We will be joining with our friends the London Gay Men’s Chorus tonight to stand in solidarity with our friends in Florida, following the nightclub shooting that killed over 50 of our LGBT family in Orlando.
Please join us at the vigil on Old Compton Street in Soho tonight from 7pm. There will also be a live broadcast of the vigil on the LGMC Facebook page.
Tag: concerts
One Night Only
Cadogan Hall, London
The ‘One Night Only’ concert was alto Nicki’s first experience of performing with the Pinkies. Here she relives how she ‘popped her cherry’ and how being a part of the choir has transformed her life.
Performing with the Pink Singers on 4th June was my first concert in over 20 years and what a way to re-ignite my passion for music. All those years ago I studied piano at the Royal College of Music but I wasn’t one of the stars and unfortunately the experience sapped my confidence and with it my love of music. For the past couple of years I’d started to think about doing something musical and had thought about joining a choir, but I didn’t want anything too stuffy or serious. So soon after a friend of mine suggested that joining the Pink Singers would be a laugh, there I was auditioning.
The day of the concert itself was long, but I wouldn’t have changed any of it. We started the rehearsal and sound check at 12.30 and with only about an hour’s break before the concert we were already shattered and I can’t imagine how those of the choir who had built the stage beforehand were feeling. It must have been pure adrenaline that kept us all going. Just before the concert there was a ‘cherry-popping’ session where all of us newbies were given our pink rose – and we had the chance to get 1 of our 5 a day!
My first hurdle was getting onto the stage, which was alright on the night. Thankfully we had the rehearsal first and this was my opportunity to trip over the speaker without too many people seeing. When we finished the opening number and I hadn’t messed up the choreography and the audience broke out into hearty applause, I knew it was going to be OK. Despite several things going wrong in the run through somehow it all came together and between us we remembered all the notes and the words. The soloists and compéres did an amazing job, and one of my friends even said that no-one got the dance moves wrong. I’m not sure that’s true, but if the audience didn’t notice we’re not saying anything….
I had persuaded my mum and stepfather to come along on the night. My mum is very supportive, but bearing in mind that she is definitely not into choirs and got 9% in her school music exam I was nervous to know what they would make of it. I needn’t have worried though because I’ve never seen them so enthusiastic, and it continued for a good 30 minutes on the phone the following day!
So with the concert over and us all on a high it was time for the after show party. Although I’d only been with the choir for a few months I’d already been to a couple of the parties and I had an idea of what was to come. The play list had clearly been selected to include every choreographed song that the choir had ever done. At one point I found myself surrounded by about 50 people all swooping down around me as “Ain’t no mountain high enough” belted out of the speakers. I escaped early – at about 2am – because I knew I had to be up for the Pinkies brunch the next day. There’s officially no rest for a Pinkie….
So less than three years after joining I’ve made so many amazing friends, I’ve travelled to India and Germany with the choir, arranged a song, led a project to re-organise how the choir runs and set up a band with two fellow Pinkies. Three years ago I couldn’t have imagined how my life would have transformed. Thank you Pinkies you’ve made me very happy.
Timeline datestamp: 04 June 2016
Q&A with the Pink Singers Artistic Team
Our Artistic Director David Baxter (pictured 
right) and Musical Director Murray Hipkin (left), squeezed in time for a chat.
Here’s what we found out about our upcoming concert One Night Only, with less than a week to go until curtain up!
How will next weekend’s show be different to previous Pink Singers concerts?
David Baxter: Given the popular theme, we’re pulling out all the stops for this one! The concert will have a different feel in terms of mood I think. We’ve got two fantastic comperes who will run the whole show, slick choreography for more numbers than normal and we’ll be showcasing a number of our choir members through various solos, duets, trios and even a small group! It’s definitely going to be a night to remember.
What has been the most challenging thing about the repertoire this time?
DB: There are a lot of words! I think the most challenging thing so far has been making sure we follow the choral arrangements we have. Sometimes when you see a show at the West End, you get used to the tune but need to remember that we’re now singing 8-part harmonies and can’t all be Elphaba in Defying Gravity….
Murray Hipkin: Choosing it; there was so much material.
