to come