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The piano rehearsal will be on Friday 16 June 2023, from 19.00 to 21.00 or 21.15.
The venue is Heeley Hall, Birkdale School, Endcliffe Crescent, S10 3EB , Sheffield. Link to map of the school showing entrances, car parks etc: Birkdale map
Access to the venue is via the Heeley Hall using the Sports Hall entrance on Oakholme Road (no other entrance will be available) as shown on the map.
Car parking: Street parking only. If you have mobility issues and would prefer to use the very small car park near the Sports Hall entrance, please contact Jim Monach at or by telephone (number is on the map) to reserve a space.
Leeds coach parking: In the coach bays on Oakholme Road which is just outside the School’s main entrance.
Bikes may be chained to the railing that surround the visitor’s car park (see Birkdale map)
Toilets are near the entrance.
Look out for the signing in sheets and make sure you register.
Please sit in voice part blocks, from the left facing conductor:A1 A2 B1 B2 T2 T1 S2 S1 tall people towards the back and edges.
Health and Safety at Heeley Hall
Do not attend the concert if you have symptoms of Covid.
Don’t use breakable vessels; store and carry hot drinks safely.
Keep belongings out of thoroughfares, especially in restricted areas.
Emergency evacuation procedure will be outlined verbally before the rehearsal starts.
Contact Jim Monach if you have any questions at or by telephone (number is on the map)
Arrangements for the Verdi Requiem concert on Sunday 18 June 2023
The concert is on Sunday 18 June 2023 at 19.00 in the City Hall. Jim Monach’s summary of the instructions is here: VERDI concert plan
Health and safety
Do not attend the concert if you have symptoms of Covid.
Don’t use breakable vessels in dressing rooms; store and carry hot drinks safely.
No drinks on stage during the performance, even in bottles – the thud if they fall down from the risers will be very loud!
Take care not to drop music or drinks bottles between the choir risers as they will be very difficult for City Hall staff to retrieve.
Keep belongings out of thoroughfares, especially in restricted areas.
Take care when using the stairs and steps to the stage.
Make sure you know the emergency evacuation procedure (below)
Emergency Evacuation
In the event of an emergency, a continuous alarm will be sounded, and we will be directed out to:
Fire – War memorial on Barker’s Pool
Bomb – Devonshire Green
Follow the directions of marshals and leave in an orderly fashion. Do not try to retrieve belongings.
Concert programme and running times
18.00 Pre-concert talk: Hallé Chief Executive David Butcher (introduction to the 2023/24 Season, 30 mins) You are welcome to listen from the organ seats if in choir dress, or from the balcony
19.00 Verdi Requiem (no interval)
Rehearsal times
14.00 to 17.00
Car Parking
Leeds coach has reserved space at the back of the City Hall
SPC should access the City Hall from 13.00 by the main front doors where there will be sign-in sheets. These will be taken to the Stage Door before the rehearsal starts.
LFC should enter via the Stage Door at the back, near where the coach will park, down a short flight of stairs. There’s a bell on the right if the door is closed.
LFC sign-in sheets will be on the production corridor – from Stage Door turn left, go through two sets of double doors, the desk will be on the right before you get to the stairs going down to the basement at Stairwell G. There should be signage but ask Stage Door staff if you get lost – they are very friendly.
Please take bags and coats to the dressing room (see below) before going on stage for the rehearsal. Allow a good 10 minutes to get there and back in time.
If you leave the building after the rehearsal, exit via the Stage Door, signing out as you go – SPC at Stage Door, LFC on production corridor. This is most important, otherwise, emergency services would search in vain for you should the building have to be evacuated during your absence. Re-enter by the Stage Door, NOT by the front doors please.
Try to take the most direct route onto the stage, even if this takes you onto the wrong side. It’s better to cross the stage in front of the organ if that’s quicker and more direct than the backstage route along stairs and corridors.
Dressing rooms
There will be signs at the stage door, please just ask if you get lost
Individuals with poor mobility – Dressing room 4 (not DR1). This is up a short flight of stairs stage left, ie on the same side as the altos and basses, but once there you are at choir riser level. Unfortunately it’s quite a walk to get there and you may prefer to use the lift to and from the basement.
Choirs will be in the North and South Halls in the basement. Please stay out of the ballroom unless you have sent an RSVP for the Halle reception at 5pm
To get to the basement from the main doors (SPC) either take the lift from the foyer all the way to the bottom or walk along the curved corridor behind the auditorium in the direction of the stage, then through the double doors. Continue forwards, passing through three sets of double doors to reach Stairwell G going down to the basement.
To get to the basement from Stage Door (LFC) turn left, go through three sets of double doors to the stairs going down to the basement (Stairwell G).
People can eat packed teas in their dressing rooms (NOT the ballroom) but please leave them as you found them and take your rubbish home.
Toilets
There are toilets in the basement corridors and a fully accessible toilet in the corridor at Stage Door level
We have asked that the auto-lock on the doors from backstage to the auditorium are switched off, so that you can use the nearest auditorium toilets. However, there is no guarantee that the auto-lock will be over-ridden, so these access doors may lock and you will face a long walk back round the outside of the building and in via the Stage Door.
Please be in position on the stage for the tutti rehearsal by 13.50 at the latest
If you arrive on stage before 13.50, please be silent as the orchestra may be rehearsing
Please sit in voice part blocks in accordance with the seating plan, tall people towards the back and edges of the risers and on the organ seats.
Your place at the rehearsal is your place for the concert but be prepared to move if adjustments are required to ensure good sightlines for everyone. Only move inwards if a space opens up due to an unforeseen absence.
Choir members with poor mobility should sit either on the organ risers or on the back row – please follow instructions at the afternoon tutti rehearsal
Concert dress
No perfume or after shave please – there are people with allergies
Women: plain black long-sleeved top with modest neckline (short sleeves with plain black cardigan is fine but keep the cardigan on), plain black long skirt or trousers (no jeans, leggings, skin tight trousers or crop pants), black shoes and socks or tights. NO SCARVES
Men: black DJ or black jacket, unbuttoned, white shirt, black bow tie, black socks and shoes
Music in black folder
Concert programmes
You will need to buy a programme from the foyer or one of the bars.
Pre-concert reception at 5pm
If you sent your RSVP by 9 June 2023 you will receive email instructions about how to access the ballroom for the reception. Everyone else should stay out of the ballroom please.
Pre-concert talk at 6pm
Hallé Chief Executive David Butcher is giving an introduction to the 2023/24 Season at 18.00.
You are welcome to watch, from the choir seats (in concert dress) or from the balcony or rear circle – but take care not to get in the way of audience members or Front of House staff
Entry onto the stage for the concert
Take your places on the stage informally, in your own time
Please don’t wave at friends in the audience.
If you are happy with the long wait, you can start to take your on-stage seat any time after 6.30pm, but please be in your seat, with your music, by 6.50 at the latest.
Stage protocol
Stand when the conductor comes on, as the orchestra does. Sit after the applause.
When the pieces end, stay very still, then lower scores together when the applause starts.
Sit when the conductor leaves, stand when he asks us to do so. Sit when he leaves again.
Don’t applaud while standing – it’s okay to applaud when soloists or conductors come back on for their second bow.
Everyone will need to project with confidence and energy, given the City Hall’s very dry acoustic. Ignore the fact that it sounds like you and a few around you are the only people singing; be confident and sing out – unless it’s meant to be piano of course.
The same dry acoustic makes it more difficult to hear other voice parts, so watch the conductor like a hawk – you won’t get the level of sound cues you may be used to.
Look up as often and for as long as possible – especially for the sections we have been asked to learn by heart
Keep still when not singing – don’t cause a distraction, as we are in full view of the audience.
Getting off stage and out of the building after the concert
File off stage row by row, starting at the back
Move along corridors etc as quickly as you can so you don’t create a blockage – chat about how great it was when you reach the dressing room!
Check that you have everything with you before you go home
Leave via any exit, and there’s no need to sign out
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, rehearsals at King Edward’s Upper School were cancelled and transferred on line. In October 2020 the rehearsals were live with a group of 35 singers at the Wesley Chapel, Crookes, and on-line for everyone at home. During the second lock-down the rehearsals once more reverted to Zoom. Live rehearsals re-commenced on 25 May 2021 with rehearsals for the concert on 3 July for separate voice parts. They were expanded to all 80 or so singers from 22 June 2021.
Answers to your frequently asked questions about rehearsals
How come we’re no longer restricted to 30 people? Ministers have made clear that the ‘six singers only’ rule does not apply if a choir is preparing for a professional event, and Making Music and our insurers have confirmed this. Since we are doing the Faure at a City Hall concert in January 2022, all members who have been rehearsing live are allowed to rehearse together as long as we can socially distance them all (and follow all the other measures of course). This is why we have hired St Mark’s, ie, to provide the larger space required.
Will vaccine/test status be checked? We are requesting that people are either double vaccinated or have a negative lateral flow test on the day of the rehearsal, but we are trusting members to comply. We will continue to take everyone’s temperature on the way into the venue.
I’m not on the singing list. Can I come on Tuesday? Unfortunately not. Covid-19 safety precautions mean that numbers have to be controlled much more carefully, and limited to what is safe. Only those on the singing list may sing in the concert and attend the next two live rehearsals. We do hope everyone understands.
What about face coverings – and chatting? Face coverings must be worn until we start to sing – and we can’t stay to chat after the rehearsal.
What if I said I would sing live but I’ve changed my mind? It goes without saying that anyone who feels ill should not attend, and anyone who decides that singing live is too much of a risk after all may drop out at any time. However, please let our Membership Officer Marianne Grayson know if you are on the rehearsal list and are unable to make it, so she can arrange for a substitute as soon as possible.
Is it too late to sign the petition about the ‘six singers only’ rule? Not at all – it’s still worth signing – see the Making Music update below for details if you want to help.
It goes without saying that anyone who feels ill should not attend, and anyone who decides that singing live is too much of a risk after all may drop out at any time. However, please let our Membership Officer Marianne Grayson know if you are on the rehearsal list and are unable to make it, so she can arrange for a substitute as soon as possible.
Anyone who misses a Zoom rehearsal may ‘attend’ after the event by using the recordings below, following which an email to Membership Officer Marianne Grayson will ensure your attendance will be added to the register.
At the AGM in October 2024, members agreed to increase the subscription fee to £168 (£42 concessionary rate). The fee should be paid from October onwards and before the end of the year. Members who have not paid by the time of the Christmas carol concert may be prevented from singing, so do make sure you have paid your subs before then! There are pro-rata fees for people who join later in the year, ie, for two terms or one term rather than three, with no further sub-division. Parents taking advantage of the shared membership scheme need only pay one fee (see New Members).
Everyone, no matter how they pay, needs to complete the Subscription Form, which must be completed online. The form captures your entries onto a spreadsheet which enables accurate record-keeping and accounting. You should find it easy to complete, but if you do struggle please see our Finance Officer Jane Parkin at rehearsal and she will show you how to do it. Please pay by bank transfer if at all possible; the bank details etc are at the bottom of the form.
Members should complete the form using their full names as recognised by HMRC, otherwise Gift Aid collection will be problematic. It really helps if you can enable Gift Aid, in which case please remember to complete the Gift Aid section on the form – though no problem if you prefer not to or can’t.
Monthly Standing Order payments are available to those paying for 2 or 3 terms of the season. If you are paying for one term, please make a single internet bank transfer instead. Subs paid in this way should be completed by the end of the season, so please ensure that your monthly standing order payments complete the amount and stop in July, then restart the following November when the new subscription rate is fixed.
If anyone has difficulty paying for any reason, then please contact Jane; her phone number and email address are at the bottom of the subscription form; her email is at the bottom of every weekly update and at Chorus Contacts
Membership cards will be given to members who have completed forms and paid or arranged Standing Order payments. Your old card will still work for signing-in purposes.
Here you will find information relating to the Chorus response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Risk Assessment documents.
Rehearsals and Concerts Officer James Oliver, helped by Paul Henstridge and Ben Stone, has put together very thorough Risk Assessments for King Edward VII Upper School, Wesley Hall and St Mark’s, which must be read by everyone attending the live rehearsals.
Not quite yet – 31% (41) of whom 66% aged 60+, 77% high/mod risk
No – 18% (25) of whom 72% aged 60+, 80% high/mod risk
There were many helpful responses about what measures should be in place to enable a safe return to live rehearsals, all of which have been taken on board in drawing up the required Risk Assessment. Grateful thanks to all respondents.
Singer’s Masks
Some singers in the choirs that Rachel Fright runs have started using singers’ masks, which have a bit more space for breathing – basically the mask doesn’t touch the mouth and nose end. Here’s a link if members would like to investigate: https://www.funkymasks.uk/store/singers-masks Thanks Rachel.
Covid 19 Road Map – a route back to live rehearsals
Darius, Rachel, Maggie and the committee are planning a phased return to live rehearsals, using Government guidelines, and resources provided by Making Music. The plan aims to make sure we have done the necessary p[reparation well before we get the go-ahead to resume live rehearsals, so that we can act quickly when the time comes. Click here to download a copy of the
Seeds of Hope: A Feminist Requiem13 September 2025, St Mark’s BroomhillThe requiem was written by Penny Stone in memory of her amazing feminist mum, Sue Stone, and brings together the words of women from all over the worldfrom 575 until the present day. Three workshops plus a concert, for further details check out the website at: https://singlouderthanguns.com/seeds-of-hope-a-feminist-requiem/
Spem in Alium on Saturday 4 October 2025 Martin Lightower will lead a day of rehearsing this fantastic work plus a few motets, helped by Helen Cowen, Helen Thompson and Kate Shipway. Split choir rehearsals in the morning at King Edward VII School, afternoon rehearsing in St Mark’s Church before the final run through and performance. To register interest see https://5from500.co.uk/spem-in-alium/
Download the latest list of Come and Sing opportunities in our region, compiled by Phil Harrison. It lists opportunities to sing fantastic works with like-minded singers; link provided by chorus member John Morgan. Here it is: singing calendar issue – 18022025
Opportunities are listed for events in Buxton, Wirkworth, Chester, Nottingham, Derby and Leicester.
‘Looking back on the French trip, may I add my thanks to those given By Chairman Paul in the last update, obviously to Matthew Morgan (Bass and tour organiser / promoter) and Darius (our MD), but also to Anne Adams, Graham Dawson, Helen Kirk, Paul Bedwell, and all who did so much before we went, with programme planning, sorting payments for transport, and purchasing suitable gifts for the French Choirs, and for keeping the wheels running during our exhilarating, if slightly exhausting, time in France! The memories created during the five days in France, will stay with me for a long time, from the warmth of the welcome of the French choir, to the joint concert in the Cathedral, and our ‘a capella’ concerts, with the wonderful reception from the audiences, all very memorable.’
Message from our Chair Paul Henstridge:
‘I want to thank all our members who took part in the very successful trip to Perigueux organised by Matthew Morgan and under Darius’ direction.
We gave two successful concerts of our own in two churches to very appreciative audiences, which included two items from Darius on the organs. We also took part in a joint concert in Perigueux Cathedral alongside several local French choirs when we sang three sections from Brahms’ German Requiem and the Messe de la Delivrance by Theodore Dubois as part of France’s Bastille Day celebrations and to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War.
Our thanks to Matthew for all the hard work which paid off so handsomely given how all the arrangements went so smoothly. Our thanks also to Darius for giving his time and skills to make the trip such a success. We should also thank the French choir members who generously put up members of the Sheffield Phil Chorus in their own homes. Every one of our party were extremely complimentary about their experiences.
Several members asked whether we could make this an annual event. So far I haven’t dared to broach this with Matthew or Darius! It is, however, a testimony to how much we all enjoyed ourselves.’
