Harmony Lincs

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
TUESDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 2009

Your elected committee for 2009 / 2010

Chairman - Richard Marriott
Vice Chairman - Derek Wood
Secretary - Mike Keenan
Treasurer - Alan Goldsmith
Singout Secretary - Bill Barrie
Chorus Manager - Bill Barrie
Membership Secretary - Kim Cook
Wardrobe Manager - Sandy Sinclair
Public Relations Officer - Malcolm Carlisle

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Lincoln Music Festival
13th March 2009

Friday the 13th may be unlucky for some, but not for Harmony Lincs who walked away with 1st Place and the Andy Hodgson Cup at the 2009 Lincoln Music & Drama Festival.

The Barbershop Class has been a feature of the festival for a number of years now, and the organisers look on it as the highlight of the two week festival.

For Richard Curtis (our new Chorus Director), the handful of new guys who have only been with us a few weeks, and the established chorus members, it was the culmination of a tremendous amount of hard work by all concerned. Our sincere thanks to all of them.

Congratulations and commiserations to our sister chorus, Lincoln Sounds who were runners up this year (shame about the choreography!). I am sure they will be hot on our heals next year.

Here are the comments from Gillian Johnston, the competition Adjudiator, on our performance:

Song 1 - Sound Celebration (Gentry)
Song 2 - How Deep Is The Ocean (Berlin)

What a terrifying job you give me !
This was great - pure theatre and I loved the fact that you all appeared to be enjoying yourselves so much.
Basses, make sure we hear those three quavers each time they happen e.g. Bar 8 (Sound Celebration), last three notes! Otherwise, fabulous!
How deep Is The Ocean - another fabulous performance - wondered about the triplets here? You make a great sound, were well together and displaying breadth.
Terrific!
(Wondered about order of songs?)

88 Marks - DISTINCTION (An excellent performance technically and artistically)

Next stop - Llandudno!

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Australian Breakfast
Sunday 25th January 2009

Once again, Harmony Lincs supported this annual event held at 'The Lawn' in Lincoln to celebrate the city's twinning with Port Lincoln in Australia, and Australia Day itself (26th Jan).

All the food was donated by local suppliers, and all proceeds went towards local charities.

About 900 members of the public attended the event where a full english breakfast was served and entertainment was provided by Harmony Lincs, The City of Lincoln Band, The Lincoln Concert Band, and a folk group 'Ploughmans Bunch'

Numerous celebrities from stage and television along with local politicians were also in attendance, and we managed to coax a few across to our display stand - photos below - John & Bill managed to muscle in as well !!

Gillian Merron (Lincoln MP)                                            Sarah Crudass (BBC)

Sarah Crudass & Rod Whiting (BBC)                               Judy Theobald (BBC)

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Harmony Taster
Sunday 18th January 2009

It was very encouraging to see eight new faces appear at the door on Sunday for our one-day Harmony Taster programme.

Along with twelve chorus members, we introduced the new guys to the joys of singing four-part harmony, and they all went home more enlightened as to what our hobby is all about.

My thanks to Richard Curtis who gave his usual 'all' to the day even though he was still recovering from a nasty throat infection, and to the chorus members who supported the day.

One of attendees posted the following on this website guestbook:

I've never posted before but after a visit to your workshop day on Sunday I felt compelled to do so. What a friendly bunch you are and what a pleasure to sing with guys who carry no musical snobbery whatsoever. The afternoon was really great fun, we were all made very welcome and I am looking forward to turning up for my first session as a new member.

Even better news, six of the new guys turned up at our next rehearsal along with two more potential new members from the previous week.

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From the beginning of 2009 there will some major changes within the club in respect of leadership and rehearsals.

Richard Curtis, who for the last 4 years has been our vocal coach, will be taking over from Tony Chapman as Musical Director.
After 15 years as director of Lincoln and 35 years as a member of BABS, Tony has decided to stand down and change places with Richard and take on the role of Assistant Director and Coach, along with numerous other roles including club representative on the BABS council and county representative on the East Midlands Making Music committee. Harmony Camp 2009, due to take place in August will also take up a lot of his time.
Richard has been involved in this wonderful hobby of ours for nearly as long as Tony, and brings to the club a wealth of experience and musical talent from which we will all undoubtedly benefit. Having sung with one of the country's top chorus's and gained a quartet Gold Medal he certainly knows what our hobby is all about.

