I’ll start with choir related stuff…

Cantare Choir (initially the Northfield Community Choir), has grown loads and now has 47 regular members! We performed at the Northfield Arts Forum “Arts March” Wrap Party (which is quite a mouthful, I didn’t write the name) and it was amazing. We performed at the event last year and there were about 7 of us, cowering on the stage. This year we were too plentiful to fit on the stage and had to stand in front. The choir are sounding really great. In the words of one of our members very honest husband; Until now we have been ok with moments of being really good, in this performance we were really good with moments on being ok. (I’m paraphrasing but you get the gist).

I’m also about to set up my new daytime choir. I’m going with the name Cantare again (as there is a chance a couple of folks have heard of us and so it seems to make sense) but I’m calling it Cantare Daytime.

My initial plan was to set up 2 daytime choirs, one for for new mums, (and pregnant ladies), where they are welcome to bring their babies along and be able to have a good old sing. There are so many activities for the babies and so little for the parents that I want to begin to address that balance. I want to call this group Cantare Screamers.

The main daytime choir would be for anyone else who wants to come to a choir in the daytime. I know that lots of people don’t like driving in the dark and others work shifts or are unable to go out in the evening due to childcare or other reasons. I’m sure there are lots of other reasons why people can’t go to an evening choir and would prefer a daytime choir. So I’m setting one up.

For now I’m setting up the choirs together and if they prove popular then I may split them up into the two different groups. I really want to run a choir with the name “screamers” just so that I can say the name to people.

I’m in the process of creating the poster which will tell all but for now the new choir will be:
Where? Rowheath Pavillion, Bournville, Birmingham
When? Tuesdays, 9.30 – 10.30
How Much? – £5 a week but pay for 4 weeks and get one free.
FIRST SESSION FREE

Please let me know if there is anything I’ve not mentioned.

Maybe see you there

Beck

I’m now nearly 38 weeks pregnant so going to take a few months off to spend time with my family.

After doing a show at nearly 37 weeks pregnant, as soon as I have lead Cantare Choir in putting on their friends and family concert on Monday 29 October I intend to take it easy for however many days I have till baby two arrives.

I loved, loved, loved doing the Hindsight (and the Dark Set), tour and was chuffed to bits with the audience responses, especially from people I didn’t know. It felt great to be able to do both sets. I can’t wait till things settle down with baby two and I get to take the show on the road again. I’m off to a conference of the National Rural Touring Scheme on Thursday to represent a project I’m involved with, Unicyclying Wombat (http://www.unicyclingwombat.co.uk/) and after the great feedback I’ve had on my mini tour I hope to travel a little further afield with the show later on in 2013.

There are lots of other possible projects being floated about that I will tell more as and when things get sorted.

But lastly, for those who didn’t see the show (or those who did) I’ve posted some new videos on the watch/listen page…

2 events in the next fortnight.

Cantare Choir – of which I am the Musical Director (oo how posh) are having a free taster session on Monday 28, courtesey of the Northfield Arts Trail. It’s 7.15 at St Nicolas Place on Kings Norton Green. There will be singing and cake. And it really is free.

We’ve done a Facebook page, which is here….

https://www.facebook.com/events/354997984560531/

And then, on a completely different note, for those who like to sing solo, I’m putting on another open mic piano event. There’s a posting about that on this website too, under the title of, rather predicatbly, Open Mic Piano Night. The first one was a great success so we’re doing another. Come along and sing before it gets too popular to get a slot (I hope).

If you want to know anything about either of these events do get in touch by email rebecca@upsidedownwan.com or you can find me on facebook and twitter under the name upsidedownswan

Lastly but very much not leastly, I went to a gig that blew my mind a bit so I wanted to share the singer with you; Camille O’Sullivan. So exciting and I have taken so much inspiration from it. I feel like turning my show upside down.

There is the Burton Borough Vocalist Concert at 2.30, featuring their harmony choir.

Then at 6.00 there is the Vocalist concert featuring the Northfield Community Choir – now, probably, going by the name of Cantare.

Then at 8.30 I am doing my new one woman (with the lovely Jess) show.

I’m really excited about all of the shows and I’m working my socks off on the logistics of all three and trying to make sure my new solo show gets the same great response as my previous show received last year.

You can book tickets to see the shows on this page

mac performances website