Message from John Spence, who sadly had to return home early due to his wife’s illness:
‘I would just like to re-iterate my sincere thanks to everyone who sent me both email and text messages of support and good wishes following my sudden and enforced early return home from France. There were really so many that I regret it has been impossible to answer them all individually. I am deeply grateful to each and every one of you and sincerely touched by the content of your messages. They gave me great comfort during a particularly difficult time. Thank you, everybody, from the bottom of my heart. The situation still swings wildly back and forth and one can never quite predict what’s going to happen next but we are now scheduled for further specialist medical advice and social care intervention. Hopefully, it will all help. Kind regards to you all and have a very pleasant summer. John’
A News article about the French tour was placed on the Chorus website shortly after our return – see About us / News.
Singers
Sops
21
Altos
12
Tenors
4
Basses
8
Total singers
46
Extracts from emails sent by soprano Sue Pennington
We had 4 nights in the Loire on the way down. Very quiet, hot. Rode the bikes each day for an hour or two trying to get back into the swing. Then a long travelling day on Tuesday to get us within striking distance of Perigueux. A shady site and we found our first hill to ride up.
On Thursday we came into the motorhome park in central Perigueux just on the river below the cathedral. A wonderful city with Roman sections and a mediaeval quarter. The cathedral is sensational.
Friday
On Friday morning we met up with the rest of the Sheffield contingent and four French choirs for the first rehearsal in the cathedral. The building is huge and the acoustic is to match. It’s a very porridge-like sound.
The morning rehearsal in the cathedral was followed by a coach journey of about an hour to a large village where one of our members has a house. The whole place was en fete for a classical music weekend and we were the main act! Bunting all over the village and huge banners in the church porch with our pictures on! We rehearsed in the afternoon then had tea on tables under trees in the village square before the evening concert. We sang a whole programme of unaccompanied music most of it very beautiful. Some Parry and Stanford church music along with spirituals from Child of Our Time and Hail Smiling Morn as an encore. Darius played some Bach. It was a great experience to sing in a chamber choir of only 50 or so. We had a good audience and a healthy collection at the end. Very late by the time we got to bed. Still over 30 degrees.
Saturday
Saturday was Bastille day. The morning was free so we rode along the river. There is a 10 mile long cycle track. The 2 pm rehearsal was quite mad. It turns out some of the French choirs are singing only the Dubois. One is singing just the first and last bits. Another mob are singing just in the Brahms. Turns out only we are singing it all! You can imagine the amount of confusion as hundreds of people tried to work out the logistics. Even inside the cathedral it was wickedly hot. We stood for 3 hours in very cramped conditions with echoing porridge all around. There was just time for a shower back at the shack before an evening reception at a grand building in town. Food, wine, beer, speeches, singing. At 11pm it moved down to the river for the bastille fireworks. A impressive display. Another late night. Still very hot.
Sunday
Jelly legs after the 4 hour standing marathon in the cathedral but looking forward to the day. An easy morning cycling along the riverside bike track then off to the cathedral for the afternoon rehearsal.
The city is gearing up for a massive night as France prepare to play the world cup final in Russia. Big screens going up in the streets. Flags everywhere.
The scale of the concert matches the venue. There is a Mass commissioned by the city from Dubois to mark the end of the war 100 years ago and rarely performed since. It needs 2 organs, which this cathedral has, plus orchestra and brass group so no wonder it is rarely done. Also on the programme is half of Brahms Requiem and a brass fanfare written for the occasion plus some organ stuff written by Darius. Also we are promised various local military groups marching with banners etc. Of course it coincides with the football world cup final so it might affect audience size. Wonderful soloists. The soprano is from Barnsley.
Inside the cathedral was even more confusion. The final rehearsal of the Brahms sounded more like a first run through. However, enough people came through good for the performance to be absolutely splendid. I have never been in the middle of so much sound!