Secondly, with effect from Tuesday 13^th January 2009, we shall be changing our rehearsal day from Thursday's to Tuesday's.
We shall be staying at the Bishop Grosseteste University College, but moving from the Conference Room to the Performing Arts Studio. This particular room has everything we could possibly ask for including one complete mirrored wall – Performance judges watch out!
The BGUC have been very good to us since we moved there, but in January they will be converting the Conference Room into two high tech reception rooms and would not be suitable for our use and as there are no other rooms available, we had little option but to look elsewhere or change the rehearsal day.
We looked at numerous other venues across the city, but nothing matched the facilities offered by the BGUC.

St George's Day Celebration
Blankney Golf Club

I don't often report on singouts, but this one was rather special.

Giles Harvey, a relative newcomer to the chorus, also holds the post of Competition Secretary for the Blankney Golf Club just south of Lincoln.

When he was asked by the Golf Club to arrange the entertainment for their annual St George's Day celebration, he immediately thought of Harmony Lincs, even though the majority of our repertoire is of songs with American origins.

On the day, the chorus came up trumps and were able to entertain about 80 guests with about one and a half  hours of musical entertainment.

The first 45 minutes was taken up with a number of our repertoire songs, plus a few humours interjections from Tony, who was not only the Chorus Director, but also took on the role of MC for the evening.

Our second 45+ minute spot included another couple of repertoire songs plus a demonstration of the barbershop style with the chorus and a quartet singing 'Wild Irish Rose' (what else!) and then four of the guests were invited to join the quartet and sing part of the song.

A three part round involving all the guests was followed by a number of patriotic songs, and the evening's entertainment was rounded off with the chorus singing 'The Irish Blessing'. Not very English, but it was well received, and the chorus left the stage to a standing ovation.

A great night was had by all.

TC

GREAT AUSTRALIAN BREAKFAST 2008

Sunday 27th January 2008 saw Harmony Lincs perform at the annual Great Australian Breakfast at The Lawn complex in Lincoln. The City of Lincoln is twinned with Port Lincoln in Australia, and our own City of Lincoln council organise this event.

Over 800 breakfasts were served to members of the public over a four hour period from 0830 in the morning. The monies raised go toward local charities

Entertainment was provided by the City of Lincoln Band, Ploughmans Bunch, and Harmony Lincs.

A number of celebrities also attended, including Gillian Merron, Lincoln's MP, and Peter Levy from BBC Look North - pictured below with a few of the chorus members.

Anniversary Dinner

The club's 14th Anniversary Dinner was held at Branston Hall Hotel on Saturday 13th October 2007.

The evening comprised an excellent three-course meal, a raffle, a music-based competition, and an after dinner address by the Lincoln Town Cryer, Mr Terry Stubbings.

The Founders Shield, presented to the Barbershopper of the year went to Richard Curtis for his services to the club over the last 12 months. 

Terry Stubbings - Lincoln's Town Cryer & his wife

Tony Chapman
Terry & Mrs Stubbings
Bert & Val Gibson
John & Linda Mould

Barbershopper of the Year 2007
Richard Curtis receives the 'Founders Shield'
from Mr Terry Stubbings

BABS Convention
Scarborough 2007

Well, that's what it's all about.
After six months very hard work perfecting two songs, we were on stage for 7 minutes and 40 seconds and then it was all over.

Was it worth it?

You bet it was!

Thanks go to the chorus members who put their all into that performance, and to achive 16th place out of 32 choruses is a comendable achievement

Here's to next year - Cheltenham here we come!

As a token of their gratitude, the chorus presented a couple of gifts to both Tony Chapman (Chorus Director) and Richard Curtis (Vocal Coach) for the time and effort they put into getting the chorus ready for such a prestigious occasion.

Richard received an engraved tankard, and Tony received - well I'll let you see for yourselves:

Lincoln Music Festival 2007

Friday 16th March 2007
saw Harmony Lincs walk
off with the much prized
Andy Hodgson Chorus
Trophy after attaining
First Place in the Chorus
Competition.

Not only did we win the
cup but we matched the
highest marks ever
achieved by a choir
in the Festival.

The Adjudicator - Vincent Smith, wrote the following
remarks on our adjudication sheet.....

1. Time After Time: Beautiful tonal quality. Spot on in
tune and rhythm cohesion. Lovely word painting.
Movement was relaxed, unaffected and enhanced
the effect.

2. Gospel Medley: A fine collection of songs. Tempo
and mood changes were all smooth. Superb dynamic
control. Wonderful ending.

Georgeous sound!

