Groby Sings

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January 2014

Rehearsals start for Oklahoma and Grease

Groby Sings rehearsals will start again at Groby Club on Leicester Road in February. The afternoon choir will meet from the 3rd February at 1.15pm, and the evening choir from 8pm. The children's choir will rehearse from 3.40pm and the youth choir from 4.15pm on on 7th February. Performances will be on the 28th and 29th June 2014.

December 2013

To pick out a few highlights

The opening number, 'Gaudete', was the perfect choice; the verses of Paul Cox’s new arrangement were sung unaccompanied with confidence by soloists from the youth section of Groby Sings. Helen kept them smiling through their nerves. The three-part harmony chorus filled the room with a rich sound and did indeed blow a few socks off!

‘White Christmas’ was made special with British Sign Language; one audience member said afterwards she was so moved that it has given her the incentive she needed to book signing lessons so she can communicate with a deaf family member! This is a typical example of the many side benefits Groby Sings is bringing to the local area.

The Wombles made an appearance much to the delight of some of the more mature singers; practising the song ‘Wombling Merry Christmas’ had included quite a few questions from puzzled children about these early eco-warriors. They eventually understood and were happy to remind us with gusto to ‘Remember You’re a Womble’. The children’s rendition of ‘We’re Walking In The Air’ stole the show, however. The beautiful sound Helen had coaxed out of them at rehearsals brought tears to many eyes.

She herself was overcome by the choir’s thank you song. Asked to conduct ‘Rudolph’ for a second time, the surprise of a set of words especially written about Groby Sings, and its success both in popularity and in community building in Groby, rendered her speechless! Those of you who know Helen will know how rare that is!

Rehearsals start again soon

So how will the Groby Sings choir top their Christmas concerts? Next year they will be learning songs from ‘Oklahoma’ and ‘Grease’. Although Helen is no longer a church minister in the Bradgate Team, she has been given permission to work in Groby for the choir whilst taking on her new role based in the city working with the homeless. Practice sessions remain unchanged thanks to the fantastic generosity of The Groby Club who will continue to give the use of their facilities for free! And the team of behind-the-scenes volunteers will be growing ready for even more singers.

So why are you hesitating? Come and join us.

First published in the December 2013 issue of the Groby and Field Head Spotlight

October 2013

"When this started I was wearing socks on my feet, now I am not, this song has literally blown my socks off."

Here's more about Groby Sings Christmas

That's what one You Tube viewer thought of a song to be featured in the Groby Sings Christmas Concert. Helen Hayes has confirmed the speculation last month that Slade's "Merry Christmas Everybody" will be one of the songs they will be singing. But the socks comment was made about another of the songs to be featured and it's one which is both exciting and challenging.

Gaudete ("rejoice" in Latin) is a sacred Christmas carol, which is thought to have been composed in the 16th century, but could be older. Wikipedia says that the Latin text is a typical medieval song of praise. For those who may think this is too great a challenge Helen's message is not to panic. “I have a clever plan so that we can sing the Latin without causing us all to have a breakdown! The Youth Choir can have solo verses - it will be awesome!” she said. “I loved it, and have been practising round the house. It's a challenge but I love a challenge,” said a member of the choir.

Steeleye Span is credited by some with making the first ever music recording of the song. They had a hit with it 40 years ago. Both their record and a concert video can be viewed on You Tube. You'll also find a version by all male group The King's Singers there. But for a shiver down the spine experience make sure you watch the version by Anuna, an Irish ensemble, and featured here. You'll find links to the other two below.Rehearsals are currently underway and 163 turned out for the first sessions on 30^th September. This did not include the Children’s and Youth Choir which meets on Fridays. It's not too late to join the choir, in fact Helen would probably say it's never too late. Rehearsals for the adult choir are held on Mondays at 1.30pm and 8pm and for younger singers 7-11 years 3.30pm – 4.30pm and 11-18 years 4pm – 5pm. All rehearsals are held in the Groby Club on Leicester Road.

LINKS - Steeleye Span video Kings Singers video

The choir was only formed by local curate Helen Hayes three months ago and before rehearsals began she was concerned that there may not be enough singers. But the response was so great that the choir had to be split into 3 groups for rehearsals and as a result they didn't sing together until a few hours before the performance.

