GMVC Newsletter April 2012

Vol. 5    No.4

Chairman’s Notes, contributed by Geoff Hampson
 

Hello and welcome to our newsletter for April.

I alway find myself surprised when I sit at my computer to write my piece for the newsletter at how time flies by. It only seems like yesterday when we started to organize some of the events for this year and all at once they seem to have come and gone.

It was April 2010 when we were contacted by Ken Wilkins from Alfreton M.V.C re his family connections with our choir. It was soon decided it might be good to have a joint concert and before you know it’s come and gone. 

It would be a mistake to think it’s that easy as a lot of time and effort went in to make it a success, not only by the choir but by MAVORO and our supporters.

Although it’s important to focus on the future of the choir it wouldn't be in existence today without the hard work and commitment that went into past and this concert, acknowledging the past with fellowship and music in the present and for the future.

It’s always good to sing at St Mary's Stretton. Kim and the church made us so welcome, and with a good audience and both the boys, the mens choir and musicians on form what more can you ask for.

Well the answer is a great amount of money raised for our chosen charity and at nine hundred and seventy pounds we certainly achieved that,so thanks to all involved and the kind support from our followers. 

The point I am trying to make is that concerts come and go so quickly that sometimes they do not seem to do justice to all the hard work that goes into the end result;the hours of practice and commitment from choir members, Karl, Tanya and Gerald.Additionally the extra time our various committee members put in, attempting to make sure we all have the opportunity to sing and make our concerts a success.

You will all have to agree it’s so satisfying when it works. 

I would on behalf of the choir like to thank our patrons and MAVORO for their kind donations, I hope you all feel a valued part of the Gresley Male Voice Choir.

 

Special Purposes Update, contributed by Clive Lawton.

The concert with Alfreton MVC proved to be a great success, as was the Brewhouse as a venue. The visiting choir enjoyed the ambience of the evening and the welcome they received from us. The hospitality after the concert was much appreciated. We will be returning the compliment when we visit Alfreton next year on our reciprocal arrangement.  Thanks are due to Mavoro who took charge of the catering and to the ladies who conducted the prize draw.

Thank you to all those who gave prizes for the draw. 

The income from prize draws helps greatly in meeting the cost of staging our concerts. Our stage crew had the logistics of the two choir’s movements to consider when erecting the stage. Forward planning ensured that the movements seemed seamless and the concert flow was un- interrupted.

We are very fortunate in the three musicians we have. Their professionalism greatly adds to the performance both in preparation and content. The solo from Tanya was superb and received a standing ovation from the choir and audience alike. Gresley sang well and the presentation was varied and well rehearsed. Alfreton also had a good selection , with two items Gresley will present this year at the Celebrity Concert, What Would I Do Without My Music and the theme from Les Miserables.

 

The Charity Concert, featuring both the Men’s and Boy’s choirs at St. Mary’s Church Stretton raised £970 for research into a treatment for Motor Neurone Disease and was presented by the chairman of the Special Purposes Committee Malcolm Till to the representative of the society.

We are indebted to Vicar Kim Thomas and the congregation for allowing the use of this lovely church and for their generosity in waiving the hire charge for its use for our concert. Thanks to the ladies of the prize draw and Mavoro for the catering; to our stage crew , our musicians and compere for their contributions to a very enjoyable concert.

The choristers and guests retired to the Monks Bridge public house following the concert for post- concert refreshments and socialising, where Clive and Pat Lawton provided a buffet supper.

Tour to Cornwall. I have received the room layout from the hotel to allocate rooms to all our party and a menu from which we will distribute the choices to you all shortly, once agreed with the chef.

May I remind you all that the balance of the tour should be with me by the end of April.

Some of you will have no doubt noted that Protours coaches have been taken over by Viking. This will not affect our booking with them which will go ahead as planned. Fortunately we did not book the transport with Cresswells who have gone into liquidation.

For choristers. I will be on holiday at the end of April and will be back at rehearsal night on May 4^th. If you could let me have your final payments on that evening it would be most helpful.

For those of you who need to post the balance to me, my address is  20 Arthur’s Court Stretton Burton Staffs DE13 0GS. For balance enquiries the number for me is 07939-012458.

We look forward to the next concerts which the committee are responsible for.

The Gala Concert at Calke Abbey on 12^th May and the concert with Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir on FRIDAY 29^th June.

