exNYCgb - ex-members of the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain

The National Youth Choirs of Great Britain’s 25th anniversary gala concert was a spectacular success (and possibly the longest concert in NYC history beginning at 7:00pm and finishing around 10:45pm).

A full report soon. In the meantime some photos:

Rehearsals

Above: Matthew Owens guided the exNYC reunion choir through the rehearsals at the Adrian Boult Hall.

Dinner

Above: Mark T Powell, former NYC administrator with NYC founder Carl Browning, with former NYC administrator Danny Curtis in the foreground.

Concert

Above: Combined choirs (training choir, NYC and exNYC reunion choir) in the Birmingham Symphony Hall.

More photos on Flickr

Photographs from the exNYCgb “Reunion Choir” rehearsals, 25th anniversary dinner and concert can be found on Flickr: NYCGB 25th Anniversary.

Tagging

If you are going to upload your own photos to Flickr please tag them with NYCGB25 and exnycgb so that they can be easily found:

Search Flickr for all:

• photos tagged NYCGB25
• photos tagged exnycgb

What could be better than following up an article featuring a kitten on a piano than a photograph of Wendy Nieper in a shimmering dress?

I just happened to be looking for information about the Adrian Boult Hall when I discovered this photo of exNYC member Wendy advertising two concerts later on this month in Oxford and Birmingham.

The Isle is Full of Music
Sunday 20 April 2008 in Oxford
Thursday 24 April 2008 in Birmingham

Wendy Nieper SOPRANO
Kirsten Johnson PIANO
Christopher Britton FLUTE
play works by
Raymond Head celebrating his 60th Birthday
Premiere: Star Dance in Night Sky-solo flute
& Clement Jewitt premiers:The Harvest Bride, and other songs

For more details see the The Isle is Full of Music website.

Sing Now! are looking for a good sight reader to accompany on piano the Sing Now! children’s choir when then sing before the main NYC concert on Sunday afternoon in the Birmingham Symphony Hall foyer.

You’d only be required for about an hour.

Thanks a million!

Update

Many thanks to Barry Appleton who stepped up and played.

These are the final arrangements fresh from NYCGB HQ for the 25th anniversary concert in Birmingham.

Maps

• Copthorne Hotel (PDF, 90 KB)
• Birmingham Symphony Hall (PDF, 100 KB)
• Adrian Boult Hall (PDF, 223 KB)

Saturday 12th April

• 11:00 – Rehearsals in the Adrian Boult Hall with Matthew Owens
• 19:00 - Rehearsals end
• 20:00 - Re-union dinner at the Copthorne Hotel (next to the Adrian Boult Hall)

Reunion dinner

If you haven’t already booked your place, the dinner will cost £25. If you wish to attend, please send a cheque made payable to ‘National Youth Choir of Great Britain’ to confirm your place.

Alternatively, you can transfer the money directly (contact NYCGB HQ for details).

Remember to let NYCGB HQ know about your menu choice too. See 25th anniversary dinner menu choice post for details.

Accommodation

You will need to arrange your own accommodation. The Copthorne hotel are holding 30 rooms on an allocation basis at £89 Bed & Breakfast for Single Occupancy and pound;99 Bed & Breakfast Double Occupancy for the night of Saturday 12th April. Please call the hotel directly on 0121 2002727 to reserve your room.

Sunday 13th April

• 11:00 - Rehearsals in the Adrian Boult Hall
• 15:00 - Rehearsals in the Symphony Hall (see attached map)
• 19:00 - Concert

Music

• Parry – Blest Pair of Sirens
• Rutter – Winchester Te Deum
• Hearne – Kishmul’s Galley
• Vaughan-Williams – Let All the World
• Erb – Shenandoah

Unfortunately none of the above music is available for hire so you will need to come armed with your own copies of the music, and here we can help! If you don’t have your own copies NYCGB HQ can sell you a set of music at a discounted rate of £pound;10.

If you would like to buy a set of music from us, please let HQ know and they can ensure there is a set waiting for you at the rehearsal. If you would like the music in advance, please send a cheque to the office plus £1.50 for P&P, with your address, and I will arrange for it to be sent to you.

Concert Dress

Ladies

• White blouse
• Black full length skirt
• Black court shoes

Gents

• Dinner Jacket
• DJ trousers
• Wing-collared shirts
• Black bow tie
• Black shoes

Concert information

Tickets are available directly from the Birmingham Symphony Hall

• www.thsh.co.uk
• 0121 780 3333

And finally

Please keep spreading the word! We will be accepting singers right up to the weekend and would love to get as many ex-members involved as possible.

We are all very much looking forward to seeing you.

It’s only 9 days until the 25th anniversary dinner at the Copthorne Hotel in Birmingham, and the hotel want to know what you’d like to eat.

Please email the NYCGB office (or telephone 0191 334 8110) immediately with your selection … obviously, only if you’re going!

Option 1: The healthy option

• Spiced Carrot and Cumin Soup with Coriander Oil
• Fillet of Pork served with Sweet Potato and Roasted Apple
• Raspberry and Passion Fruit Bavarois with a Mango Coulis

Option 2: The vegetarian option

• Red Onion and Courgette Tart accompanied by a Pimento and Basil Reduction
• Wild Mushroom and Baby Leek Risotto, Parmesan Wafers
• Bitter Chocolate and Pecan Pie topped with Clotted Cream Custard