When we came out the city was in uproar. We returned briefly to the bus for a hose down then went back. The streets were clogged with massive crowds of cheering people. The roads were full of cars with 10 or 12 people in each. On the car roofs and bonnets, half hanging out of windows hooting and cheering and flag waving. We found a rather quieter square for a meal. It took an hour to walk back to the camp. We fell into conversation with all sorts of complete strangers.
Around 5 am a huge storm started. Bouncing rain thunder and spectacular lightning. Maybe a bit fresher on Monday.
A view of the Dubois concert from the back row
We had a very weak grasp of the logistics of the concert in my area of the stage. The whole experience was full of surprises. We were always present and always standing more or less in the same place on the steps of the stage but around us washed what seemed to be an ever changing cast of other singers.
During each of the 3 rehearsals we introduced ourselves to more new people. At times we were so crushed we could not all open our copies at the same time. At the final rehearsal, an hour before the performance, an enormous bass appeared amongst us as if dropped from the sky. A giant of a man. He was smiling but silent and immovable. He wiped out any chance some of us had of a view of the conductor. When we next returned to the stage to sing the concert he had gone. Like a mirage.
Although the Dubois was the main event there was also half a Brahms Requiem, a complex brass fanfare, a few readings and some veterans with flags. A packed itinerary. We sang the Brahms first but with only some of the French singers so this was quite hard going in the porridge-like acoustic. The advantage was that any mistakes became mashed in with the echo. Three good soloists. The soprano was from Barnsley. Next up was the Dubois.
Some of the French singers seemed to have an innate understanding of the choreography which we never really achieved until we watched it happen during the performance. We sang the beginning of the Dubois from behind the audience with a cast of thousands. During this item France scored in the world cup final and we heard the roar of the fans watching in the streets outside. There was a fair walk round to the stage for the rest of the piece during which half the singers dropped out. For the final 2 pages we were re-joined by the missing singers. Darius extemporised on the organ to cover the joins.
Now girls, the dress code. We were in our usual things, all long and long sleeves. It was 35 degrees. There was nowhere to change except the toilets of surrounding cafes. We were not looking our best. Many of the French singers re appeared immaculately groomed in chic little black dresses. Lace, strappy, cool and elegant.
The Dubois mass is scored for 2 organs, orchestra, brass ensemble, chorus and soloists. No wonder it rarely gets an outing. Our performance featured 4 French choirs as well as ourselves. Perigueux cathedral has the requisite 2 organs. One in the sky played by Christopher who seems to be something of a local celebrity and and one at ground level played by Darius who had also written some extra bits for Christopher to play. The choral parts are not complicated, sophisticated or musically very interesting but the piece is well suited to be performed in this immense space. Nothing subtle but loads of drama and big moments.
Somehow, out of all the confusion and heat a performance was wrought. It was imperfect perhaps but just wonderful. An immense privilege to be part of it. Thankyou, thankyou to those who made it happen.
Itinerary
Thursday 12th July 2018
Make way to Perigeux (fly or drive)
Friday 13th July 2018
10.30am – Tutti rehearsal in Perigueux Cathedral 10.30 (for 10.45) until 12.00
14.40 Coach to Excideuil
15.45 to 17.15 Rehearsal
Tea time 17.15 to 19.15
19.15 Line up for 19.30 concert Concert approx. 1 1/4 hour plus break approx. 21.00 end
21.30 Coach back to Perigueux arrive 22.10
Saturday 14th July 2018
14.00 Full Tutti Rehearsal Perigueux Cathedral
Saturday night Bastille Day fireworks
Sunday 15th July 2018
14.00 Full Tutti rehearsal at Cathedral
WWII Memorial Concert that evening
Monday 16th July 2018
17.45 St Astier Coach Leaves Perigueux for 1 Hour Rehearsal
18.45 tea in St Astier
20.45 Line up for concert at 21.00
22.45 Coach returns to Perigueux
Tuesday 17th July 2018
Depart for the UK
Concerts
Friday 13th July at 21.00 – Le Eglise de Excideuil – Phil-only concert
Sunday 15th July Joint concert in Perigueux cathedral
Monday 16th July 2018 St Astier, Dordogne, 15km West of Perigueux – Phil-only concert
