It's our half term break but, in the background, your Management Team has been busy and we have lots of updates to share with you!
In this week's Bulletin you can read about:
7 November Rehearsal and social
includes a note about subscription renewals
28 Nov and 20 Dec: Christmas performance updates
NEW FEATURE: 'Getting to know you - COTH Member profile' - get to know your fellow COTH members with this fun Q&A. This week, it's about our lovely Nomi from the choir Management Team.
THURSDAY 7 NOVEMBER - REHEARSAL & SOCIAL
On our first week back, there will be a normal rehearsal followed by a social at the school. We will have some food and drink (alcohol is permitted) and there will be an opportunity to socialise as well as provide feedback/suggestions in an informal setting.
Please bring along savoury and sweet snacks to share with the group and anything that you'd like to drink.
We realise it's a week night so if you want to stay for just some of the time, that's OK. If you stay with us the whole time, we'll make sure everyone leaves safely - we'll try to organise lifts home and bus stop buddies where possible/necessary.
TIMING (PM)
7.30 - 7.45 - refreshments
7.45 - 9.00 - normal rehearsal
9.00 - 11.30 - social with food and drink
SUBSCRIPTION RENEWAL
As you know, the choir is managed by volunteers and operates under a not-for-profit basis. We rely heavily on membership payments so that we can provide engaging, high-quality rehearsals in a comfortable, spacious venue.
Subscription payments allow us to plan ahead, particularly when it comes to running, promoting and growing the choir. For anyone who was able to pay a full term subscription payment this term, thank you. For those of you who paid for half, if you want to keep paying by subscription, it's time to renew after the half-term break. As a reminder, subscription payments are at a discounted rate of £9 full rate or £4.50 concession.
This half term payment will be for 7 weeks which at full rate is £63 and at concessionary rate is £31.50.
We understand that not everyone can pay by subscription - and that's absolutely fine - for PAYG members. your regular attendance will help ensure we can keep our wonderful choir up and running.
CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCES
When we start back, it'll be time to start on our Christmas repertoire! We have two Xmas performance opportunities this year- the Crystal Palace Christmas Light Switch-on and Stanley Arts Christmas Concert. Registration forms for these events will be sent out soon but here is all the information we have so far:
THURSDAY 28 NOVEMBER Christmas Light Switch-on
We will be singing as part of the Christmas street light switch-on ceremony for Crystal Palace. Note: the tree lights switch-on ceremony will be on the 30th November - we will not be taking part in this as it clashes with Frazer Scott's cabaret show in which several of our members are performing.
LOCATION
Westow House, 79 Westow Hill, Crystal Palace, SE19 1TX
TIMING (PM)
7.00 - 7.30/7.45 - There will be a brass band playing outside the Westow.
7.30/7.45 - Light swich-on ceremony
7.30/7.45 - 8.00/8.15 - COTH performance inside the pub (c20 mins of Christmas set-list).
8.00/8.15 - 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)
TBC - There will be a sound check in the afternoon/evening 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 or I will find victims.....erm, I mean volunteers of course!😂
Naomi Rocha
Welcome Manager and Secretary for the COTH Management Team
Tell us a little bit about yourself - where you're from/where you live now etc.
So I’m a born and raised Essex first daughter, first granddaughter of an English mother and Armenian Scottish father. I lived in Chelmsford when it was just a town 😂 which is the heart of Essex!
I have travelled to most of South London postcodes and moved 23 times since I moved to London when I was 18 to study drama, theatre and dance studies. I’ve also lived North (where I trained as a teacher) and West London. I now reside in a beautiful upper floor flat just off the triangle with my husband, Rod and my two girls Luna and Skye. I’m still a teacher and I run my own baby class business.
What are your favourite songs:
To get you in the mood for a big night out
Anything old skool R&B, (Mary J Blige, En Vogue, backstreet, Montel Jordan vibes), Garage, dance or sometimes a bit of disco 🪩
‘Heaven must be missing an angel’ or ‘More than a woman’ makes me think I’m in a John Travolta movie.
To lift your spirits when you're feeling blue
Recently I’ve been listening to Spotify’s recommendations for witchy, autumnal music - and there a song from Agatha All Along called ‘The Road’ which I love. Other good songs are:
‘Mr blue sky’ - Electric Light Orchestra
‘Jump in the line’ Harry Belafonte
‘Dog days are over’ Florence and The Machine
‘Insomnia’ - Faithless
To belt out at the karaoke
Any 80’s/90’s diva ballad!
‘It’s all coming back to me now’ - Celine Dion is a favourite or ‘Super Trouper’ by ABBA.
Are there any types of music you're not keen on and why?
Metal and Grime - just the names sound harsh and rough! I like to dance and sing to my music - these genres don’t really allow for rhythm 😂
What brought you to Choir on the Hill and how long have you been singing with us?
Always wanted to be part of a choir and I’d just had my Luna so was looking to find female friends where the topic of discussion was beyond ‘babies’ I joined the beginning of 2022!
Which female musical artists do you admire and why?
So I love all of the old divas - Judy Garland, Bette Midler, Barbara Streisand, Diana Ross, Cher, Dolly Parton, Tina Turner, Stevie Nicks, Joni Mitchell, Kate Bush - I feel their stories are amazing and that they all had to fight hard to get to where they are.
Who are your female role models?
My two best friends - Alex ( for the way she has slayed post partum depression and motherhood) and Linds (for slaying cancer twice).
Tell us a surprising or little known fact about yourself.
I can sleep anywhere, anytime! I’ve been know to fall asleep in clubs, building sites, mid sentence…😂 nothing can wake me up- even slept through a hurricane once!
What is your favourite thing about being part of Choir on the Hill?
The life long friends I’ve made! 💗 and the fact that everyone is so supportive.
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
2 November - Ralph Perring Court
Ralph Perring Court, Beckenham, BR3 3LX
A return visit to a retirement housing complex in Beckenham whose motto is 'Interesting people living life to the full'.
All the details you'll need about the performance are on the Performing page.
7 Nov - extended night for a social at the school (after rehearsal)
Thursday 28 November - Christmas Light Switch-on (outside Westow House pub, Crystal Palace)
14 December COTH Christmas Party at Mozart's, Penge
18 November - Free workshop / 30 November Cabaret for Cancer Care Map UK
Friday 20 December - Stanley Arts Christmas Concert