Wellington Community Choir
  • Home
  • About
  • Join
  • Choir Info
  • Our events
  • Listen
    • Images
  • Contact
  • Other events
  • Covid
  • Members
  • Secretary's Blog

End of term 4 2021

13/1/2022

0 Comments

 
Tēnā rā koutou katoa

He kōrero tēnei ki a koutou kua tae mai ki te koaia ahakoa ā-tinana rānei, ā-huitopa rānei.
[Greetings to all whether you attended choir in person or via Zoom]
​

From our warm homes to the cold winds of October
​

Picture
At the beginning of Term 4 although we were still in the Delta-restricted Covid Alert Level 2, Te Whaea opened its doors to us again and we were able to resume live rehearsals. We rehearsed in Dance 1, which was larger than our usual rehearsal space. We had all the doors and windows open to ensure good airflow, but October evenings can be very cold! Over time, singers brought extra layers and woolly socks to keep warm. One evening, two sopranos were spotted with hotties (aka hot water bottles if Kiwi is not your dialect)!​

Zoom
Picture
​Since the beginning of Term 4, we have offered the option of participating in rehearsals via Zoom. This allows anyone who is unwell, who is not vaccinated, or who is not comfortable singing in a large group, to participate from home. Over the term, 10 people have availed themselves of this option – some multiple times. While participation via Zoom doesn’t give you the same buzz as being in the same room as other singers, it does allow you to keep up with the current repertoire!
Picture
We entered Orange
​
​​Our last rehearsal of the Term was just after the introduction of the Covid Protection Framework at the Orange setting, and we were able to return to our usual room and to keep our shoes on!

The party must go on​

​In the courtyard, Lala played the African Drum, Andrea played the flute, Sallie played the avocado, and most of the time, Rose led the dancing, although for a while she was rivalled by Andrew with a version of the cancan.
But where would we be without our favourite badly-behaved basses?
Picture
Picture
Picture

​The year that was

​Despite the Covid-related challenges, rehearsals have been filled with joy, enthusiasm, dancing, and harmony. One of our singers who joined in February emailed us to say


“Since I turned up at the first session in February this year, I've felt nothing except welcomed, included and valued. The chance to work on improving my singing among friendly people, and have a regular weekly event, has been amazing. The Choir trip was wonderful, and you have managed the challenges of lockdown zoom practice, and distance and masks so well. 

​Choir has been a true highlight and delight of my year!
” [Sara]
​
Picture
Picture
Picture
Highlights of the year for me include our outdoor rehearsal at Pukeahu, our performance at Wesley Methodist Church, and our performance at Granville Apartments.
Picture

​
A big thank you to
- Lala and Andrea without whom none of this would be possible
- Core Group members who work quietly behind the scenes to make it all happen
- Charles for developing a database to help us manage our record-keeping and communications

Lastly, singers and musicians, I wish you all well for the rest of the summer break and look forward to singing with you again in February!

​Feel free to comment below about your favourite moments, your favourite songs, or anything else you might want to say about singing with the Choir! 😊

​Nō reira ka nui ngā mihi o te tau hou ki a tātou katoa!
[Best wishes for the New Year to one and all!]
​

​Liz Willmott

​Secretary, Wellington Community Choir

0 Comments

End of my first term as secretary

14/10/2021

1 Comment

 
The beginning of my time in this role was spent trying to get the hang of Ralph's systems. In particular, I had to get the hang of a very large spreadsheet, with attendance data dating back to 2006, that was central to recording attendance, to generating new nametags and removing old ones, to generating email address lists, alphabetising nametags, and to printing lists of people who might pay on a weekly basis. It was all a bit intimidating and I was worried about messing things up (which of course, I did, occasionally).

Before long, however, a sudden change to our Covid Alert Level meant that we could no longer rehearse in person. Lala was amazing in stepping up to make Zoom rehearsals both fun and challenging, and singers really got into it - from the funny banter (especially among the basses)  to waving our torches around in the dark singing "I am the light".

It was interesting to observe that Zoom helped singers from different voice parts to socialise in ways that didn't normally happen at venue-based rehearsals. And it was sweet getting to know people's cats and dogs, who were held up to cameras in various homes, so Choir members could appreciate them. Maybe this was a kind of adult version of "Calf Club Day"?

For our last rehearsal of term, we sang at Pukeahu. Over 50 singers turned up and were wrapped up warm for the chill of a Wellington Spring evening. It was a very memorable end to the term with lots of joyous masked hugs and socially-distanced singing!

​
Picture

Liz Willmott

is the current Secretary of the Choir. She took over from Ralph Gracie in June 2021.

1 Comment

    Archives

    January 2022
    October 2021

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed