Welcome to the Members Section of the Website Here you can find the following information  General Information (this page) - Useful information about how we operate, rehearsals, concerts etc.  Notices - this page has any useful notices, times, dates etc.  Calendar - a calendar of dates  Rehearsal Schedule - look here for the current rehearsal schedule, if available  Concerts - Concert information for members - Go to Events page for public information and to buy tickets when available  General Learning Aids - this page has a list of general links to aid with learning as well as links to practice files  Learning Files and Videos - this page contains links to learning files and videos for the pieces we are currently learning.  Archive of Sheet Music - this contains links to the sheet music (non- copyright) that we have used over the past few years. The members section is designed to be a useful resource. Please email Anne Hicks with any links, ideas or suggestions. General Information for New and Existing Members Download pdf booklet We usually put on one concert in December and another in the Spring. The Christmas concert is generally comprised of carols, old and new and other items of a seasonal nature. In the Spring we mainly sing a major choral work in one half of the concert and other complementary pieces in the other half. In the Spring we often hire a musical ensemble and soloists, depending on what the work requires, to accompany the choir. This year at Christmas we will be singing: Rutter’s Magnificat; Whitacre’s Seal Lullaby; Mary Did You Know; a version of Rudolph and a selection from Carols for Choirs. Other Christmas music will also be sung and the Burnham and Highbridge Band will join us at various times. The Programme for the Spring is to include Handel’s Messiah. Other music will be included. Sometimes we are asked to sing at other events. It is a good way to promote the choir. You will be advised of any other dates. At Christmas we will sing carols somewhere to boost society funds.This is often at Sanders and is in the daytime. This year the 14th and 15th of December has been suggested, between 1pm and 3 pm. We have a Facebook page. ' The Burnham and Highbridge Choral Society' . You have access to this whether or not you are a Facebook member. Just search the name and it should come up. However, if any of your family members or friends are on Facebook it will helpful to us if they 'like' the page. If we post something on that page it can be accessed through your normal search engine. General ongoing information will be emailed to you, or you will receive a phone call. Our website is burnhamandhighbridgechoral.org.uk and will have lots of useful information for you. It is also possible to purchase concert tickets from the website. Anne Hicks runs the website and will be pleased to receive information for it. Her contact details are below. We meet on Thursday evenings in the Methodist Church Hall in College Street, Burnham at 7.30pm. We have a break at 8.30pm and take it in turns to make the refreshments and wash up at the end of the evening. We ask for 30p towards your cup of tea/coffee. During the evening a 'Bonus Ball' game is offered at 50p a go. The money is shared equally between the Society and the person who has chosen the Saturday National Lottery Bonus Ball number. We will also happily accept 5ps on a weekly basis or provide a 'money bag' should you wish to store them at home. In addition members can give to or purchase items from a stall.Running a good Choral Society requires funds so if you can think of a good money raiser please suggest it. We also suggest that you investigate Easy Fundraiser which will donate a few pence to us each time you shop online, at no expense to you. Subscriptions which cover the costs of rehearsals and our musical instruction can be paid in full in September or in two halves in September and January. New members may attend three rehearsals before they commit themselves to joining. At the moment the sub is £90 for the two terms or two payments of £45. This is a very reasonable rate compared with other Societies. If you pay Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax you can fill in a Gift Aid form which will help the Choral Society which is a registered charity. THE CONCERTS A few weeks before a concert you will be asked to sell some tickets and will be given two for this purpose. If you can't sell them they must be returned to the Society for sale on the night. Please do your best to sell them as we rely on the income. If you need more they are available. This year the Christmas Concert will be held on Thursday, 12th December at 7.30pm in The Catholic Church, Highbridge Road, Burnham . There will be a rehearsal for this in the church on the evening of the 11th. The Spring concert is planned for Saturday 26th April at 7.30pm. Venue to be confirmed. If you borrow a score from the Librarian please take great care of it and rub out any pencil notes you have made before it is returned. Our Librarian, Pauline Baker, can be contacted on 01278 782913 DRESS CODE FOR CONCERTS For the gentlemen, a dark suit and white shirt. A coloured bow tie (provided) is worn at the concerts. Ladies wear plain black long-sleeved blouses and long black skirt or trousers. A pink scarf is provided by the Society but like the bow tie must be returned if you leave the choir. COMMON DATES Return in September is the first Thursday in September, this year it is 5th September. The return in January is on the Thursday 9th January. On the Thursday evening following the Spring Concert there will usually be a Social Evening. We each bring a plate of food to share, volunteer to do a 'turn' if brave enough, and enjoy a quiz. It is a good fun evening. Please bring a guest if you would like to. Following this there is a very short term (about 6 weeks) referred to as The Summer Sing, where those who wish to get together to sing some more informal music. This is a very relaxed time and is just for fun.