What are you most looking forward to?
DB: I’m really excited to see the audience’s reaction to whole event. My vision is for it to be a theatrical spectacular which showcases some show-stopping favourites, as well as some pieces they may not have heard out of context before.
MH: Close friends might imagine that it’s the bottle of Pinot Grigio waiting at the end – but I am looking forward most of all to watching everyone realise that they do know all the words and all the moves and that actually concerts can be lots of fun rather than something to be fearful about.
David, What is it that you find most inspiring about being in the Pinkies and specifically, working on the artistic vision for this concert?
DB: I love watching the whole concert come together when we start to run it; that’s where the real creativity begins for me. Seeing people ‘off copy’ allows them to think more about what they’re singing, what the song means to them and perform it to the very best of their ability.
Murray, what do you love most about being a conductor?
MH: Being a conductor is a great job for a passive-aggressive control freak with borderline narcissistic personality disorder. But it seems to suit me too. 😉 Actually, the conducting is the easy bit; it’s the preparation that is challenging and I do love my work as a teacher and enabler.
Who are your musical heroes from the West End/Broadway/Opera and why?
DB: Hmmm…that’s tricky. There’s a few actually; all women too! But my top choice would have to be the legendary Imelda Staunton. Having recently seen her in Sweeney Todd I was stunned by her energy. Apparently Sondheim saw the Press Night, grabbed her hands and said ‘You gotta play ‘Rose’…’ and she did. Just when I thought she couldn’t get better I then saw Gypsy – and was blown away by her energy throughout, so much so that I saw it twice. My other choices would be Cynthia Erivo and Jenna Russell.
MH: Currently Glenn Close. Oh sorry, did I mention Glenn Close again? I never got bored with her performance in Sunset Boulevard. And I rehearsed it for five weeks, saw it at least eight times, and played in twenty-three performances! Or maybe Emma Thompson.
I did once work with Sondheim (my main hero) but it was before cameras were invented.
If you had to give the choir just one piece of advice on the night of the performance, what would it be?
DB: Relax and Enjoy – it’s time to perform all your hard work you’ve put in!
MH: Eat a banana in the interval. Or a flapjack. Preferably dripping with Manuka honey, which (we are reliably informed by Dr Iain in the basses) is a good humectant.
Is there anything that you do when you perform, rehearse, compose or conduct that others might find unusual (any quirks, tricks, useful tips)?
DB: Sometimes I end up on a chair getting very excited when I can see how well a piece is going. They probably think I’m all a bit nuts…and they’re probably right!
MH: If I get tense while performing I visualise the tension as a liquid and little taps in every joint of my body. I open the taps one by one and let the tension flow to where it’s needed. If I am playing the piano it’s quite useful to have tension in my fingers, or I wouldn’t be able to press the keys, but I don’t want it in my shoulders or my jaw. If I’m conducting I like to keep some tension in my legs because without it I would end up in a heap on the floor, but tension in the hands and neck is a bad thing. (If you see a puddle on the floor where I have been standing, that will be why.)
So do make sure you come and see all this work in action – next Saturday, Cadogan Hall, 7pm – book your tickets here now!
Preparing for a Solo
Bass Tom tells us about his preparations to sing a solo section in our upcoming concert…
You may already know that singing in a group has calming benefits for your brain and can even boost your immune system. But do those benefits apply to singing a solo piece? I’m not so certain!
Singing a solo can be a very daunting experience, especially if you’re not a professional singer. Why would you put yourself through that?!
Well for this season’s concert, our theatrical extravaganza One Night Only, I decided to do just that. The part in question is only a few lines in a song, but to me it’s a pretty big deal.
When I was then offered the part I managed a smile – but inside my brain was screaming at me OH GOD, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! Needless to say I wasn’t feeling any of the ‘calming benefits’!
Performing doesn’t come naturally to all of us; however they do say the greatest things happen outside your comfort zone. Over the past few weeks I’ve tried to adopt a few tips for how to approach a solo with confidence, and make it seem like you’ve got it nailed.
