19 December Update

Before we start, the Choir Management team would like to thank all COTH members who have attended and supported (both physically and financially) - and generally been a fabulous group of women - over the last six months. Without you there would be no Choir on the Hill!

Your management team are Vicky, Lizzy, Angela, Nomi, Erin and Kathleen

In this week's Bulletin you can read about:

• Our Christmas performance at Stanley Arts

• About next term (when we start back, subs etc)

• 'Getting to know you' - COTH Member profile - this week, our ah-may-zing Angela!

Week 15

Well, what can I say? We did ourselves proud this week with our return visit to Stanley Arts for their annual Christmas concert.

With Penny conducting us (or as she puts it, 'standing at the front and waving') we gave a wonderfully vibrant and spirited performance. After a fun set, our Twelve Days of Christmas - with audience participation - went down a storm! There was amazing feedback from many in the audience who said they loved our set and thought we were fabulous. So well done everyone - even if it does mean that many of us will be singing Feliz Navidad and 'watcha warri warri whap' for the next year at least 😂

THURSDAY 9 JANUARY - New terms starts

We are on a break from now until January 9th when we start back for our new term. We'll share more on our plans for the new year in a future bulletin. For now, however, we can tell you we'll be introducing some new songs as well as revisiting some from our existing repertoire in order to prepare for our performance in February (see below).

All the rehearsal dates are in the Calendar. From Jan 9th, there will be 6 weeks of rehearsals before we break for a one week half term. Then there will be a further 6 weeks of rehearsals until we break for two weeks for Easter.

Subs

PAYG is at the same rate of £10 per session and subscription remains at £9

DATES FOR THE DIARY

SATURDAY 15 FEBRUARY Fairfield Halls, Amateur Arts Showcase

Fairfield Halls are hosting an Amateur Arts Showcase in the public open spaces of their venue on Saturday 15 February between 2pm - 7.15pm (our timing is tbc - see below).

We took part in their hugely enjoyable Croydon London Borough of Culture event last year and have been asked to participate again. This is to showcase the very best of the local area's talent and, as last year, it's likely to be a mix of song, music and dance acts.

LOCATION

Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon, CR0 1JD

TIMING (TBC)

We are yet to agree our specific time slot but last year we were on in the early afternoon just after lunch. As soon as we have more details, we will share.

As we've said above, the event is held in their public open spaces which, for us last year, was on a temporary stage in their entrance foyer. This means that along with members of the public, friends and family may come to watch for free.

As this is the day after Valentines ('Gallentines' day) we're going to pull together a love and friendship themed set with a mix of songs from our existing repertoire with some new ones that Elena will introduce next term.

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.

Angela Russell, COTH Treasurer

Tell us a little bit about yourself - where you're from/where you live now etc.

I’m a South London girl through and through. I grew up in Deptford and Lee Green in South East London where I lived with my parents and my sister. Music was the centre of our world, and we listened to it as a family. I remember Sunday afternoons, back then when nothing much happened, and there was nowhere to go, my parents would get out their vinyl records, stack them up on the stereogram (showing my age), and we’d dance the afternoon away singing our hearts out to reggae hits and the odd County tune. Interesting fact - Jamaicans are huge Country music fans!

My sister, who was two years older than me, and I used to learn dance moves to songs in the top 20 and then perform them for our parent's delight (at least I think it was to their delight). There was a fair bit of Showaddywaddy in there (Under the Moon of Love, anyone?) and Brotherhood of Man. We used to buy a magazine called Disco 45 which contained song lyrics for hits in the Top 40; this is where I got my 80s song lyrics expertise from!

I met my partner Simon in 1992, and in 1998, I moved to Balham (his part of town). We now live in Streatham with our two grown-up children Lauryn, 25 and Elliot, 21.. 

What are your favourite songs:

That’s a hard question to answer as I have many favourites and the list is still growing. Songs conjure up different emotions and memories, so it’s hard to choose. I tend to get obsessed with songs. The last one was Back on 74 by Jungle. When I was pregnant with my daughter, I listened to Wicked Games by Chris Isaak over and over again. Lauryn Hill released The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill the year before my daughter was born. Doo-wop (That Thing) is one of my favourites from that album. I was big into grunge and indie in the 90s, so there are a few standout hits that invoke fun memories, especially songs by the Verve. I also love Disco, Soul, Motown, Rare Groove, Ska, New Wave, Pop Rock, Alternative Pop, Tectonic, House music, Swing Jazz, I could to on. I have favourites amongst all of these genres, across the decades but I will say that any music Kate Bush produces is always superb.

• To get you in the mood for a big night out

  Gone are the days when I used to belt out music as I got ready for a night out, but if I were to play anything, it would usually be my tune of the moment.

• To lift your spirits when you're feeling blue

  The first that springs to mind is Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind, and Fire. It’s such a joyous song and the music video is a riot of energy and excitement that just builds and builds.

• To belt out at the karaoke

It used to be I Will Survive by Gloria Gayner, but that was at the birth of Karaoke being popular over here in the early 90s. After singing that for almost 10 years straight, I now quite like Rocket Man by Elton John.

Are there any types of music you're not keen on and why?

Punk and Metal leave me cold! 

What brought you to Choir on the Hill and how long have you been singing with us?

I lost my sister to cancer in 2022 (my dad died in 1996 and my mum in 2018). I was very lost and needed something to get me out and take my mind off things. My go to would usually be dancing (I have tap lessons and belly dancing lesson). However, when a friend (and ex work colleague) Emma Cashmore shared details of the choir on her Facebook page, it sparked something in me. I felt too shy to just turn up on my own so I met her for lunch and then went along with her to try a session. That was in January 2023 and I have barely missed a session since! 

Which female musical artists do you admire and why?

Kate Bush (in case anyone didn’t know) because she is a genius. I admire anyone who sees music as an art form. Another is Bjork. She does what she wants and doesn’t particularly care who wants to listen to it. Both of them have reimagined their own songs. Both seek interesting collaborations to create amazing music. Kate Bush’s collaboration with The Trio Bulgarka was amazing. What a sound! They both communicate beautifully through their music.. 

Who are your female role models?

I don’t have a particular role model. I am inspired by many women in both the public eye and whom I have come across in life.

Tell us a surprising or little known fact about yourself.

I found out a while ago that back in the 90s Vicky and Lizzy shared a flat on a road in Lee just around the corner from a flat I had moved into. Small world!

What is your favourite thing about being part of Choir on the Hill?

Every person I have met and the friendships I have formed. I don’t think there is anywhere where I have felt at home so quickly. I feel I can totally be myself.

If you've made it this far in the bulletin, thanks for reading!