August 04, 2010
March 29, 2010
Email from Emma to Choir :
Hi Everyone,
Thank you very much for some lovely singing today. Everyone seemed delighted with this afternoon's service and the military people have asked me to pass on their thanks to you and to say how much they enjoyed the choir's singing.
Just confirming arrangements for Holy Week. Apologies: the way things have worked out this year mean that the schedule is rather heavy. So can I thank you all in advance for your hard work and dedication to St George's.
MAUNDY THUR: 8pm service, 6.45pm rehearsal
(earlier than previously advertised - due to last Thursday's practice being cancelled: we need to get through stuff for Easter weekend)
GOOD FRI: 2nd half of Three Hours Service: 1.30-3pm (please arrive by 1.20pm to be ready to go in AT 1.30pm)
Compline, 8pm service, meet at 7.30pm for quick sing through
SAT: 8pm service, 6.45pm rehearsal
SUN: normal day (2 services) - 10.15am for 11am, 4.15pm for 5pm
Thursday 8th April - no choir practice
Sunday 11th April - no choir
Thursday 15th April - choir practices resume
Sunday 18th April - sung services resume: morning = men and boys, evening = men
Many thanks again,
Emma
Thank you very much for some lovely singing today. Everyone seemed delighted with this afternoon's service and the military people have asked me to pass on their thanks to you and to say how much they enjoyed the choir's singing.
Just confirming arrangements for Holy Week. Apologies: the way things have worked out this year mean that the schedule is rather heavy. So can I thank you all in advance for your hard work and dedication to St George's.
MAUNDY THUR: 8pm service, 6.45pm rehearsal
(earlier than previously advertised - due to last Thursday's practice being cancelled: we need to get through stuff for Easter weekend)
GOOD FRI: 2nd half of Three Hours Service: 1.30-3pm (please arrive by 1.20pm to be ready to go in AT 1.30pm)
Compline, 8pm service, meet at 7.30pm for quick sing through
SAT: 8pm service, 6.45pm rehearsal
SUN: normal day (2 services) - 10.15am for 11am, 4.15pm for 5pm
Thursday 8th April - no choir practice
Sunday 11th April - no choir
Thursday 15th April - choir practices resume
Sunday 18th April - sung services resume: morning = men and boys, evening = men
Many thanks again,
Emma
February 03, 2010
Current Choir Diary to Easter 2010
The Choir Diary up to Easter is now available online by clicking HERE
Scholarships
As you may know, St George's Vestry approved a new scholarship scheme intended to enhance the musicality of the choir by inviting applications from young musicians in Northern Ireland.
We are delighted to announce that the successful applicants for 2009 - 2010 were:
Tor Alexander
Alan Burns
Marcus Frew
Matthew Jeffrey
and
Will Fox-Roberts
Congratulations to all!
June 10, 2009
Choir Trip to England, Summer 2009
Provisional Itinerary
Wednesday 19th August
· Belfast International, depart 2.50pm (Easyjet flight 166).
Please make your own way to airport.
· Arrive London Luton 4pm
· Coach to All Saints Pastoral Centre (SPEC), London Colney. (see details below)
· Arrive c. 5pm
· Settling in time / unpacking
· Talk 6pm – rules and expectations
· Dinner at SPEC 6.30pm
· Organised games for choristers
Thursday 20th August
· Breakfast at SPEC 8.30am
· Depart from SPEC for St Albans in coach 10am
· Arrive St Albans 10.30am
· Free time in St Albans. Picnic lunch (provided)
· Rehearse in St Albans song school 2-3.30pm
· Rehearse in church 3.45pm
· Break for changing/robing 4.30pm – refreshments provided
· Evensong 5pm
· Depart St Albans 6pm, arrive SPEC 6.30pm
· Dinner at SPEC 6.30pm
· Organised games for choristers
Friday 21st August
· Breakfast at SPEC 8.30am
· Free time in morning at SPEC: activities to be organized (tbc) – e.g. walks, mountain biking, football
· Lunch at SPEC 12.30pm
· Rehearsal in SPEC chapel 2.30-4pm
· 4pm break – refreshments provided
· Service in SPEC chapel 5pm, lead by Colin Young
· Dinner at SPEC 6.30pm
· Organised games for choristers
Saturday 22nd August – FREE DAY
· Breakfast at SPEC 8.30am
· Choristers trip to Legoland (and anyone else who wants to go)
· Gents can make own plans (you’re welcome to come to Legoland!)
