Weekly Updates – Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus

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Scroll down for the latest weekly update, which will be uploaded every week on the date shown on the update (often Sunday but could be earlier). Scroll even further down for pdf files of each update for those who prefer to download and print it.

A short email alert that the update has been posted will be sent out each week. If you do not receive this you should:

read it on this page
check you have informed us of a change of email – by sending a message to to ensure that your details are amended on the Membership database. You need to do this if any of your contact details change, please!
check that your email is not mistakenly marking the update as junk and returning it to sender. It may not even get as far as the Junk or Spam folder, unfortunately! To stop this, you need to add either or or the whole domain “@sheffieldphil.org” to your “safe senders” list if you can. If you use Outlook, open an email from Anne (or Marianne), then on the Home tab, click “Junk”, then “Never Block Sender’s Domain”. If you don’t use Outlook then look up how to set up safe senders for your email, either in it’s help facility or on Google. All emails are likely to have similar systems.

Updated Monday 31 March 2025

NEW and/or IMPORTANT ITEMS (scroll down for further details)

Members Area: User Name member Password M4hler8D@rius22
Split rehearsal so bring (or hire at £7) Come Sing and Creation
Ticket sales – 29 (Come Sing)
Faure Concert
What to do if locked out of the website
Musicians wanted to work with asylum seekers
Provisional dates for 2025-26 (in Dairy Dates)
PLEASE use the special email to tell SPC about change of address, telephone or email (see bottom of every update)

Next rehearsal is on Tuesday 01 April 2025 at St Andrew’s Church Psalter Lane Sheffield 7-9pm

If you haven’t already, please return your music – with markings rubbed out! Please note that the fine for non-return of music SPC has hired will be charged to those members whose music has not been returned, even if the member concerned passed their copy to a colleague to return in their absence. Apologies but non-returns continue to be an issue – and most are handed in two or three years later!

On Tuesday you need music for both the Come Sing and Creation as it will be a split rehearsal (see schedule http://www.dariusbattiwalla.com/currentschedule.pdf). Apologies but there will therefore need to be two hire fees totalling £7 – £2 for Creation (unless you have your own in which case please bring it) plus £5 for the Come Sing pieces. Do please try to bring the correct change. Many thanks.

Rehearsal notes, recordings and rehearsal tracks for the Come Sing and Haydn’s Creation are on the website at Members Area / Rehearsals / Prepare the Music.

For buses to St Andrew’s, see https://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/.
Street parking BUT NOT CHERRY TREE DRIVE! Take bikes into the foyer.
Car parking spaces available by arrangement with Jim Monach only
Toilets at front of church, through doors on either side, follow signs. Accessible toilet in the foyer.

All members are welcome to The Stag after rehearsal, only a short walk from St Andrew’s. New members are particularly welcome so come along for a drink and a good natter.

Many thanks for your consideration regarding mobile ‘phone interruptions and distractions. Please nudge the person next to you if they get out their mobile during the rehearsal; it’s okay in emergencies of course but please leave the room.

Ticket sales update – 29 (Come and Sing)

Come and Sing: We have sold 23 visiting singer tickets of 80 available, and 6 of 20 free audience tickets. SPC members do not need tickets, only visiting singers need them (and people who come to the freebie at 6pm).
Creation – ticket information not yet available

Faure concert

Stephen Johnson: “A very big thank you to the choir for the heroic efforts you put into learning and singing my pieces. There were places in all three pieces in which I felt really moved. You made me feel proud of what I’d done. I admit that on Tuesday I was feeling a bit guilty about what I’d put you all through but, for me at least, the results justified all your hard work. With very warmest wishes, Stephen”
Neil Taylor (organ): “It was lovely to be able to work with Darius and the choir again on Sunday evening, and what a wonderful way to close the Classical Sheffield weekend! A really great and appreciative audience, too. Looking forward to the next occasion – November 1st, I think. Very best wishes, Neil”
Cllr Douglas Johnson, (Green Party): “Thank you ever so much for your amazing concert on Sunday. I was blown away by the power of several impressive and beautiful choral works and by the sheer professionalism of the entire performance. Such strength in depth is something Sheffield should be incredibly proud of. I was particularly delighted to see this support talented young composers and to have the chance to chat with them about the opportunity to take part in the Stella Jockel competition. For young musicians and composers, this will certainly add something definitive to their CVs and be an important milestone on their way to a professional career. Above all, it was a supremely enjoyable evening of music in the heart of Sheffield. Best wishes with everything the Philharmonic does. Douglas “
Nik Hamilton Investment Team Manager / International Lead Economy, Skills & Culture – City Futures Sheffield City Council: “Thank you for the kind invitation – it was an enjoyable evening Regards, Nik”

If you left a ladies black T-shirt in the Houlden Hall, Marianne has it – see her on Tuesday.

