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  • BRAHMS ACADEMIC FESTIVAL OVERTURE, BRUCKNER TE DEUM AND MAHLER DAS KLAGENDE LIED PERFORMANCE WRAP-UP NEWSLETTER (2026 Big Sing)
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  • Date Posted: Fri, 10 Jul 2026

    Reply to Jos Gregson,
    18 Willoughby Close,
    Alveston,
    Bristol BS35 3RW
    Tel: 01454-411652
    Email: josgregson@gmail.com
    SCBSG Website: bigsing.org

    WRAP-UP
    Dear Singer,

                            Thank you all so much for the generous gifts given to me at our last rehearsal at St John’s Northgate, most kind, very well chosen and much appreciated.

                            There have been a number of nice comments and a selection of these is given below:. I must stress that none of this would be possible without the back-up of my close team, Alison, Trevor, Andrew, Mike and Naomi:-

    A huge thank you to you and your team for giving us the opportunity to explore two wonderful works.  I know there is an extraordinary amount of work and planning that goes into the SCBS but I hope you feel all the effort was worth it in the end.
    It was wonderful to sing with you again and I thoroughly enjoyed the two workshops and the concert last night.  Congratulations to all concerned. (JS)

    I would like to thank you very much for another incredible Big Sing.  The concert last night was brilliant and it was great to be a part of it.  Your organisation was impeccable as usual, and it was really good to sing new and unfamiliar music.  I am also very grateful to Adrian, who I thought brought out the best in us.  I think special acknowledgement should go to the concert managers as well, for doing a very good job under difficult circumstances.

    I am already looking forward to the 2027 Big Sing! (ME)

    And from Adrian:-

    I didn’t really sleep last night! I had to work so hard yesterday, and the adrenalin is still in my system. 

    I believe that last night’s concert was a great success- I really enjoyed it! The choir also worked very hard indeed, and the orchestra were splendid. The Tenor and the Mezzo were terrific! 
    And what a piece that Mahler is! My friends in the audience were buzzing with it. 
    Thank you for your generosity in continuing to make these wonderful annual concerts take place. I  am already looking forward to next year’s event!

    As the sound of the Der Spielmann’s Flöte fades I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the opportunity to participate in another successful performance with the Cotswold Big Sing Group. 
    My sincere thanks also go to you and the committee for all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure that the rehearsals and concerts run so smoothly. Your dedication, organisation and commitment are greatly appreciated and play a huge part in making these events such an enjoyable and rewarding experience for everyone involved. 
    We are also extremely fortunate to have a conductor of Adrian's calibre. His expertise, enthusiasm and musicianship make every rehearsal both enjoyable and educational, enabling us to develop our singing while thoroughly enjoying the experience. 
    I am already looking forward to the workshop next April and to meeting up with everyone again. (MT)

    I just wanted to email to send our most grateful thanks for organising the wonderful concert on Saturday evening.  We hugely enjoyed singing with the SCBSG and very much appreciate that this would not have been possible without your generous sponsorship and hard work.  

    It is always a joy to sing under Adrian's baton; his clear direction is so very helpful and the preparation we enjoyed with both him and Stephen Kings ensured we all gave our best on the night.

    Thank you again for all you did to make it happen and for a wonderful experience for us all.  I hope we shall be able to join you again next year. (SM & RM)

    I wanted to say an enormous thank you to you and everyone involved in the Big Sing, which I think went really well on Saturday.  I do hope you and Adrian were pleased with it, because it was tricky music! 
    I am part of the Laetare Singers (Come and learn choral works with Laetare Singers) and have been on and off the committee for over 20 years in a variety of roles, including Secretary for Winter Events and Choral Days.  I am therefore well aware of just how much work people put in behind the scenes to make these sorts of events happen and the organisation of the Big Sing was amazing, may I even say faultless.  You are often very much unsung heros. 
    All the communications, access to scores and teach tracks, details of venues, parking, Adrians notes, organisation on the day of the line up and seating plan, were excellent.  In addition, all the members of the committee that I had any contact with were friendly at all times, which is no mean feat when up against it with everyone asking the same questions over and over. 
    I hope you are all enjoying a well deserved rest and please pass my thanks to everyone involved. (HC)