As previously reported in the Spotlight for Helen Hayes it's about more than just the music as she understands the difference that participation in a project like this can have on people's lives, and she sees it as a way of bringing the village community together. “The incredible thing is how this is meeting the needs of many people who have been ill, are bereaved, lonely or just finding life difficult at the moment. There is no doubt that singing does put a smile on your face and we all need that.”

Jim Coley, Chairman of Groby Parish Council, sang in the choir and agrees that it has been important community building exercise. “From a personal point of view, taking part in the rehearsals leading up to the Groby Sings concerts were a great experience, meeting new people and making new friends. As a Groby Parish Councillor I feel that the idea, initially dreamt up by the Rev’d Louise Corke and developed and brought to fruition by the brilliant Animateur, Helen Hayes, have achieved something that in the past has rarely been achieved by other than negative occurrences such as large building developments etc. But on this occasion the celebration of music has brought a massive number of the people of the Groby and its surrounds together for one very positive cause.

"The choir consisted of over 200 people from younger children and teenagers all the way up to old fogies like myself and included people who knew that they could sing, people who thought they might be able to sing and more

importantly people who had been told that they couldn’t sing, but everyone did sing and even if I say so myself, brilliantly too. The Choir excelled over the weekend with pinpoint timing, pitch and volume. With audiences of around 400 on each of the two days when you tot up the numbers of people involved, that’s around 1,000 people over one weekend. That is a very large part of the population of Groby who have been involved in one way or another.

"As an experiment in community relationship building it has worked really well, but as it now seems to be developing as a great musical experience and we all hope that Groby Sings will continue from strength to strength in the village.”

Amongst those singled out for thanks at the concerts was Cliff Ashby, who attended every rehearsal for 9 weeks. “It's been a great pleasure to accompany the choir on the keyboard,” said Cliff. “I've been amazed by how quickly they've grown, not just in numbers, but also in confidence and in the quality of their singing. Being on stage with Helen, with so many women, men and children singing their hearts out in front of us, has been an awesome experience.”

More appearances soon

The village choir is now looking ahead to their appearance at the Big Event at Groby College on 1st Sept 1.30pm - 4pm which is organised by the Churches Together in Groby. This is followed on 21st September by Groby Street Fair. The choir have been told to gather at 5.15pm outside St Philip and St James.

Rehearsals for Groby Sings Christmas begin on Monday 30th Sept from 1.15pm - 3pm and 8pm -9.30pm for adults and Friday 4th October 3.30pm - 4.45pm for children. Members are already expressing their enthusiasm on the new GrobySings Facebook page, “can't wait to start again - Mondays are too quiet now really missing it,” said one, whilst another added “Same here, roll on September."

“The Christmas performances are on Saturday 30th Nov 7.30pm and Sunday 1st Dec 3pm at Groby Community College Sports Hall,”said Helen. “We are looking forward to welcoming back all those who were involved in the last project and hope there will be many new faces who would like to join us.”

Do you sing in the choir?

If you have a story about what singing in the choir means to you and would like to share it with readers why not write to the Spotlight or email mychoirstory@grobyonline.tk.

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June 2013 - Tickets now on sale

Rev Helen Hayes, Assistant Curate for Groby, Ratby and Newtown Linford will be conducting and the choir will be supported by pianist Paul Cox, bass player Leighton Mead and drummer Jamie Howard. Cliff Ashby has played a key role throughout the project as rehearsal pianist and has also arranged much of the music on which the project depends.

“Nothing could have prepared me for the response this project has received with over 210 people taking part over the last 12 weeks,” said Helen. “Excitement is running high as we draw nearer to the concert. The tickets are going fast and we are hoping for a packed house so need as much support from our village as possible.”

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April 2013

Community College hosts concert

on June 29th and 30th

For decades television viewers have switched on in their millions to watch talent shows in one form or another. Over the years Hughie Green's Opportunity Knocks seems to have morphed into shows like Britain's Got Talent and The Voice. Sadly one variation only lasted for one series. Last Choir Standing was a BBC show broadcast in the summer of 2008 that pitted choir against choir, a format used earlier for an annual competition on Welsh television from 2003. Presumably either the viewing figures or the pool of available contestants was not great enough to warrant a second series, but the interest in choral singing was far from dead, as the success of Gareth Malone in building choirs from scratch for his various television series demonstrates. This included in 2008 his programme about Lancaster School in Leicester entitled Boys Don't Sing.

