I know where to go

We can watch as the moonlight

Dances on the snow

Meet me in winter

And I will show you where

All the stars shine like diamonds

In ice cold air

So meet me in winter

And I will take you there

Thank you all so much for coming along and singing with me over the last couple of weeks. It has been a pleasure to meet you and wonderful to hear all your voices.

As you know, I was originally looking for ten soloists and a further thirty people to form a choir. However, as the auditions went on, I realised that choosing them was simply impossible. Of the ninety people who auditioned, there were far, far more capable singers than I had ever anticipated. I thought long and hard and realised that even the least accomplished singers lacked only experience and opportunity. Everyone showed potential to work very well in the choir.

So… I have spoken with Ian and Jonathan and Anthony, and we have agreed that ALL the people who auditioned are welcome to rehearse and record with us. Yes. All ninety of you!

Small group sessions will take place at The Annexe, 14 Coombe Rd, GL12 7LU.

Venue for full choir sessions and recordings to be announced shortly.

Soloists:

Sunday 11th Sept: 4-6pm

Tuesday 13th Sept: 7-9pm

Saturday 17th Sept: 2-5pm

Sunday 18th Sept: 1pm onwards (recording session)

No need to attend choir rehearsals until the week beginning the 19th – don’t want to confuse you when you’re learning the solo and small group material in the run-up to the studio recording. Once that’s done though, please come to your group’s rehearsals for the week. We need you there on the 24th!

Group 1 (altos)

Friday 16th Sept: 8.30-9.30pm

Monday 19th Sept: 6.30-7.30pm

Thursday 22nd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Friday 23rd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Saturday 24th Sept: 10-2 (recording session)

Group 2 (female tenors)

Friday 16th Sept: 7.30-8.30pm

Tuesday 20th Sept: 8.30-9.30pm

Thursday 22nd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Friday 23rd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Saturday 24th Sept: 10-2 (recording session)

Group 3 (kids)

Thursday 15th Sept: 6.30-7.30pm

Monday 19th Sept: 7.30-8.30pm

Thursday 22nd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Friday 23rd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Saturday 24th Sept: 10-2 (recording session)

Group 4 (kids)

Friday 16th Sept: 6.30-7.30pm

Monday 19th Sept: 5.30-6.30pm

Thursday 22nd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Friday 23rd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Saturday 24th Sept: 10-2 (recording session)

Group 5 (men)

Thursday 15th Sept: 7.30-8.30pm

Tuesday 20th Sept: 6.30-7.30pm

Thursday 22nd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Friday 23rd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Saturday 24th Sept: 10-2 (recording session)

Group 6 (men)

Thursday 15th Sept: 8.30-9.30pm

Tuesday 20th Sept: 7.30-8.30pm

Thursday 22nd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Friday 23rd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Saturday 24th Sept: 10-2 (recording session)

Group 7 (sopranos)

Saturday 17th Sept: 9-10am

Wednesday 21st Sept: 6.30-7.30pm

Thursday 22nd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Friday 23rd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Saturday 24th Sept: 10-2 (recording session)

Group 8 (sopranos)

Saturday 17th Sept: 10-11am

Wednesday 21st Sept: 7.30-8.30pm

Thursday 22nd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Friday 23rd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Saturday 24th Sept: 10-2 (recording session)

Group 9 (sopranos)

Saturday 17th Sept: 11.30am-12.30pm

Wednesday 21st Sept: 8.30-9.30pm

Thursday 22nd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Friday 23rd Sept: 7-9pm (full choir)

Saturday 24th Sept: 10-2 (recording session)

Group 1:

Cathy Batchelor, Liz Greenland, Sally Gregson, Brenda Hellier, Vic King, Wendy Lomas, Pauline Mapp, Sarah McCaffrey, Mel McCree, Kobi Merrikin, Jo Phillips and Chloe Turner.

Group 2:

Ros Davison, Jan Gallimore, Liz Martin, Rosie-Mai Rivers-Cole, Lucy Stacey, Kay Tily and Chris Wheeler.

Group 3:

Dylan Barker-Duggan, Lucy Bithrey, Jack Davies, Ella Doherty, Dylan Harvey, Jay Harvey, Lara Sprosen, Lillie Wadey, Keelie Walker and Regan Walker.

Group 4:

Aggie Adams, Iris Adams, Bryony Dann, Hazel Garrett, Ellie Keane, Niamh Keane, Rachel Mapp, Molly Palmer, Clara Sanders, Daisy Tolfree and Izzy Zedda.

Group 5:

Robert Aldridge, Mark Aldridge, Alex Alliston, David Barker, Jason James and Sam Rice.

Group 6:

Rob Collins, Brian Fisher, Chris Mapp, Paul Marshall, Pete Roberts, Mark Tolfree and Sergio Zedda.

Group 7:

Ima Earle, Olivia Haigh, Alex Hewitt, Jennie Hillman, Margaret Knowles, Phoebe Magnone, Lucy Radmore, Jenny Shrimpton and Gail Wadey.

Group 8:

Rowan Armes, Lisa Cosnahan, Lucy Holmes, Haidee Jackson, Alley Lloyd, Pippa Marrow, Maureen Rowley, Julie Sinderberry, Teresa Thornhill and Lauren Walker.

Group 9:

Sally Bradford, Wendy Bryon, Molly Chinner, Sarah Guy, Sue Jackson, Ruth Jarvis, Izzy Mackinnon, Rachel Mosley, Jane Wisbey,

There were several excellent singers who would have been chosen had the song been pitched a little lower or higher – particular mention to James Aldridge here. Others would have been perfect had we been aiming for a more classical or musical theatre approach – for example, Alex Hewitt, Dan Magnone and Rachel Mosley.

However, after consultation with Anthony, we narrowed it down to the following twelve:

Molly Chinner, Ruth Jarvis, Alley Lloyd, Phoebe Magnone, Paul Marshall, Sam Rice, Clara Sanders, Will Sanderson-Thwaite, Jenny Shrimpton, Lillie Wadey, Lauren Walker and Joe York.

We would like to invite Molly, Ruth, Alley, Phoebe, Paul, Sam, Clara, Will, Jenny, Lillie, Lauren and Joe to rehearse with us specially over the next few days, prior to the studio recording of the soloists on the afternoon/evening of Sunday 18th Sept. At this point we can’t guarantee who will be singing what – some may get solo lines, others duets or small group harmony parts – but we’d like you all to learn all of the song and see where we get to!

Soloists – there are three things you need to do next:

1. Please register on this site so we have everyone’s info on our database. Without this, there’s a danger you may miss out on information.

2. Once you’ve read this, please post a comment or email me directly, so that I know you’re up to date and available.

3. Watch out later today for dates and times of rehearsals, which will appear on the site in the next few hours…