    We had a really well thought out review from Soundsense as below:-

    On the second day of the 2026 Cheltenham Music Festival, the main evening concert was given a few miles away in the magnificent medieval Tewkesbury Abbey.
    Before discussing the concert, I think I should say a word or two about the South Cotswold Big Sing Group (SCBSG). Formed in 2008, its members are drawn mainly from a number of well-established local choral societies in the area south of Gloucester and north of Bristol. All the participating choirs put on their own programmes as usual throughout each year; the SCBSG exists as an organisation though which they can all cooperate. Crucially, they come together once a year, to rehearse and perform very large-scale works which would be well beyond the resources of even a couple of the constituent choirs combined. Adrian Partington, the Director of Music at Gloucester Cathedral and Artistic Director of the BBC National Chorus of Wales, has been involved with them for several years; under his leadership and with generous sponsorship they have performed such ambitious works as the Te Deum and Grande messe des morts of Berlioz; Holst’s Hymn of Jesus; Mahler’s Eighth Symphony; and the Poulenc Gloria. As an amateur choral singer myself, I think this is a great idea, especially in these cash-constrained times for choral societies. The SCBSG has performed at the Cheltenham Music Festival several times in the past but this was the first opportunity for me to hear them in action. In keeping with their tradition, Partington had chosen a challenging and enterprising programme. Tonight, I would put the size of the choir at between 80 and 90 singers; over twenty choral societies were represented.
    Brahms composed his Academic Festival Overture in 1880 as a thank-you tribute to the University of Breslau, which had decided to award him an honorary doctorate in music. It was one of a pair of concert overtures which Brahms wrote around this time; the companion piece is the Tragic Overture, Op.81. The two could scarcely be more different; the latter overture is full of dark drama, whereas in the Academic Festival Overture Brahms is at his most congenial. In the course of the overture Brahms deployed a number of good-hearted traditional student songs, culminating in ‘Gaudeamus igitur’, which is given stately treatment amid a good deal of orchestral counterpoint. On this occasion, we heard something a bit different from the usual in the form of the choral arrangement made by Sir Malcolm Sargent. At a signal from the rostrum, the choir stood to sing the ‘Gaudeamus igitur’ in unison. I must admit, I wasn’t wholly surprised by this; I recall that Partington performed the work at the 2010 Three Choirs Festival and added this choral gesture then. Those who expect authenticity in Brahms performance would doubtless have a fit of the vapours but I think it adds a ‘naughty but nice’ dimension.  
    Bruckner worked on his setting of the Te Deum between 1881 and 1884; thus, it is contemporaneous with the Sixth and Seventh symphonies. Almost inevitably, especially in a resonant acoustic such as this one, there were some problems of balance; when playing loudly, the orchestra tended to overpower the choir. I don’t really blame the players for this. For one thing, it must be very difficult to adjust to this sort of acoustic on, I presume, just one rehearsal. Also, when Bruckner writes typically sonorous music for the full brass and marks it ff – as happens at several junctures – it just doesn’t work if the music is played mf. Though the orchestra dominated at times I could hear sufficient of the choir’s contribution to tell that they were singing accurately and with commitment. I admired in particular the fact that they were undaunted by the fearsomely high tessitura in several extended passages. Ideally, it would have been good if the SCBSG had had an extra twenty voices, mainly tenors and basses, but even so, they made a good showing. The solo quartet did well. Bruckner gave pride of place to the tenor, who frequently leads the quartet. I thought Elgan Ll?r Thomas was terrific. He sang clearly and with ringing tone; I enjoyed his contributions very much. His three colleagues are given less prominent roles by Bruckner but they sang well. Partington conducted the piece with conviction. He energised his choir and orchestra in the many fervent episodes and he also ensured that the dynamic contrasts, always so crucial in Bruckner’s music, were scrupulously observed. Importantly, he kept the music on the move so that the performance always had purpose.
    Over the years, I have attended multiple live performances of all the Mahler symphonies and orchestral song cycles. However, just one work has eluded me: Das klagende Lied. This early cantata only received its UK premiere in 1956, and even today it remains a rarity. So, when I saw that the work was to be performed at the Cheltenham Music Festival I was determined to attend.
