VOL 4/11
Dear Serenes,
Last time we sent you a Newsletter, we were in recess. So what does the choir do when they are having a break from rehearsals?
Well, some choristers practise like crazy, learning the next concert’s repertoire. The pieces are available on the website as soon as the previous concert series is finished. Some have a break from singing to explore other interests – visiting children and grandchildren, renovating the garden, taking up a neglected hobby.
One of our members, Sandy Menteith, had made a submission on the choir’s behalf for a Community Grant towards the cost of new risers. The submission was successful and on July 9 Sandy and our web maestro, Beverley, accepted the grant on Serendipity’s behalf. (The actual risers appeared at practice last week – much to the joy of all !!!) We are very grateful to Wingecarribee Council for helping us in this way.
While all this was going on, what were our director and accompanist doing?
In the last 'break' Kerith and Ann went on an overseas holiday. Well, some would think that walking 250 kms was anything BUT a holiday! That’s what they did – in far north Sweden, up above the Arctic Circle- the “Kungsleden” (King’s Way). Whilst that was the highlight of their time away there were other highlights also.
- Surviving 3 weeks on the Trans Mongolian Railway, sharing a cabin with Valery and Vasili – guess what nationality they were – and they spoke no English; Kerith and Ann have no Russian! But still managed to teach Valery how to play Patience (well, he could kind-of play)
- A fabulous concert of Mongolian throat singing in Ulaanbaatar (now that’s something to look forward to in an upcoming Serendipity concert!) Kerith had to be restrained from returning with a horse-head fiddle.
- Seeing the graduation concert of the Russian Federation Army Corp from Ivan the Great’s bell-tower at the Kremlin in Moscow (lots of new performance ideas there too)
- Seeing 'Russalka' in the Mikhailovsky opera theatre in St. Petersburg (hearing it sung in Czech with Russian subtitles made following the plot rather a challenge) and surviving 2 whole days in the Hermitage (Ann was heard to say “Oh, just another room-full of Rembrandts”)
- Drinking blueberry soup with Frederik, a sound engineer from Uppsala, who was recording rivers and waterfalls as Kerith and Ann walked.
- Seeing the world’s best-preserved mediaeval dress in Uppsala Cathedral museum
- Enjoying a Baroque concert on period instruments in Krakow Old Town
- 'Blown away' by a fabulous concert of Klezmer music at the Helena Rubenstein Hotel in Krakow
- Finally getting to Staffa (this was their 3rd attempt), a West Hebridean Island (just off Iona, Scotland). This was the island that inspired Mendelssohn to compose his wonderful “Fingal’s Cave” Overture after he visited there in a rowing boat.
- Surviving RyanAir !
So that’s what Serendipity does when they are having a rehearsal break. But, be warned. If Kerith and Ann invite you to travel with them, think twice before you reply. There may be even more kilometres involved in the next trip!
But all this is now a thing of the past. The choir members are back into the routine of weekly practice and are working very hard in preparation for our next concerts in December – a mere five weeks away. The theme of the December Concerts is “Night and Day”. We think it is a programme you will really enjoy. If you don’t already have one of our beautiful posters, it is possible to download and print it from the website. Serendipity loves to sing. And we love people coming to our concerts so that they, too, can experience the joy of music.
So we send you, and your friends, a warm invitation to our upcoming summer concerts. We are grateful for your loyal support and look forward to seeing you in December.
And lastly, the dates for the December 'Night and Day' concert series are:
Saturday 10 December Uniting Church Hall in Bowral 4pm
Saturday 17 December Soldiers’ Memorial Hall in Bundanoon 4pm
Please mark these concerts in your diary without delay. We look forward to seeing you again.
Best regards
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Upcoming Performances
| Sat May 05, 2012 @ 3:00PM - 'It Takes Two' Concert in Bowral |
| Sat May 12, 2012 @ 3:00PM - 'It Takes Two' Concert in Bundanoon |
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WHAT'S NEW
Look at Serendipity: the choir aboard the yacht 'Serendipity'. One of our choristers visited Scotland last year and saw this yacht moored in a loch. An opportunity too good to miss!
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