92 Marks - OUTSTANDING - An exceptional
performance both technically & artistically.

Congratulations must also go to Glenn & Alyson
Cheyney for the exciting performances given
by their two choruses - Lincoln Sounds and
Major Oak Chorus

Weekend Retreat - 24th / 25th February 2007

Photo: Alan Goldsmith

What a great weekend! I know a good time was had by all.

Starting at 1030 on the Saturday morning and finishing at
4pm on Sunday, the two days were filled with harmony -
in every sense of the word.

My thanks must go to all who hepled in putting the weekend
together.Derek Wood once again worked his butt off
arranging things with the college and providing the transport
and muscle power for the risers

The whole object of the exercise was to work on the two
convention songs and get them to a point where all we have
to do now is polish.
This was achieved, and with the visit by Dr Greg Lyne on
the 1st March we should be well on our way to Scarborough.

The next vote of thanks must go to Richard Curtis who, in
his own way, kept us all on our toes - me included!
Richard's musical knowledge and expertise has undoubtedly
helped us get to where we are today.

Apart from a 99% turnout from our own chorus, it was great
to be able to welcome four members from 'Crescendo' who
will be joining us on stage in Scarborough.
The feedback I have already received confirms that they
all had a wonderful time with us.

Good singing, good company, and a good meal on Saturday
evening all helped make this a memorable weekend.

Tony Chapman - Chorus Director

GREAT AUSTRALIAN BREAKFAST

Following the outstanding success of the 2007 Great
Australian Breakfast held at The Lawn on the 28th
January, a staggering £3000 was raised for three local
charities.
970 breakfasts were served in just over four hours.

The City of Lincoln Band, Ploughmans Bunch and your
very own Harmony Lincs provided the entertainment.

On Monday 19th February, Derek Wood and Tony
Chapman represented Harmony Lincs at a reception
hosted by the Mayor of Lincoln to express his thanks
to all thise involved in the breakfast's success.

The £3000 raised was split between three charities -
The BBC Radio Lincolnshire Charity Trust
The Mayor's Charity (Women in Distress)
Another local Care charity.

Photos: Derek Wood

There are more pics of the Australian Breakfast
on the Galleries Page - Gallery 6.

BARBERSHOPPER OF THE YEAR 2006 (BOTY)

The annual award of the 'Founders Trophy' for the
Barbershopper Of the Year was this year presented
to Keith Hebblewhite for services to the club during 2006.
Keith always works very quietly in the background, helping
Derek Wood (BOTY 2005) whenever the need arose.

A very worthy winner - Thanks Keith.

Photo - Derek Wood

Harmony College 2006

A Student's View

A Barbershop College it may have been called, but I firmly believe that I died and went to Barbershop heaven.
Not only learning great techniques and meeting more barbershoppers than I could imagine, but also meeting the best and singing with them if you wanted to.
What a college. Students at college often learn between 9 and 5 and can't wait to get away. With the barbershoppers, singing started in the queue for breakfast at 07.30 and even after a hard and exciting day singing went on to the early hours of the morning.
Every where you went there was another group singing the old favourites and some new ones, even the learning of new tags with the gold medallists.
What can I say, if you haven't been before then go to the next one you will not be disappointed and as far as value for money is concerned, in my opinion you will not get better.
I for one will definitely be there next year, how about you?

 Derek Seller

Another Student's View

I support all that Derek Seller has said,the whole expierience was fantastic .I unlike Derek took one of the mini courses, Basics of Singing ,and I thought all I had to do was stand and sing ,WRONG! ,6 sessions and a document 25 pages long , and the phrase never sing " Louder than Beautiful " ringing in our ears and all the advice given by Alan Goldsmith prior to singing, and Tony there after made total sense at last
Tall Vowels, think vertical,no letter-boxes, Diphthongs and Triphthongs, would have meant little to me prior to the College. To ensure that you sing well supported,freely-produced with resonant (good sound placement )and effortless ie RELAXED, NO STRAINING or FORCING OF THE SINGING.
Then good posture ,and vocal health is a must and so is your visit to the 29th Harmony College in 2007. See you there .

 Derek Wood

Grants Awarded

Following an application to 'Lottery Awards For Local Groups' we have been fortunate enough to have been awarded the sum of £4,644 towards the cost of extra risers and associated equipment.

Full credit must go to Derek Wood who obtained all the necessary documentation and information, and for this, the club and its members are extremely grateful.