    The history of Das klagende Lied is somewhat complex but it is worth summarising because it is relevant to the version of the score which we heard tonight. Maher finished his cantata in 1880, the same year that Brahms wrote the Academic Festival Overture. He revised the work in 1893 and 1894. As originally conceived, the cantata is in three parts. However, the first part, ‘Waldmärchen’ (Forest Legend) presents some problems, I think. Dramatically, ‘Waldmärchen’ is relevant because it sets the scene for the action in Parts II and III. That said, there is a lot of musical repetition if all three parts are performed and in addition a performance of Part I, which takes nearly as long as the other two Parts combined, significantly lengthens the cantata. A bass soloist is employed in ‘Waldmärchen’, but not in the other two movements. Mahler’s revisions in the early 1890s involved the complete excision of ‘Waldmärchen’ and some significant reductions in the forces involved; for example, he reduced the number of harps from six (!) to a more affordable two. An off-stage band was also cut, though, in yet another revision in 1898, just before the score was published, Mahler felt sufficiently confident to restore the band. In this final revised version Das klagende Lied was premiered in Vienna, under the composer’s direction, in 1901. Nowadays. most conductors opt for the two-part, final version and I think they are right to do so, though it is interesting to hear ‘Waldmärchen’ on disc from time to time. Partington chose to perform Parts II and III, ‘Der Spielmann’ (The Minstrel) and ‘Hochzeitsstück’ (Wedding Piece).
    Partington undertook quite a bit of detective work in preparation for this performance and I can do no better than to reproduce some of his comments which were contained in the Cheltenham Music Festival press release which I received. Partington explained: ‘The 1880 and 1898 versions both include an off-stage band, and for this performance I was keen to adopt the 1893 removal of that element.’ (I suspect that there was a practical reason for omitting the off-stage band tonight; it is quite a large group – and therefore expensive – requiring significantly larger forces than Mahler used in the ‘Resurrection’ Symphony.) Unfortunately, it soon became apparent that the 1893 score is unpublished. Partington’s research eventually led him to the librarian of the Cleveland Orchestra, which performed a version of Das klagende Lied without off-stage band in 1972, under the baton of Pierre Boulez. Partington said that he was ‘curious whether the Cleveland version might be a setting of the 1893 re-working, and Cleveland very kindly digitised all the parts from 1972 and sent them to me here at Gloucester.’ When the parts arrived, what emerged was a fascinating hybrid: the 1972 performance without off-stage band was not in fact the 1893 version, but an amendment of the 1898 score, likely to have been penned by Boulez himself. To quote Partington again: ‘Somebody, presumably Boulez, has made the four off-stage passages playable by the “on-stage” instruments in a very different way from how Mahler did it. He [Boulez] may not have done the work; but he certainly authorized it – and somebody has made some daring decisions about removing the doubling of instruments and so on…I dearly wish that somebody would edit and publish the 1893 version,’ In Partington’s judgement, ‘Mahler’s solutions to the removal of the off-stage band are much better than Boulez’s: they are easier to play, and more natural. And of course, authentic!’
    It seems that no one knows why the scoring was so significantly altered for the 1972 Cleveland performance; presumably for reasons of economy. So far as is known, that version has never been played since, and tonight was the first time that it had been heard in the UK. There is on YouTube an audio version of what appears to be the 6 April 1972 Cleveland performance conducted by Boulez.
    Mahler wrote both the text and the music for this early cantata. He based the text on a story, ‘Das klagende Lied’ (The Song of Lamentation), that he found in an anthology of German folk tales; onto this he grafted some elements of a tale by the Brothers Grimm, ‘Der singende Knocken’ (The singing bone). The first part, ‘Waldmärchen’, which we didn’t hear in this performance, tells of two brothers who set out into the forest to find a flower; the queen has promised to marry whoever can find and bring her a specimen of the flower in question. The younger brother finds the flower but is murdered by his sibling, who steals the flower and sets off to claim the queen. In Part Two, ‘Der Spielmann’ (The Minstrel), the minstrel of the title comes across a bone from the murdered young man. He fashions it into a flute which, when played, tells the story of the murder. Part Three, ‘Hochzeitstücke’ (Wedding Piece), opens at the wedding of the elder brother and the queen but the minstrel spoils the party by arriving and playing his flute. When the brother stands accused of his sibling’s murder, the queen’s castle falls to the ground and the tale comes to a tragic end.
