A COMMUNITY MUSIC FESTIVAL BRINGING TOGETHER OUR DIVERSE AND SPECIAL CITY
20th September 15.00pm. FREE ENTRY
ST PETER’S CHURCH ST PETER’S STREET DERBY DE1 1SN
The Lord-Lieutenant’s DERBY COMMUNITY MUSIC FESTIVAL
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Author Archives: Vicki Clemerson
Concert – Chorus Song
Duffield Singers are taking part in a joint concert featuring many choirs, with two concerts at 1pm and 7pm.
Pop, Classical, Musicals, Choral, Folk and many more songs will be heard.
New Year – New Hobby
DUFFIELD SINGERS FIGHT BACK
Duffield Singers, 'bout forty of us, Community spirit is our big plus When Covid began way back in March, In the year twenty twenty, not still as starch No! Now came an effort to all stay in touch. Thinking of ways, nothing too much! Right at the start, on WhatsApp, began, A group for the Tenors, a rather mixed clan. With four tenor ladies and four tenor men Looking out for each other, closely knit then. Newsletter begun to keep all in touch, Its aim, to lift spirits with jokes and the such Fortnightly Zooming began at the start To keep us together, rarely apart. Some of the choir members didn’t join in What ever the reason that’s up to them Singing some songs, and chairman’s report, Breakout for a chat - who with? What a sport! Singing alone is not quite the same And we all wait for Dana’s song - that’s why we came! New committee, elected September, Thinking caps on, they all got together. Meeting on Zoom of course, (who knew of that Before Covid began, not even the cat)! Keeping in touch with choir members is key! By phone, text or email, or all of the three Especially those poorly, when cards will be sent No visits allowed, but kind words are meant. One thing we can do now we’re all in tier three Is to meet for a walk, t’will be fun, you’ll see Six or less people, two metres apart, Dogs Daisy and Floss right there at the start And maybe some singing outside at St Marg’ret’s But sadly the weather contriving against us We’ll do them again, we’re not giving up! We’re doing our best, this community club. And even the threat of tier four and lockdown Will not stop the Duffielders, not keep them down! Still Zooming and texting and singing alone And lots of emailing and chats on the phone Tenors and Sops have their own WhatsApp groups, Another for Everyone - gather the troops Whoever you are in this choir, there’s a space! We’re the ‘Singers of Duffield’, we all have a place! Vicki Clemerson 2020
An Evening of Christmas Carols – 14th December 2022
MORE CHRISTMAS EVENTS
Family Festivities Weekend
Sunday 4th December 2022
As part of the Family Festivities weekend, Duffield Singers will be performing a selection of Christmas songs at 13.00 & 14.15
Fabulous Festive Favourites
Saturday 17th December 2022
Duffield Singers will be performing as part of this Festive concert along with All Saints Singers & Imari Ladies Chorus. Presented by Derby Music Academy.
Christmas Songs at Haddon Hall
Tuesday 20th December 2022
More Christmas Singing in the Great Hall at Haddon Hall at 12 midday and 2pm.
10 YEARS IT HAS BEEN!
Last Wednesday was the end of my first decade with the Duffield Singers. We had only half of our rehearsal, and then the last part was put aside for a celebration by the committee.
The wonderful way in which various members got up and regaled, with great hilarity, to the assembled company, stories about me AND MY QUIRKS – quirks of which I have been hitherto in some instances blissfully unaware, filled me with great delight.
Some speakers said such positive things about me that I eventually thought they were really not talking about me anymore! There were also frequent references to the work of our piano accompanist, Anne [my wife], whose work I have always admired and with whom I have had an understandably close musical working relationship for many years.
It has been, and still is, every week when we meet to rehearse, a sheer pleasure to be making music with a group of people who are at all times prepared to put up with the expectations of a musical director who writes quite intricate music for the different voice parts – and then expects them to sing with understanding and precision worthy of a traditional professional choir!
The Duffield Singers are always prepared to try harder and concentrate again – after umpteen attempts at the same phrase – in order to achieve a better result! This is a commendable and most unusual characteristic of an amateur choir – but is the reason that this group of people are turning; indeed, HAS TURNED into the formidable group of singers that they are!
I am indeed fortunate, and therefore grateful, for the privilege and opportunity to work with the Duffield Singers every Wednesday evening:
They are a part of the meaning of life afforded me through the medium of singing!
October 2022
NEXT CONCERT:
New committee 2019
At this year’s AGM on March 27th, Liz Sheppard and Jacqui McCance retired from the committee.
Their places were filled by Di Cox, (Soprano), and John Shoesmith (Bass).
Committee jobs 2019 are as follows: Avril Parkman – Chairperson – Chris Paynter – Treasurer Vicki Clemerson – Secretary & Social Media Di Cox Minutes – Secretary Jean Arnot – Alto Voice Rep Martin Osborne – Bass Voice Rep Di Cox – Soprano Voice Rep Tim Clark – Tenor Voice Rep John Shoesmith – Committee Member responsible for recruitment of new members Maureen Cook – Committee Member All committee members will be responsible for finding gigs for us to perform.
Dana de Waal – Musical Director Pianist – Adam Howell
Derwent Valley Wind Band news article
Following the joint concert with Derwent Valley Wind Band in November 2018, a cheque was presented to the Royal British Legion. Chris Paynter and Martin Osborne were there to represent Duffield Singers.
No Time to Practise?
Dear adult choir member,
I’ve heard that you don’t have time to practice your music outside of rehearsal.
Look, I get it. You have a life outside of chorus (and if you don’t – we should discuss immediately!). Perhaps you’re working a 40+ hour a week job, you have a family to take care, a partner that you need to spend time with, other hobbies (even other choruses!) that are equally as important to you, you’re dealing with the daily struggles of life (AKA #adulting) and you’re just tired. Trust me, SOML!
And you think, hey – I’m not getting paid for this! You signed up for the chorus because you love it.
You love the feeling that you get when a chord locks perfectly and shivers crawl up and down your spine. You enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow choir mates. You are inspired by your director and the other leaders in the chorus every day. And you love performing and making a musical impact on your community.
But here’s the thing: when you signed up for this chorus, it became more than you. You became part of an ensemble, a group, a second family. And as an individual member of this ensemble, you made a commitment to hold up your end of the bargain. And yes, this bargain includes practice outside of rehearsal.
I’m not asking for you to spend hours practicing every week (unless you want to!). But I am asking that you put in some time, any time, every week. Raise your hand if you’ve ever gone multiple weeks without practicing (sheepishly raises hand while typing). That’s what I thought. Can we all agree that this is not the kind of commitment we want to give to our choir? We are doing ourselves a disservice and we all deserve more than that! Even if it’s only putting in five minutes a week working on your toughest measure, any time is better than no time at all.
So, here is my request: take out your calendar and choose a date and time for a weekly practice session. You don’t need to put an end time, only a start time. That way, you can rehearse for as long as you feel like. But the trick is to actually get a practice session on your schedule, start the session every week, and hold yourself accountable.
The joys of singing don’t come without some work. And we all have to work! You can’t have a chord lock perfectly if someone doesn’t know their pitch. You can’t have the camaraderie of choir if your fellow choir mates are feeling let down. You can’t have leaders who inspire you if they aren’t themselves inspired by the music. And you can’t have an impact on your community if you’re not putting in the time to accurately develop and deliver the message.
My point: make some time, any time. And then let’s make some beautiful music together!
Sincerely,
Duffield Singers committee members