· Dinner at SPEC 6.30pm for choristers and anyone else who wants it
Sunday 23rd August
· Bags to be packed before breakfast
· Breakfast at SPEC, 8am (choir uniform to be worn, there won’t be time to change later)
· Depart SPEC in coach for Windsor 8.45am
· Arrive Windsor 9.30am
· Rehearse in “dungeon” at Windsor Castle 9.30am
· Matins (men only) 10.45am. Choristers to be entertained in dungeon – bring books/computer games
· Eucharist (men and boys) 11.45am
· Lunch in restaurant (this will be paid for by the vestry for all singers)
· Afternoon rehearsal 3.30pm
· Break 4.45pm – refreshments provided
· Evensong 5.15pm
· Depart in coach for airport (London Luton) 6.30pm
· Dinner at airport (choristers paid for – gents please make own arrangements)
· Depart 9.30pm (Easyjet flight 173). Arrive 10.45pm
NOTES:
1. All meals / snacks / legoland entry are paid for for the choristers: other than pocket money the boys do not need to bring any money with them.
2. Robes and music will be transported for us by one of the chorister’s parents who is taking a car over.
3. Gents: you can opt out of any meals at SPEC if you want (e.g. on Saturday if you spend the day on London you might want to opt out of evening meal). But I will need to know your plans in advance.
4. Gents: London Colney is a short taxi drive from St Albans (which has the highest density of pubs in England) for evening entertainment possibilities…
5. Gents: there is a good train service from St Albans into London.
ACCOMMODATION – ALL SAINTS PASTORAL CENTRE
All Saints Pastoral centre, Tel: 01727 828888
Shenley Lane, Website: www.spec.org.uk
London Colney,
St Albans,
Hertfordshire, AL2 1AG
SPEC began in 1993. The name developed from the Latin 'Speculum Vitae' which translates to 'Mirror to Life'. SPEC is also an acronym for Spiritual, Personal/Peer, Educational, Community. It is a residential centre that works with young people, either in organized programmes run by the centre or by providing accommodation for groups with self-led programmes.
The accommodation
The accommodation is mainly in bunk beds in shared rooms. Bedding is provided.
Guests need to bring their own towels and toiletries.
Rooms available are as follows:
Sleeping 8 people: 1 room
Sleeping 6 people: 1 room
Sleeping 4 people: 4 rooms
Sleeping 3 people: 1 room
Sleeping 2 people: 8 rooms
Sleeping 1 person: 1 room
Insurance
SPEC has public liability insurance for events and activities run by their teams on site, e.g. archery / assault course etc. Please arrange your own travel insurance.
Meals
Three meals are provided daily (although we won’t necessarily be in for all three).
Breakfast 8.30am Cereal, toast
Lunch 12.30pm Baked potatoes, pizza, salad, baguettes
Fruit, yoghurt
Dinner 6.30pm Hot meal, usually choice of main courses, incl. vegetarian option
Tea, coffee, squash and biscuits are available at break times
There are vending machines on site.
Other Facilities
Basketball
Assault course
Archery range
Football pitch
40 acres of land including Woodland – mountain bikes available for hire
Games room
People coming on choir tour 2009
Boys Probationers
Joshua Booth Jonah Davey (own travel arrangements)
Rowan Brown Jude Herdman
Ewan Docherty Saul Herdman
Michael Forrester Jake Lowry (own travel arrangements)
Michael Hong Oliver Rhodes
Michael Shorten
Jacob Somerville
Parents
Stephanie Alexander
Claire Booth (“official” adult with chorister supervision responsibilities)
Jacqueline Brown
Jill Docherty (“official” adult)
Ruth Forrester (Robes mistress)
William Forrester
Jun Hong
Weiru Hong
Adrienne Shorten
Caroline Somerville
Back row under-18s
Tor Alexander (bass)
Alan Burns (tenor)
Matthew Jeffrey (tenor)
Callum Maxwell (tenor)
Men
David McElderry (alto)
Geoff Higgins (tenor)
Brian Hunter (bass)
Steven Irwin (bass)
Mark McGuire (tenor)
Ed McMullan (alto)
Jonny Roberts (bass)
Staff Other
Richard Campbell Geraldine Black
Emma Gibbins Agnes Cairns
Colin Young Raymond Cairns
Wednesday 19th August
· Belfast International, depart 2.50pm (Easyjet flight 166).