    Along with a few songs and the surviving movement of a piano quartet in A minor (1876), Das klagende Lied is the earliest composition by Mahler that has come down to us; it is certainly his earliest known orchestral score. Inevitably, there is evidence of Mahler finding his feet as an orchestrator – though I am sure that when he revised the score in the 1890s, he drew on the experience of his first two symphonies (1884-88 and 1888-94) to improve the scoring – but what comes across much more strongly is the assurance with which he deploys a large orchestra. The work may be early Mahler but his stylistic fingerprints are all over the work, especially in the orchestra.
    Adrian Partington established excellent tension right from the start in the orchestral introduction to ‘Der Spielmann’. This set the tone for everything that was to follow. Partington brought out the colour and drama in the music; I had a good view of the rostrum and it was evident that he had the score at his fingertips and was guiding all the performers urgently and clearly through music that is not exactly standard concert fare. The orchestra responded acutely to his direction and even though there were inevitable problems of balance at times this was a price worth paying for the vitality of the performance. The chorus, too, were highly energised. They are particularly involved in ‘Hochzeitstücke’ and here they sang with palpable commitment and assurance; clearly, they had been well schooled in this music which, for most amateur choral singers, is not only unfamiliar but also at times very unconventional for its time. I thought they did very well.
    Mahler used three soloists. I am afraid soprano Lee Bissett was a serious disappointment. I formed the impression, perhaps wrongly, that she wasn’t entirely at ease with the music. It sounded to me as if she was trying too hard to project; as a result, both diction and, on occasion it seemed, intonation, suffered. Her significant lamenting solo (‘Ach Bruder. lieber Bruder mein’) should be a high point of the work but Bissett’s singing was insufficiently controlled, as was her final cry of ‘Ach Leide!’ just before the end of the cantata. More positively, Elgan Ll?r Thomas carried on in the same vein as in the Bruckner. The tenor role is less prominent in Das klagende Lied but everything that Thomas did was accurate, involving and highly committed. The alto part in the Bruckner Te Deum doesn’t give the soloist much opportunity to shine but, by contrast, Mahler entrusts a great deal of the narrative to his alto soloist. Claudia Huckle rose to the occasion splendidly. Her singing per se, was excellent; her voice was ideally focused and her diction was very clear. I recall that it was a mantra of the distinguished tenor John Mitchinson that the primary responsibility of a singer is to ‘tell the story’. No one listening to Huckle tonight would have been disappointed in her narrative engagement. Not only did she tell the story most expressively with her voice but also there was visible engagement with the audience. True, there were a few occasions when she sang in her lowest register and was rather overpowered by the orchestra, but I am in no doubt that in these instances the ‘fault’ lay with Mahler’s inexperience as an orchestrator. Overall, I was very impressed with Huckle’s singing; she drew me in to the story and made it come alive.
    Seeing Huckle deliver the narrative was just one aspect of this performance that reminded me that experiencing a live performance offers so much more than listening to a CD. Another equally important moment came in ‘Hochzeitstücke’. The first two stanzas of poetry describe the wedding festivities; Mahler sets all this to exuberant music. Then the minstrel arrives to spoil the party and Mahler changes the mood abruptly; his arrival, and the effect his presence has on the king, are illustrated by chilling orchestral sounds, not least from muted horns. This mood change came out more potently than I can ever recall hearing. Partington and the British Sinfonietta did full justice to Mahler’s originality as an orchestrator. Hitherto, I have heard Das klagende Lied in recorded performances which have used the offstage band in ‘Hochzeitstücke’. Hearing the material played by the onstage orchestra was an interesting experience. It was perfectly satisfactory, though Mahler’s more daring spatial effects, though extravagant, undeniably add an extra dimension. However, with everyone watching concert budgets these days, I see no reason why the version performed tonight could not be a perfectly valid alternative, especially if it encourages more performances of the work.
    It has taken me some six decades to experience a live account of Das klagende Lied but it was worth the wait. This was a vivid, dramatic and memorable performance which I enjoyed very much.