So here are the tips I’m following while preparing for next month’s solo:
- Choose the song wisely
This season’s concert One Night Only is a showcase of songs from musical theatre and opera. The song I auditioned for is from one of my favourite shows, so when it appeared in the repertoire I was already looking forward to singing it with the choir.
If you already have an interest in the song, your enthusiasm should come across in your audition. It also helps if the song is in a suitable key for your voice.
So if you’re able to choose a song, use that choice to your benefit.
- Prepare for the audition
Of course, you need to prepare for the audition. But already knowing the song doesn’t always help, because you might be singing a different arrangement.
Also, preparation doesn’t just mean knowing the piece you’re expected to sing. Some classic tips for getting ready for an audition are to get a good night’s sleep the night before, and warm up properly.
But for me the most useful tip I found was to simply relax and try to enjoy it!
- Take many showers
I’ve tried various locations, and the shower seems to be the best place to practice. Not only is steam great for the voice, but bathroom acoustics are awesome. Plus, you have the best audience.
Practice your solo piece in the shower. Do it once a day until concert day, or your housemates beg you to stop (whichever is sooner).
- Get the body language and posture right
I’m still learning this. A good starting point for posture is keeping the shoulders back and jaw relaxed. But since my song is from a musical, it’s sung by a character. So I have to think about their feelings, and what’s happening in the plot.
I think this is the most difficult part. It’s not easy to pretend to be someone else, especially on stage. Actors make it look easy. But the best performances come from being sure of yourself, and a big part of that is expressed in your body language.
- Concert-ready
On the day of the concert, it’s important to relax. All the preparation is now done. I know I’ll be OK for most of the day, but then become a bag of nerves about half an hour before the concert starts!
And then there’s the all-important warm-up. If you’ve not got a warm-up routine sorted, try these tips from Celine…
One tip to settle any last-minute butterflies is to step outside of yourself for a second, and watch how you’re feeling. This disconnect can help put those nerves into perspective. Then relax into the performance and go for it!
Singing solo in the Pinkies
One of the things I love about the Pink Singers is that solo auditions are open to all choir members. It’s not about having the best technique – if you’re passionate and you want to sing your heart out in front of hundreds of fans (we have the best fans), you can do it.
Soloists get extra rehearsal time, with support and coaching from our artistic team to help your performance.
So if you want to know more, why not try it for yourself – come join us in our next season starting from September! Oh, and if you want to know the song is – well you will just have to wait and see, grab your tickets here now!
By Special Arrangement
Cadogan Hall, London
Philip, a longtime member of the Pinkies, looks back on a concert of some of our most special arrangements…
Our winter concert in 2016 showcased the diversity and talent of our members through their very own choral arrangements and compositions. Most pieces were specially arranged for the Pinkies by choir members, along with some iconic classical commissions. Well, we needed an excuse to sing Handel’s Zadok the Priest! Also included was a piece specially commissioned for our 30th Anniversary in 2013 from composer Richard Thomas: I, Choir.
The concert opened with an arrangement of the Electric Light Orchestra’s Mr Blue Sky by Michael Derrick, who joined the choir in 1987 and has been arranging songs for us ever since. Kate Bush has many fans in the choir and two of her songs were featured: Running Up That Hill (arranged by Simon Pearson) and This Woman’s Work (arranged by Andy Mitchinson).
One of our most prolific arrangers is Chris from the basses, who joined the choir in 2008. We sang his first ever arrangement for the Pinkies, Bob Dylan’s Make You Feel My Love, as well as Chris’s arrangements of Frankie Goes To Hollywood’s Relax and a new version of epic pop hit Chandelier by Sia. Soprano Naomi came up with a fabulous arrangement of Video Killed The Radio Star, while ex-Pinkie Fran composed some beautiful music to the poem Lake Isle of Innisfree by the Irish poet W.B.Yeats.
The concert also featured two talented home-grown small groups comprised of current and ex-Pinkies– the bubbly Barberfellas (www.barberfellas.com) and the high-spirited Gin and Harmonics (www.ginandharmonics.com). For those of you who missed the concert most of these pieces were recorded for our latest CD appropriately entitled By Special Arrangement.
Timeline datestamp: 14 January 2016