LGBT History Month is starting on Tuesday, so now’s a great time to reflect on our past. In 1996, the Pinkies were in Tampa to perform at the GALA choruses festival, and some of them are still singing in the choir today! Janine very kindly shared a whole treasure trove of photos from 1995 to 1997 with us – thank you so very much. The Pink Singers really want to record our history before it is forgotten, so if you have material you’d like to share, either publicly or privately, please do send it our way. Find out more about the Pink Singers archive here.
A choir that’s like a family – join us now
Being a Pinkie does not just mean spending a few hours every Sunday singing scales and belting our lungs out in four-part harmony – although this sounds rather nice already! There really is a lot more. It means being part of a group of friendly people with diverse characters from various backgrounds. It’s a group that’s committed to socialising and enjoying one another’s company as well as to singing. For someone who has been in London – and England – for just four months, I’ve had an extraordinary journey!
I can hardly believe what I have done in the short time I’ve been here and I have largely the Pink Singers to thank. Back in September, I was 7,000 miles away in Singapore and getting all psyched up for an exciting time in London. I was looking forward to a new phase in my life, but not without much trepidation at the same time. After all, I was new to the city and knew no-one there, though I had a cousin living in distant Surrey. While I relished the thrilling prospect of a whole new experience in a foreign land, it was somewhat daunting. Continue reading “A choir that’s like a family – join us now”
Carolling to fight cancer
In December the Pink Singers went a-carolling to support the fundraising efforts of Marie Curie Cancer Care. We performed both at Victoria Station and in Trafalgar Square. Here Bruce and Sue tell us about their experiences.
At Victoria Station
A group of enthusiastic Pinkies arrived around the start of the evening rush hour on the eve of 14 December ready to entertain the public with our dulcet tones. It must have been the pre-cursor to the deep freeze — as although covered, the main concourse at Victoria is definitely not heated! Within a few minutes my feet were starting to feel distinctly cold. During this time, many of our throng had adorned ourselves with tinsel, a variety of other decorations and had agreed what the first carol was going to be.
And then they were off….! We launched into our first carol, a little tentatively at first and then as we got used to the acoustics, each other, the words and the music we built up to a good volume, the sopranos doing some rather impressive descants on a few of the numbers. Continue reading “Carolling to fight cancer”
Just like a gleeful prayer!
It is safe to say that the majority of Pinkies are also fans of Glee: singing, dancing, what’s not to like? So now the show is back on TV, it is a great time to relive the Pinkie tribute to Madonna’s classic song done show-choir-style at our new year’s concert last Saturday.
If you missed ‘A Burst of Song’, you missed out on ‘Like A Prayer’ and many other great choral pieces. To avoid disappointment, keep Saturday 16 July 2011 free for the post-Pride gay icon themed Pink Singers summer concert which is all about our signature mix of classical, jazz and pop. Sign up to our newsletter, or follow us on your favourite social networking site for all the latest news.
This week’s episode of Glee was called ‘Auditions’ which is remarkably good timing because the summer season starts on Sunday 13 February 2011 and we’re taking on new members. Why not come along and see whether you like being in a choir like ours? Contact us for more information (it’s a lot less stressful than the TV show – no solos required) and hope to see you then!
A Burst of Song
As a seasoned Pinkie — eight years and counting — you would have thought that concerts were a walk in the park for me. Not so. I still feel the nervous excitement before performances. Our concert ‘A Burst of Song’ at Cadogan Hall on 8 January was no exception.
We arrived at 1 pm fresh and well hydrated — a tip from the top to help us sing — ready for an afternoon of technical rehearsals and preparation for our concert. Our new Musical Director Murray, the choir’s artistic team and Poppy our Stage Manager made sure that the Pinkies and our guest choir from Manchester both sounded and looked our absolute best. Everyone wanted to put on a pinktastic show.
There was a short break after rehearsals — time to get dressed, ready and psyched up. This was the first concert for some choir members. They were understandably nervous of going on stage in front of family, friends and guests.Established members of the choir tried to put newbies’ fears to rest before we climbed the stairs for our first number.
We opened with a lively rendition of Proud Mary complete with an energetic dance routine which celebrated many of Tina Turner’s distinctive moves and shakes. This was followed by John Rutter’s soft and subtle setting of Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine, the jazz classic Lullaby of Birdland, a traditional Swedish hymn Härlig är Jorden and the tongue-twisting With a Lily in your Hand by Eric Whitacre to close the Pinkies’ first half contribution. Manchester Lesbian and Gay Chorus then performed until the interval.
We had a few minutes to mingle with friends and family before the second half began, which was successfully opened by our Manchester friends. The Pink Singers then returned to perform the thoughtful and melancholy Deep River followed by Gershwin’s up tempo I’ve got Rhythm. The mood changed again for Send in the Clowns from the musical A Little Night Music. Next came Billy Joel’s touching ballad And so it Goes. A brilliant arrangement of Madonna’s Like a Prayer from the hit TV show Glee closed the show.
Some choir members shone as soloists while the rest of us danced and pranced gospel style. Following a resounding show of appreciation from the audience, we performed With a Lily in Your Hand and Proud Mary again for our encore. To say that we brought the house down is an understatement! Everyone in the audience seemed to be on their feet clapping enthusiastically. It was a brilliant and jubilant feeling.
We’d had a challenging season for a number of reasons and to achieve that level of appreciation made all the hard work and dedication worthwhile. It will be a night that I will always remember and I am proud as punch of the Pinkie crew for pulling off such an amazing show.
I am still buzzing and eagerly await what’s in store for the Pinkies next season!
Claire
Timeline datestamp: 08 January 2011