Please make your own way to airport.
· Arrive London Luton 4pm
· Coach to All Saints Pastoral Centre (SPEC), London Colney. (see details below)
· Arrive c. 5pm
· Settling in time / unpacking
· Talk 6pm – rules and expectations
· Dinner at SPEC 6.30pm
· Organised games for choristers
Thursday 20th August
· Breakfast at SPEC 8.30am
· Depart from SPEC for St Albans in coach 10am
· Arrive St Albans 10.30am
· Free time in St Albans. Picnic lunch (provided)
· Rehearse in St Albans song school 2-3.30pm
· Rehearse in church 3.45pm
· Break for changing/robing 4.30pm – refreshments provided
· Evensong 5pm
· Depart St Albans 6pm, arrive SPEC 6.30pm
· Dinner at SPEC 6.30pm
· Organised games for choristers
Friday 21st August
· Breakfast at SPEC 8.30am
· Free time in morning at SPEC: activities to be organized (tbc) – e.g. walks, mountain biking, football
· Lunch at SPEC 12.30pm
· Rehearsal in SPEC chapel 2.30-4pm
· 4pm break – refreshments provided
· Service in SPEC chapel 5pm, lead by Colin Young
· Dinner at SPEC 6.30pm
· Organised games for choristers
Saturday 22nd August – FREE DAY
· Breakfast at SPEC 8.30am
· Choristers trip to Legoland (and anyone else who wants to go)
· Gents can make own plans (you’re welcome to come to Legoland!)
· Dinner at SPEC 6.30pm for choristers and anyone else who wants it
Sunday 23rd August
· Bags to be packed before breakfast
· Breakfast at SPEC, 8am (choir uniform to be worn, there won’t be time to change later)
· Depart SPEC in coach for Windsor 8.45am
· Arrive Windsor 9.30am
· Rehearse in “dungeon” at Windsor Castle 9.30am
· Matins (men only) 10.45am. Choristers to be entertained in dungeon – bring books/computer games
· Eucharist (men and boys) 11.45am
· Lunch in restaurant (this will be paid for by the vestry for all singers)
· Afternoon rehearsal 3.30pm
· Break 4.45pm – refreshments provided
· Evensong 5.15pm
· Depart in coach for airport (London Luton) 6.30pm
· Dinner at airport (choristers paid for – gents please make own arrangements)
· Depart 9.30pm (Easyjet flight 173). Arrive 10.45pm
NOTES:
1. All meals / snacks / legoland entry are paid for for the choristers: other than pocket money the boys do not need to bring any money with them.
2. Robes and music will be transported for us by one of the chorister’s parents who is taking a car over.
3. Gents: you can opt out of any meals at SPEC if you want (e.g. on Saturday if you spend the day on London you might want to opt out of evening meal). But I will need to know your plans in advance.
4. Gents: London Colney is a short taxi drive from St Albans (which has the highest density of pubs in England) for evening entertainment possibilities…
5. Gents: there is a good train service from St Albans into London.
ACCOMMODATION – ALL SAINTS PASTORAL CENTRE
All Saints Pastoral centre, Tel: 01727 828888
Shenley Lane, Website: www.spec.org.uk
London Colney,
St Albans,
Hertfordshire, AL2 1AG
SPEC began in 1993. The name developed from the Latin 'Speculum Vitae' which translates to 'Mirror to Life'. SPEC is also an acronym for Spiritual, Personal/Peer, Educational, Community. It is a residential centre that works with young people, either in organized programmes run by the centre or by providing accommodation for groups with self-led programmes.
The accommodation
The accommodation is mainly in bunk beds in shared rooms. Bedding is provided.
