Just as I had been influenced to try singing by Gareth Malone’s TV series in 2009 a number of Calderdale Council colleagues had been too. An initiative led by Sarah Gordon of the Children and Young People’s service in conjunction with Kevin Rivet of Calderdale Music Service was launched to establish a community choir. This choir was for adults that wanted to sing for the first time or those returning to singing. Kevin and Sarah successfully recruited a well proven musical director, Lynn Meredith (nee Hudson) who also led the acclaimed Halifax Young Singers. I understand that red wine may have helped to secure her services!
I joined CSI:Halifax in Jan 2010 after attending their Christmas concert. Lynn turned out to be hilarious. But she was also quite determined that we should aim high, despite our humble community choir objective of being accessible to new singers. Every rehearsal, especially initially when held on Monday evenings, provided a much anticipated and entertaining social adventure in itself but also contributed towards the excitement of the enabled performances.
The following 7 years provided many challenging and enjoyable events. I learned so much and gained in confidence as a singer. It was a wrench when personal circumstances brought this era to an end.
The following 7 years provided many challenging and enjoyable events. I learned so much and gained in confidence as a singer. It was a wrench when personal circumstances brought this era to an end.
#TillWeSingAgain
Victoria Theatre Gig 2010
Victoria Theatre
Victoria Theatre 2010
Thank You For The Music
Halifax Minster 2011
The Armed Man - 2011
The Armed Man - Halifax Minster - 2011
The Armed Man
Halifax Festival - 2012
Halifax Festival
Les Miserables Medley
Golcar St Johns - 2013
St John's Porgramme
CSI:Halifax - Mrs Sunderland Festival 2013
The Armed Man - Huddersfield Town Hall 2016
Thom Meridith leads rehearsal
Flyer
Heath Centre Reheasal Room 2010
Seasons Repertoire
Events
2010 - Thank You For The Music -Victoria Theatre
Our first external gig saw us support Calderdale Music Trust event. We did a two songs, Fields of Gold and The Storm is Passing Over and then joined in the finale of Abba's Thank You for the Music.
2011 - The Armed Man - Halifax Minster
We then hosted a Come and Sing Event, a fundraiser for the Overgate Hospice, performing Karl Jenkins 'The Armed Man'. An inspiring event that called for repeating!
2012 - Halifax Festival - Halifax Minster
A song selection for the festival divided into a sacred set to begin the evening and the Les Miserable's Medley to end it.
2013 - Mrs Sunderland - Huddersfield Town Hall
For the non- competitive Community Choirs class of the festival we perfomed True Colours (Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly) as made famous by Cyndi Lauper and the sacred choral piece Benedictus (Robat Arwyn).
For the non- competitive Community Choirs class of the festival we perfomed True Colours (Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly) as made famous by Cyndi Lauper and the sacred choral piece Benedictus (Robat Arwyn).
2013 - St John's - Golcar,Huddersfield
This performance was by invitation, a celebration of Stainer's crucifixion sacred music intersperesed with secular music and with guest perfomers drawn from Halifax Young Singers and Rishworth School.
Summer & Christmas Concerts
Initially held at our rehearsal home at the Heath Centre, Halifax and then when a reorganisation saw that hall return to use as a school we moved to host these at Carlton United Reform Church. Typically mixed repetoire, often with guest perfomers and fundraising these evenings were a fitting end to a season.