What to do if locked out of the website

If you are unfortunate enough to be locked out of the website (usually due to typing in the wrong password three times), rest assured – it is set such that you can try again after just 5 minutes! The user name and password are at the top of every weekly update, including the short version that goes out by email.

Musicians wanted to work with asylum seekers

A new group has been set up as part of a project to facilitate access of refugees and asylum seekers to classical music in Sheffield. They meet on Thursday mornings at the Montgomery Theatre. They are looking for any local musicians who might be willing to contribute (on a voluntary basis) to one of the sessions to play some short pieces of music, chat a bit about their instrument, the pieces they play etc. One of the co-facilitators of the group is a violinist and they already have a student string trio and a cellist, so are keen to introduce other non-string instruments if possible – but all offers gratefully considered. Although the focus is on classical music, they are also open to different genres.

They are looking for musicians for session from April to July – see attachment for further details. If you know anyone who may be interested in offering their time in this way, contact Naomi Cohen at Creative Connections (Sheffield)

Rehearsal schedule

Details are in Diary dates (below) and on the Chorus website at Members Area / Diary dates.

Darius has uploaded the rehearsal schedule at http://www.dariusbattiwalla.com/currentschedule.pdf, there’s also a link from the members area of the Chorus website (in Rehearsals).

Diary dates (dates in italics are voluntary electives; attendance expected at all others)

Confirmed concert dates and details, including piano and tutti rehearsal dates, times and locations, are posted on the Chorus website as soon as they become available so that members can plan their activities, at Members Area / Diary dates (user name member password M4hler8D@rius22).

2024-25

Saturday 24 May 2025 – self funded Come and Sing in the Upper Chapel, English Anthems Toward the Unknown Region VW, I Was Glad and Blest Pair Sirens Parry and Faire is the Heaven 10.30 to 19.00. Darius conducting, Rachel Fright piano and Peter Shepherd organist. Refreshments and cake at break time (choir donations). Tickets for visiting singers now available online via SPC website (Singer tickets not needed for SPC members). Audience tickets are restricted due to the size of the Chorus – FREE but tickets are essential, get these online as well.
Sunday 8 June 2025 4pm, Haydn Creation, Matthew Hamilton and the Halle at City Hall SICS*. Compulsory conductor rehearsal probably Tuesday 27 May, on-the-day rehearsal times to be confirmed.

2025-26 – some are provisional dates only at this stage (see below)

Saturday 1 November 2025, St Marie’s Cathedral – date confirmed
Tuesday 9 December 2025, City Hall – to be confirmed
Saturday 13 December 2025, City Hall – to be confirmed (but very likely)
Thursday 6 February 2026, City Hall – to be confirmed
Saturday in April – Come and Sing event – to be confirmed
Friday 9 May 2026, Crookes Social Club, SPC Ceilidh plus Pie and Pea supper, date confirmed
Sunday 7 June 2026, City Hall – to be confirmed (but very likely)

*SICS = concert is part of the Sheffield International Concert Season

Darius concerts

Full list and details on Darius’s website at http://www.dariusbattiwalla.com/concerts/concerts-2025.html

Reminder – Georgina’s workshops

Georgina’s pre-rehearsal workshops are in the Octagon Room 18.30 to 18.55. Contact her if interested.

Autumn (six workshops) September 24^th; October 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29
Spring (eight workshops) January 21 & 28; February 4, 11, 18 & 25; March 4 & 11
Summer (four workshops) May 6, 13, 20 and 27

Rehearsal tracks from Choraline

If you purchase rehearsal tracks from Choraline, please note that we have a discount of 20%. To claim, use code SHEFF and type ‘SINGER’ in the discount code on the basket page. If ordering by telephone, quote these when asked.

Singing opportunities

All up-coming opportunities for singing locally are on the Chorus website, along with a list of wider singing opportunities compiled by Phil Harrison and provided by John Morgan, in the Members Area, Information, Singing opportunities.

What’s On

Classical Sheffield’s website lists all upcoming local concerts: https://classicalsheffield.org.uk/events

What to do if your contact details change

If any of your contact details change, including address, email or telephone number, please send a message to to ensure that your details are amended on the Membership database and that you continue to receive the weekly update.

Weekly updates, Chorus & Classical Sheffield websites/passwords, WhatsApp

If ever you don’t receive the weekly update, please read it on the website at Members Area / Weekly Updates. User name member password M4hler8D@rius22; please don’t share these.

The Members Area lists rehearsal details, rehearsal notes and links to recordings, concert and re-audition arrangements, as well as dates for the following season, our official stage procedure, Darius’ rehearsal schedule, how to look after your voice etc.

The Chorus WhatsApp group is at SPC Social. Please don’t post personal or music-related details about other SPC members or ex-members without their permission!

Contact emails

These are all listed on the Chorus website in the Members Area / Chorus Contacts

SPC Update Sunday 30 March 2025