With the award we shall be purchasing:

3 -  Additional (3 step) Wenger Risers
3 -  Additional back rails
8 -  4th step for all the Risers (5+3)
1 -  Riser Carrier

With 8, 4 step risers we will now be able to accomodate our ever growing chorus and look to a prosperous future.

A further grant of £2500 has also been received for the purchase of a trailer. Once again, thanks to Derek Wood for having a tow hook fitted to his car to transport it to our singout venues.

LINCOLN MUSIC FESTIVAL 2006

To field a chorus of 44 at this years Music Festival was quite an achievement for Harmony Lincs when you consider that back in 2004 we only managed to put 14 on stage.

Our sincere congratulations to Lincoln Sounds, our sister chorus here in Lincoln for achieving first place and winning the 'Andy Hodgson Barbershop Chorus Trophy'. They certainly sang well on the night and were worthy winners
The scores between the three competing choruses was very close, with all of us achieving 'Distinction' marks:

Lincoln Sounds - 89
Major Oak       - 88
Harmony Lincs - 87

The adjudicator, David Johnson gave a very fair summary to us all, and here are his notes on our two songs:

The Barbershopper of the Year for 2005 was awarded at the Club's Christmas Dinner on the 7th December to Derek Wood MBE for the outstanding contribution he has made to the club since he joined in March 2005.

Derek was one of the participants in the Sing In Harmony 2005 programme and, like many others from the course stayed with us and joined the Club as a full member.
His enthusiasm and seemingly boundless energy has rubbed off on the whole chorus and he has an uncanny knack of keeping us all in order.

Pictured below is Derek (left) being presented with the BOTY (Founders Shield) by Chorus Director & Club Founder, Tony Chapman.

Photo: Alan Goldsmith

NEW MEMBERS PRESENTATION

On Thursday 24th November 2005 we received a visit from Stuart Lines the BABS Chairman to present our new members with their BABS Membership Certificates.

14 of the 16 new guys are pictured below with Stuart.

Back Row: Kim Cook - Derek Wood - Larry Armstrong - Eric Gilliland
Middle Row: Bernard Wilson - Richard Marriott - Derek Seller - John Whetton - David Edmondston
Front Row: Albert Bowyer - Derek Smith - Keith Hebblewhite - Richard Chalmers - David Valentine
Front Centre: Stuart Lines (BABS Chairman)

Unfortunatley Magi Thor Geirrson & Andy Rolfe were unable to be with us and will be presented with their certificates at our Christmas Dinner on the 7th December by Chris Farrar (LBHC Chairman)

Visit to Grand Central Chorus

17 Harmony Lincs members along with a couple of wives embarked on a very enjoyable visit to the Grand Central rehearsal on Wednesday 9th December 2005. For our new guys it was quite an education to see how a well established, champion chorus conduct themselves during during a rehearsal evening.
From the moment we walked through the door we were made to feel welcome, and within minutes we had joined the chorus on the risers to take part in their warm-up routine.
The majority of the rest of the evening was spent listening to the chorus and delighting in the way Rob Barber (Chorus Director) developed the songs they were working on.
Before the rehearsal ended we were invited to join in a combined chorus rendition of 'I Believe' - quite an experience, and then entertained the GC members with a couple of our own repertoire songs

The rehearsal was followed by a visit to a local hostelry in Long Eaton where we quaffed a few pints of the local ale, stuffed ourselves with chips (provided by the pub) and partook in a typical afterglow, led by Kev Leibling

Our thanks to Grand Central for a great evening - let's do it again!

Four members of Harmony Lincs  and two from Crescendo, along with partners travelled to Salt Lake City, Utah at the end of June to attend the International Barbershop Convention hosted by the Barbershop Harmony Society (SPEBSQSA)

The same group attended the International Convention in Montreal back in 2003 and were so impressed with the whole event that they have decided to experience it all again this year.

The Convention ran from Sunday 3rd July 2005 to Saturday 9th July with a bonus concert given by the 360 strong Mormon Tabernacle Choir along with a 600 strong Barbershop (Gold Medal) chorus on Sunday 10th.

The majority of concerts and competitions were held in the newly built Mormon Conference Centre in Salt Lake City. It has a seating capacity of 20,000 people and has been designed to be as near acoustically perfect as possible.

  Tony Chapman

The Barbershopper Of The Year (BOTY) for 2004 was awarded to ROGER REEVE (below left).

Roger, a long standing member of Harmony Lincs was awarded the 'Founders Shield' by Tony Chapman, club founder and Chorus Director for services to the club over the years. Roger could get blood out of a stone when it comes to selling raffle tickets!