Guests need to bring their own towels and toiletries.
Rooms available are as follows:
Sleeping 8 people: 1 room
Sleeping 6 people: 1 room
Sleeping 4 people: 4 rooms
Sleeping 3 people: 1 room
Sleeping 2 people: 8 rooms
Sleeping 1 person: 1 room
Insurance
SPEC has public liability insurance for events and activities run by their teams on site, e.g. archery / assault course etc. Please arrange your own travel insurance.
Meals
Three meals are provided daily (although we won’t necessarily be in for all three).
Breakfast 8.30am Cereal, toast
Lunch 12.30pm Baked potatoes, pizza, salad, baguettes
Fruit, yoghurt
Dinner 6.30pm Hot meal, usually choice of main courses, incl. vegetarian option
Tea, coffee, squash and biscuits are available at break times
There are vending machines on site.
Other Facilities
Basketball
Assault course
Archery range
Football pitch
40 acres of land including Woodland – mountain bikes available for hire
Games room
People coming on choir tour 2009
Boys Probationers
Joshua Booth Jonah Davey (own travel arrangements)
Rowan Brown Jude Herdman
Ewan Docherty Saul Herdman
Michael Forrester Jake Lowry (own travel arrangements)
Michael Hong Oliver Rhodes
Michael Shorten
Jacob Somerville
Parents
Stephanie Alexander
Claire Booth (“official” adult with chorister supervision responsibilities)
Jacqueline Brown
Jill Docherty (“official” adult)
Ruth Forrester (Robes mistress)
William Forrester
Jun Hong
Weiru Hong
Adrienne Shorten
Caroline Somerville
Back row under-18s
Tor Alexander (bass)
Alan Burns (tenor)
Matthew Jeffrey (tenor)
Callum Maxwell (tenor)
Men
David McElderry (alto)
Geoff Higgins (tenor)
Brian Hunter (bass)
Steven Irwin (bass)
Mark McGuire (tenor)
Ed McMullan (alto)
Jonny Roberts (bass)
Staff Other
Richard Campbell Geraldine Black
Emma Gibbins Agnes Cairns
Colin Young Raymond Cairns
June 09, 2009
Letter to choir from Emma Gibbins
Dear Choir,
Firstly, very many thanks to you all for your support of the various fund raising events for choir tour. I have been delighted by the response and by people’s generosity. So thank you once again for your help and support.
In preparation for tour, it would be good to have a few pre-tour rehearsals, as follows:
Thursday 13th August All boys 4-5.30pm
Friday 14th August All boys 4-5.30pm
Monday 17th August All boys 6.30-8.15pm
Men 7.30-9pm
If there are any major problems with these suggested rehearsals, please let me know as soon as possible. Thanks.
Finally, I am planning an end of term party after the final Evensong of term, on the 28th June, and I hope you will all be able to stay for that. Parents/family welcome!
Many thanks and I hope you’re looking forward to the trip as much as I am,
Emma
Firstly, very many thanks to you all for your support of the various fund raising events for choir tour. I have been delighted by the response and by people’s generosity. So thank you once again for your help and support.
In preparation for tour, it would be good to have a few pre-tour rehearsals, as follows:
Thursday 13th August All boys 4-5.30pm
Friday 14th August All boys 4-5.30pm
Monday 17th August All boys 6.30-8.15pm
Men 7.30-9pm
If there are any major problems with these suggested rehearsals, please let me know as soon as possible. Thanks.
Finally, I am planning an end of term party after the final Evensong of term, on the 28th June, and I hope you will all be able to stay for that. Parents/family welcome!
Many thanks and I hope you’re looking forward to the trip as much as I am,
Emma
January 29, 2009
Ship of Fools
Some of the choir may be interested to see that St George's was featured and reviewed on international website "Ship of Fools".
As unlikely as it may seem, they have a "Mystery Worshipper" section which despatches covert worshippers to churches all over the world to assess "questions which go to the heart of church life: How long was the sermon? How hard the pew? How cold was the coffee? How warm the welcome?"
The only clue they have been there at all is the Mystery Worshipper calling card, dropped discreetly into the collection plate.
See how St George's Belfast fared by clicking THIS LINK
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