5 December Update

In this week's Bulletin you can read about:

• What we did in this weeks' rehearsal

• 12 Dec: BBC Radio London recording

• 20 Dec: Christmas performance update

• 'Getting to know you - COTH Member profile' - get to know your fellow COTH members with this fun Q&A. This week, the fabulous Ivonne!

Week 13

It was a very damp and raining evening with a few people missing either due to illness (or Christmas parties 🍷🥳) but it was still a great rehearsal for those that made it!

This week we started learning 2 new songs for our performance at the Stanley Arts Christmas concert on the 20th December (see below): Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree and Let it Snow. The lyrics and backing tracks are in the Christmas Lyric and Audio Library but not, as yet, the usual song recordings from Elena as she had a raging cold this week! We'll get them in there as soon as possible but be assured that, as we don't have a lot of time before our next performance, they are not complicated harmony-wise and we'll go over everything again at next week's rehearsal.

We also covered Feliz Navidad (we need to remember to repeat the first part of the song before the section in boxes) and practiced The Power of Love ready for the recording with BBC Radio London. Unfortunately, we can't do the POL for our performance on the 20th as another choir has it in their set :(

DATES FOR THE DIARY

THURSDAY 12 NOVEMBER - singing for BBC Radio London

Next week we'll be recording with BBC Radio London as part of a feature they're doing on local choirs at Christmas. Representatives from the BBC Radio London will come to us on Thursday 12th Dec. We'll meet at 8.30am and then from around 9am they will let us do a warm up. We’ll record the song we have chosen (The Power of Love) around 9.20 and then, at around 9.50, we'll do a live interview with a couple choir members, who can then introduce the song recorded earlier.

We are also really pleased to confirm that Elena is free that morning and able to support us - it's also her birthday that day too!

We shared a poll for anyone wanting/able to take part. If you would like to be involved but didn't vote in the poll, please speak to Lizzy.

LOCATION

Vicky's house: Flat 4, 66 Thicket Road, Anerley, SE20 8DR

TIMING (AM)

We recommend you arrive at 8.30am so that we are all ready and assembled for 9am.

9 - 9.20 warm-up

9.20 recording song

9.50 interview on air

Song played out after the brief interview

14 December COTH Christmas Party at Mozart's, Penge

COTH’s CHRISTMASSY SOCIAL🍷🧑🏻‍🎄👯‍♀🎄🧀🥂🍾🎟🎤🎁

When: Saturday 14 Dec 2024

Starts: 19:00

Ends: 23:00

Where: Mozart Cafe, Anerley Rd, SE19 2AS

There will be a Secret Santa (organised by Nomi) and we'll be in touch closer to the time about food etc.

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!

You can see the event plan and set list here. Song order and performance notes etc will be shared next week. Unfortunately Elena is unable to join us for this performance so for one night only, Frazer will be leading us for this concert. He'll be joining our rehearsal on the 19th so that we can run through everything with him.

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 go on stage for the joint finale (with all the other performers) of 'All I Want for Christmas is You'.

Friends and family can purchase tickets from Stanley Arts:

https://stanleyarts.org/event/stanleys-christmas-concert/

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.

Ivonne Fernandes-Bonnar, Choir Member

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

I was born in Nairobi, Kenya, eight years after my three siblings. A surprise!

We moved to England when I was 18 months old.

I have a degree in Theatre Design but straight after Uni worked as a Scenic Artist in a theme park under construction in Düsseldorf, Germany (basically a building site) which was so much fun after the initial shock of porter cabins and hardly any women!!! That’s where I met my husband, Tim. Why he was there is a long story, though, as he’s actually a teacher!

I did this job at various locations for a few years before becoming a freelance artist, selling my work until I started working with adults with learning difficulties and facilitating them to make art, which is what I still do now and love it. It also slots in with family life as I am also carer for my middle son.

For five years me and Tim lived on Ross Road, off South Norwood Hill, then moved back to my original family home where we brought up our children with my dad. This house holds so many memories. My childhood combined with that of my children.

My boys, Danny and Cuan were able to grow up knowing their grandad and my dad was able to live out his days in his home when we eventually became his carers. He passed just before my daughter, Rosie, was born but we brought her home from the hospital on his birthday which was special.. 

What are your favourite songs:

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

  My musical taste is so eclectic that I often look to movie soundtracks - my favourites at the moment are Cruella - it’s got fantastic tunes on there from Blondie to The Rolling Stones and The Zombies. Another go-to soundtrack is Guardians of the Galaxy with Come and Get your Love, Hooked on a Feeling and Mr Blue Sky.

  I also love some Ska- The Specials, Madness. Though a party at my house can’t end without some Black Eyed Peas especially I Gotta Feeling and Pump It!.

• To lift your spirits when you're feeling blue

  Maybe some Beautiful South, Buddy Holly, The Dirty Dancing soundtrack or a bit more rogue - The Strauss Waltzes transport me somewhere else entirely!!

  Also Nora Jones got me through sleepless nights heavily pregnant with my first son, Danny.

• To belt out at the karaoke

I don’t do a lot of karaoke but COTH is changing me!! I’d probably go for some REM or Creep by Radiohead. Though I have sung Stand By Me with hubby on guitar in a bar in Spain- that’s our go-to!

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

I am very tolerant of most music tastes but then some actually make me angry!! Certain Jazz is one such - it’s like it is deliberately trying to wind me up!! Others I can’t define till it’s happening!!! But you’ll know when it does!!!.

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

I’d mentioned to Ruth Herity that I miss singing in a choir and she was more proactive than me and found COTH’s taster session in Feb 22 and dragged me along.

I’m still very grateful to her!

Which female musical artists do you admire and why?

Growing up I loved pretending to be Madonna in the privacy of my bedroom!! And loved that she evolved so well over the decades. But never thought much of her personality!!

Tanita Tikaram stood out to me as a timid adolescent looking for a role model. There weren’t many of us brown girls up there!!

Dolly Parton is a more recent revelation to me as an unlikely role model for young girls. You can look how you want and still be a strong and principled woman, capable of standing up for yourself and others. I also admire the likes of Kate Bush and others over the years for moving the boundaries of expectation and creativity. Right now I admire any real talent in this era of instant fame.

Who are your female role models?

My mum was very ill when I was 13 and then we lost her when I was 19 to a separate but related illness. As a mother of a 21, 18 and 12 year old, I can only now appreciate what she was going through, especially after a scary time for my own health in 2018. I wish the me now could go back in time and give her some comfort. She suffered in silence trying to keep life as normal for us as she could.

My elder of two sisters stepped into the role of matriarch through those times and held the family together. I will always be grateful to her for that..

Tell us a surprising or little known fact about yourself.

I won a trophy as Fastest Goan Woman when I was 40 in a 100m race, which put to rest a regret I had for being too scared to take part as a kid in the Annual Goan Sports Days every year for years!! I used to be a sprinter for school but it was a love/hate thing as I got so nervous!!

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

I love singing and socialising with a bunch of amazing women and each time getting to know individuals a little better in the little breakaway groups that naturally occur for different events. It’s a gift that keeps on giving!! I’m so proud and grateful too to our committee for, not only seamlessly taking over the running of everything behind the scenes, but also for the improvements and embellishments that are making so much difference to the whole of COTH.

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.

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