In this week's Bulletin you can read about:
Rehearsal news
28 Nov and 20 Dec: Christmas performance updates
'Getting to know you - COTH Member profile' - get to know your fellow COTH members with this fun Q&A. This week, what better way to follow 'Ruth 1' than with the lovely Ruth Leaney, aka 'Ruth 2'!
Week 11
COTH are now the proud owners of a microphone (and the mixing/amplification equipment that goes with it)! As soon as our DIVAs laid eyes on it they wanted to test it out. I've included a short clip of the the lovely Nomi having a first run through of Santa Baby. There will be plenty of opportunities in the future for anyone wanting to develop their microphone technique - this was something requested in the feedback from our recent social.
THE SONGS
This week we looked at all of the songs in our set list for the 28th:
Silent Night+ Italian
The power of Love
Somewhere only we know
My Favourite Things
Cosy little Christmas
Feliz Navidad
The 12 days of Christmas
All I Want for Christmas is You
All of these songs are available in the Christmas Lyric and Audio Library.
CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCES
There is still time to register for the two Xmas performance opportunities this year- the Crystal Palace Christmas Light Switch-on and Stanley Arts Christmas Concert. Registration forms for these events are now live: You can click here to register.
THURSDAY 28 NOVEMBER Christmas Light Switch-on
You can get all the specific details for this performance here:
We will be singing as part of the Christmas street light switch-on ceremony for Crystal Palace.
LOCATION
Westow House, 79 Westow Hill, Crystal Palace, SE19 1TX
TIMING (PM)
7.00 -7.40 - warm up (upstairs at the Westow)
7.45 - 8.15 - COTH performance
8.15 - drinks in the Westow for anyone who wants to stay.
For anyone who has paid by subscription we will be offering you a refund - please get in touch if you would like to receive this. Similarly, for PAYG members, it will not be obligatory to pay. However, we still need to cover hall hire, as this is paid in advance, as well as Elena’s time and other running costs, so if you are happy to contribute your usual fee towards this it would be very much appreciated.
FRIDAY 20 DECEMBER Stanley Arts Christmas Concert
Last year we had a great time singing as part of the Stanley Arts Christmas Concert. We've been invited back again this year!
LOCATION
Stanley Arts, 12 South Norwood Hill, SE25 6AB
TIMING (PM)
6.00 - There will be a sound check for anyone who can make it.
7.30 - Concert starts
8.20-8.45 - We will be singing in the final act of the first half
10.15 - Concert ends
We are invited to watch the rest of the concert from the balcony as we did last year and then join in on stage for the final group finale of 'All I Want for Christmas is You'.
Friends and family can purchase tickets from Stanley Arts:
GETTING TO KNOW YOU - COTH Member Profile
Each week we'll be speaking to different members of the choir so you can get to know them a little better. Please speak to Vicky if you'd like to be featured.
Ruth Leaney, COTH Member
What are your favourite songs:
Get Up - Vernon Burch
Small Town Boy - Bronski Beat
Take On Me - Aha
Once Around The Block - Badly Drawn Boy
Favourite karaoke song:
Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen
(And Halo - Beyoncé - if I’m allowed two!)
Are there any types of music you're not keen on and why?
I’m not keen on - Heavy Metal - too aggressive.
What brought you to Choir on the Hill and how long have you been singing with us?
I decided to look for a local choir as I love to sing and I wanted to meet new people, having only lived in Crystal Palace for less than a year. I also wanted to experience what a choir was like as I’d never been in one before.
I’ve been singing with COTH for two years.
Which female musical artists do you admire and why?
Kate Bush - for her incredible creativity, originality and freedom of expression
Tracy Chapman - also for her originality and her musical talent and self expression
Nina Simone - her voice, her talent!
Sinead O’Connor - Her talent. Her humbleness.
Who are your female role models?
All of my closest friends, my mum.
Tell us a surprising or little known fact about yourself.
I stayed/lived in Tokyo for 2 months when I was 17 on a modelling contract
Terrifying and amazing!
What is your favourite thing about being part of Choir on the Hill?
The JOY it brings. Which comes from doing what I love with a group of supportive, inspiring women..
DATES FOR THE DIARY
The information below will be added to our Calendar and details will be shared on our Performing pages as and when we know more.
Click on the arrows to expand for more information
Thursday 28 November - Christmas Light Switch-on (outside Westow House pub, Crystal Palace)
We will be singing as part of the Xmas light switch-on ceremony for Crystal Palace. There will be a brass band playing outside The Westow from 7pm to around 7.30/7.45.
The lights will be switched on and then we'll then be singing inside from 7.30/7.45 - 8/8.15pm (about 30 mins of Christmas set-list). We can stay at the Westow for drinks for anyone who wants to.
30 November Cabaret for Cancer Care Map UK
14 December COTH Christmas Party at Mozart's, Penge
Friday 20 December - Stanley Arts Christmas Concert