    On the other hand:-
    https://bachtrack.com/review-tewkesbury-abbey-cheltenham-music-festival-mahler-july-2026
    If you read it go to the end for the Specsavers comment!

    All the best and thanks for all your support
    See you in 2027

    Jos

     
  • Latest Update (2026 Big Sing)
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  • Date Posted: Tue, 30 Jun 2026

    Herewith the latest instructions. Please note that we will all be singing the Brahms from memory, no scores or folders to be used. It should look professional that way.

    Brahms     - chorus to stand 4 bars before singing (ie bar 8) as directed by AP 
    All sing Soprano line in unison and from memory throughout except bar 27 (ie 12 +15) where the basses should drop down the octave on the second beat ie stay on same note, do not go up octave with others.
    Stand to end
    Bruckner - AP to stand chorus
    Chorus to sit on "te" bar 1 at beginning of "Te ergo"

    Stand on downbeat bar 1 "Aeterna fac"

    Stand to end.

    Mahler - All seated at the start.

    Page 11 Fig. 13 stand

    Page 14 Fig 17 sit

    Page 23 Fig 32 stand

    Page 32 last bar AP to sit chorus for short pause

    Page 35 Fig 42 stand

    Page 40 bar 3 stay standing

    Page 45 end of page stay standing

    Page 51 Fig 60 sit

    Page 55 bar 4 stand

    Page 60 bar 3 sit

    Page 62 bar 15 stand

    Page 69 Bar 1 sit

    Please contact me if you have any queries.

    Jos Gregson
    South Cotswold Big Sing Group
    www.bigsing.org
  • 2026 Big Sing Newsletter No 3 (2026 Big Sing)
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  • Date Posted: Mon, 22 Jun 2026

    Reply to Jos Gregson,
    18 Willoughby Close,
    Alveston,
    Bristol BS35 3RW
    Tel: 01454-411652
    Email: josgregson@gmail.com
    SCBSG Website: bigsing.org

    WEEK 5
    Dear Singer,

    Thank you for signing up to sing in our performance of the Brahms Academic Festival Overture, the Bruckner Te Deum and Parts II and III of Gustav Mahler’s Das klagende Lied. This is the final Newsletter before our Tewkesbury Abbey concert on Saturday 4th July 2026 as part of the Cheltenham Music Festival, we will be conducted by Adrian Partington and accompanied by the British Sinfonietta. There will be four soloists in the Bruckner and three soloists in the Mahler.

    TICKETS
    I have a number of concert tickets available for sale. These are priced at £42 (44), £32 (28) and £15 (28). Numbers in brackets are the numbers of seats in our allocation. We have a large orchestra and the four front rows have been removed and the rows have been re-numbered so that the front row is now I.
    £42 seats – I7,  M1-4,  P12-15, Q1-2, R12, S1-4, V1-4, W12-15, X4, Z1-2, Z14-15, BB9-10
    £32 seats – DD10-11, EE2, GG8-11, HH3-6, KK1-6, LL10-12, MM2-3, OO9-12
    £15 seats –these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle. On the seating plan that is attached available seats are marked with an X
    You can also look on the Cheltenham Festival website. As I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out. Seats are also available from the Cheltenham Festival Box Office at cheltenhamfestivals.com/booking.
    Please note that all unsold tickets will be returned to the Festival on Wednesday 1st July to be added to the Festival’s tickets. They will no longer be available from myself.

    BUSES
    We will be running buses from Thornbury to every Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury rehearsal and the performance. These will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury which has two car parks adjacent to it. The cost will be £20 per trip and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel. Booking forms are available on the SCBSG website bigsing.org, from myself or can be sent electronically.. It is very important that singers complete and return the forms to me as we anticipate that there will be much demand particularly for the Tewkesbury runs.

    CONCERT FOLDERS
    We will be using maroon concert folders courtesy of Thornbury Choral Societies. As there are several different colours involved in the scores we are singing from we are very keen to use folders to give a uniform appearance. Folders will be on your seats when you arrive on Saturday 4th July. After the concert please remove your scores from the folders and place the folders in the boxes provided..

    SCORES
    The only score that singers have hired is the Peters edition of the Bruckner Te Deum and there will be boxes for these to deposit your hire scores  in on either side of the staging. If you have purchased the Peters score of course these do not have to be returned. The Mahler scores are all paid for and are your own property.