The tickets for Calke Abbey are now available from our ticket agent Joe Eyley. We are restricted to a total audience of 180 due to health and safety regulations. We advise you to pre book your tickets with Joe to avoid disappointment. There will be light refreshments at this concert. The choir and soloists will contribute to this concert plus Tanya playing a solo item.

The concert at Burton Town Hall with Vancouver  Welsh Men’s Choir is a great honour for the choir. This choir will be on tour in the UK and contacted us to ask if we would be prepared to host a concert with them before they travel to London. They are to sing with London Welsh MVC  at the opening of the Olympic Games following our concert.
 It is a pleasure and privilege to have them in Burton and look forward to meeting them, and hearing their music. We urge you all to come along to this concert to support the choir and represent our town. 
A full Town Hall with every seat taken would be fantastic. Tickets are now available from our ticket agent on 01283-215006   Following the concert we will be arranging refreshments for their party and our choir and guests.
International  liaison such as this, and our tour last year to France are some of the many privileges the choir enjoys.

 

On a social note we have arranged three events this year.

I mentioned in the last news sheet that I would be able to give dates for your diaries.

Dillys and Karl Harper have kindly consented to host a Barbeque at their home for choristers and their families on Saturday June 23^rd

We are arranging a 50/50 auction at Sharpes Pottery on Saturday 15^th September. If you have any items you would like to auction please contact Clive on 07939012458 or Bryan on 01283-213493. The idea, for those who haven’t experienced this type of auction is that we will have the items on view in the morning followed by the auction which will be conducted by a proper auctioneer. Lots sold will have the selling price divided equally between the choir and the owner of the item. Sharpe’s Pottery are delighted we will be staging the event with them. They have a new coffee bar and all the facilities for the event.

 

 

The Christmas Fayre will be at the Town Hall Swadlincote on Saturday  8^th December  10am to 2pm.

Christmas Grand Prize Draw. Following the success of the draw last Christmas we will be staging a bigger one this year including bigger prizes. Books of raffle tickets will be printed and choristers  will be asked to sell them for the choir. We do hope you will support us by purchasing tickets for the draw which will take place at the Christmas Fayre.

In the last Newsletter I highlighted Gerry Oates for his membership and work within the Special Purposes Committee. This month it is another member under the spotlight.

 Joe Eyley is a valued member of the committee. He and his wife Vera are instrumental in our tour to Cornwall this year as Vera has relatives in Marazion Choir. When organising tours it is so much easier when we have someone on site to liaise with. Joe is also our Ticket Agent and deals with the sale of all the concert tickets. At choir rehearsal he is often seen having money for tickets sailing his way. He is never phased by this, and, when he passes money to me for banking it is always correct. He is one of the first to arrive at concerts and staffs the entrance, selling tickets on the door and checking people have bought tickets before he allows admission. He makes for a good bouncer with his knowledge of the martial arts. He is a pleasure to work with within the choir.

Mavoro Ladies Club, contributed by Maureen Hickman

Friends and family are most welcome to join us for these social occasions.

If you would like any more information about our ladies evenings or events,

please contact any of the numbers below.

Jennifer Wilton               01283 221882                   Linda Davies               01283 212671
Janet Atkins                  01283 216917                   Maureen Hickman       01283 703218

Marion Cooper               01283 212890

                                    

MAVORO dates for 2012.

 
30th March  "Oh! Mum What Have You Done" Barbara Daykin

4th May   "Rags to Riches" Wardrobe Mistresses Tales  Judy Colby

 

The MAVORO Ladies are holding a Fun Quiz Night

"Bits & Bobs"

with Bob Neill

To be held on
Saturday 5th May

at Rough Hayes

It starts at 7pm

Tickets are £6-50 which includes a plated buffet

Bring your own drinks

Tickets on sale soon

1st June "An Extraordinary Career in Music"   Alan Hopkin

6th July "Complementary Medicine"  Helen Saunders

3rd August Meal

7th September "Ghosts" Mr Bell

5th October "Brewery Trips"  Ian Hingley

2nd November "Meat the Paget's"  Richard Stone

7th December Party Night

 

 

 

 

GRESLEY MALE VOICE CHOIR - CONCERT/EVENTS 2012        
(Uniform Colour subject to change)
All Concerts start 7.30pm except where stated.

 

GMVC Website

If you need to know anything, about Gresley Male Voice Choir, visit our Website, www.gresleychoir.org

It’s full of pictures, videos and information about the Choir. If you need to email the Website or any of the Officers or Committee, email gmv.choir@gmail.com

Eric Coxon 29^th March 2012