Sometimes it seemed that Gareth was working against the odds when trying to encourage people to join and stay with his choirs. No doubt he would have been pleased to have been faced with the instant success experienced by local curate Helen Hayes when she launched her Groby Sings project. With first rehearsals scheduled for children on a Friday afternoon, and for adults on Monday afternoons at 1.15pm and evenings at 8pm at Groby Club on Leicester Road, she must have been somewhat apprehensive about the possible turnout. What if there were only a handful?

Overwhelming response

But when the day came her thoughts had to change, as the focus became how to cope with the stunning response from villagers. It wasn't a handful that came to participate but hundreds. “The response for Groby Sings has been completely amazing,” said Helen. “I had thought that I would be lucky to get 40 people involved and after only 3 rehearsals we already have over 210 people singing.” Although it is true that the singers are predominantly women it seems that the men are also starting to realise that this could be fun. “If there are are any men out there thinking it's only women we have 30 men taking part with more coming each week,” she added. Rehearsals continue at the Club but the concert will now be at the Community College.

For Helen it's about more than just the music as she understands the difference that participation in a project like this can have on people's lives. “The incredible thing is how this is meeting the needs of many people who have been ill, are bereaved, lonely or just finding life difficult at the moment. There is no doubt that singing does put a smile on your face and we all need that.”

It isn't just the member's response which has impressed Helen, as the project has generated much good will from the community. " Everybody is getting into the community spirit," she said. "An example is the Groby Club who have offered their premises free of charge because it is a community event. We are very grateful to them." In addition the Anstey and District Funeral Directors is sponsoring a souvenir recording of the event and the CD cover will be designed by local priest Father Simon Lunby of New Parks.

The choir will be performing in the sports hall at at Groby Community College at 7.30pm on June 29th and 3pm on June 30th. Some of the members have a lot of singing experience but others have none at all. “Many people have come to me and said they have never sung in a choir before and that this will be the first time they have ever performed in a concert,” said Helen.

A recipe for disaster?

Taking over 200 residents, many who have never sung in public before, and turning them into a choir good enough to perform in just two months, may sound like a recipe for disaster. But this recipe has an added ingredient, Helen Hayes. She has the enthusiasm, personality and experience to make it happen.

Helen trained as a primary school teacher at Nottingham Trent University and taught in Nottingham, Derby and Leicestershire until 2002. She began conducting children’s choirs and this led to her working for Music for Everyone as their principal conductor for Vocals, a children’s choir of more than 200. Helen left teaching to become a full-time freelance animateur in 2002. An animateur has been described as someone who helps audiences to appreciate musicians and music in new ways and helps them to enjoy music that they may not be familiar with. They also help the musicians as they develop techniques for reaching out to their communities and encourage as many people as possible to engage with music and music related activities.

Helen has been involved in a variety of exciting projects working with London Symphony Orchestra (which also appears on Gareth Malone's CV) on a project with excluded pupils in Nottingham, music workshops at Foston Hall Women’s prison, drugs awareness projects in secondary schools, an action research project with early years in Leicestershire and taking a schools music workshop in China.

Helen is a member of the international competition choir Choros Amici ,winners of Sainsbury’s Choir of the Year 2000. She has performed in the Royal Albert Hall London, Hyde Park with Pavarotti, Songs of Praise and taken part in many international choir competitions in Ireland, France, Spain and Finland enjoying much success. She is also part of a Christian singing group Octave, described as a “unique vocal ensemble of priests in the Diocese of Leicester.” Helen was ordained as a priest in 2011 in Leicester Cathedral.

There can be little doubt that not only is this going to happen at the end of June but that it is going to be a huge success.

Tickets

The success of the project brings other problems, for example how to deal with requests for tickets for the performances. Tickets will cost £3.50 and priority will be given to choir members, which seems fair. Tickets for anyone else who wants to attend will be available during June, so watch out for posters in village shops or check on www.grobyonline.tk.