London's LGBT+ Community Choir
With just two weeks to go till Razzle Dazzle, marching at Pride London was in many ways an extra special rehearsal. We were really impressed by the people we met on the march and how friendly everyone was. This particular couple caught our eye, and for being such good sports, we want to offer them complimentary tickets to come see our show. Do you know who they are? If so, please let them know and ask them to contact us on news@pinksingers.co.uk. We hope they are free on 16 July 2011!
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-czxomPGFdM
This year’s Pride march was a special one for London town, because it was the city’s 40th. London’s first march, in 1972, was born of the Stonewall riots in 1969 in New York, when the LGBT community finally said enough is enough and demanded equality. Since then progress has been slow and, overcoming setbacks like Section 28, we are a lot nearer to our goal. Continue reading “Pride London celebrates its 40th”
This week saw a small group of Pinkies putting on a show for a very worthwhile charity event. We had been invited by the homelessness charity St Mungo’s to perform for both clients and staff at the launch of their 2011 Action Week. The focus of this special week is on enabling homeless people to rejoin society with an emphasis on accessing healthcare and advice on getting back into employment.
Not only was our performance going to be treat for the audience but it also gave us the chance to show off some of the numbers we will be performing at Razzle Dazzle on 16 July. The concert also included some excellent solos from Phillip, Chris, Sally-Ann and some Debussy on the piano from our very own Musical Director, Murray, along with a group number from the very talented Gin and Harmonics.
It was a wonderful evening and various numbers from Tchaikovsky to Tina Turner had the audience giggling with glee and tapping their feet in delight and I feel proud that the Pink Singers were involved in both entertaining and supporting such a great charity.
Tim
Timeline datestamp: 28 June 2011
Putting on a great choral performance is about making sure that the musical instruments we use, our voices, are in tip top shape. All the Pink Singers love singing, but not all of us know how to create that perfect sound without tiring ourselves out at the same time. Enter the gorgeous Fiona Dobie who took us through a vocal workshop two weeks ago. Here two of our tenors, Simon and Chris, talk about what they learned.
“Having had vocal training in the past I was looking forward to the choir’s vocal workshop with Fiona. I was not disappointed: Fiona’s teaching style is wonderfully simple but engaging.
With such a large group to instruct, Fiona concentrated on the foundations for a strong voice. Starting with posture she has us all getting in touch with our pelvic floor and tucking our ‘tails’ in, a most amusing sight in the studio mirrors! Then came simple warm-up exercises that we can use at home before note-bashing, as well as in rehearsal. Next she tackled sustained breath control – particularly relevant this season as the choir is to perform Samuel Barber’s ‘Agnus Dei’. With the basics covered, Fiona applied what we had learned to some of our current repertoire, ironing out some problems straight away. Continue reading “You’ve got to work that voice”
I was last in Bristol 25 years ago when I was hosting a promotional event for Club 18 – 30 Holidays! Well, that was an intriguing chapter in my life, but this time I’m back with Europe’s longest established LGBT choir and my first trip away with the Pinkies.
Everyone’s very excited at our guest appearance with Sing Out Bristol and the chance to preview a whole new bunch of songs that we’re just introducing to the repertoire, but by the time I get to the venue for the afternoon rehearsal the air is stiff with tension and complexions are looking too wan. Ironically, this is the joy of Pinkies folk. We do what we do because it is tremendous fun, but equally there’s a real determination to do it as best as we can. Continue reading “Singing out with Bristol”