    CONCERT DRESS
    For ladies – black top with at least three-quarter length sleeves, long black skirt or trousers.
    For gentlemen – white shirt, black bow tie and evening dress trousers. Unless it happens to be very cold on 4th July we will not be wearing dinner jackets. We will be changing in the Green Room and will be able to leave our smart clothes there for the rehearsal, the concert manager will lock the suite when we are rehearsing.

    WATER
    If you feel that you need to take a bottle of water in to the concert please can you take as small a bottle as you can manage with and keep it out of sight, both when taking your seat and also while sitting down. It is essential to stay hydrated while we sing as we do not want any cases of heatstroke.
    For the rehearsals on 3/7 and 4/7 pm we will not be having a juice break after an hour or so as this will mean dismounting the staging which takes time. Please bring any liquid refreshment that you require for those  rehearsals. Non-alcoholic, of course!

    PROGRAMMES
    We have produced a 28 page programme with details of the orchestra and conductor, lists of the orchestra, singers and most importantly a write-up on the works that we are performing together with the librettos where we are singing. At 4.45pm on the 4th after the afternoon rehearsal we would like a number of singers to help by putting a programme on each audience seat, also the soloists, singers and orchestra seats. The boxes of programmes will be stored in the Cathedral and the authorities are going to lend us a trolley to shift them.

    WEEK 5

    Wednesday 1st July – local rehearsal from 7.30pm-9.30pm at Tabernacle URC Church, Parsonage Street, Dursley GL11 4BJ. This will be taken by Steven Kings and accompanied by Alison Howell. The church is situated on the street leading into Dursley from the A38. There is very limited parking at the church and these spaces are reserved for the conductor, accompanist etc. but there is a large car park at the leisure centre (Swimming pool) which is 50 yards further on and more parking at Sainsbury’s (with a 2 hour maximum).

    We are not running a bus to these four Dursley rehearsals. The following have agreed to drive and offer lifts, please contact one of the specified drivers and arrange pick-up points with them and offer payment for petrol.
    Mike Elcock (07979 700340)
    Jos Gregson (07974 049406)
    Caroline Stoner (07720773301)
    Tessa Sullivan (07771 904670)
    Lyn Summers (07866 992133)

    Directions to Tabernacle URC, Parsonage St., Dursley, GL11 4BW
    Travelling from Gloucester
    Follow the A38 south to Slimbridge Roundabout.
    Turn left along A4135 for 3.5 miles/5.2 km.  The church is on your left just before the roundabout in the centre of Dursley.
    Turn left at this roundabout for Parking at the Swimming Pool or in the centre of Dursley or turn right to park opposite the Old Spot Inn.

    Travelling from Thornbury
    Follow the A38 north to Berkeley Road Junction.
    Turn right along B4066 through Cam to the roundabout junction with the A4135. 
    Turn right towards Dursley for ¾ mile/1.2km.
    The Tabernacle Church is on the left just before the roundabout at the centre of Dursley.
    Turn left for parking at the Swimming Pool or turn right for parking opposite the Old Spot Inn.

    Travelling from Bristol
    Follow the M5 North to J14 (Falfield) and come off left towards the A38 along the B4509.
    At the A38 traffic lights turn right towards Dursley.
    Follow the directions above from Thornbury.

    Thursday 2nd July - rehearsal 7.30-9.30 at St John’s Northgate, Gloucester GL1 2AN to be taken by Adrian Partington accompanied by Steven Kings. Please attend if you possibly can. Please use the St John’s Lane entrance, not the Northgate Street entrance as this will facilitate checking in. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30. There is a bus from Thornbury to this rehearsal.

    Follow A417 towards Gloucester. At the first roundabout, take the 2nd left (A417). At the next roundabout take 2nd left (Corinium Avenue). At the next roundabout turn right along Barnwood Rd. At the *next roundabout turn right onto Estcourt Rd. At the next roundabout follow Estcourt Road (straight on). At the next roundabout turn left into Kingsholm Rd (A430) and follow the A430 to the Gouda Way T junction and turn right. Turn left into Park St/Hare St car Park.

    Walk south along Hare Lane and turn right into Northgate Street. Turn right into St John’s Lane to Church entrance.

    One of our members warns as follows:-
    London Rd is closed westbound at Great Western Rd.
    It's a long term closure for the cycle track from Bishop's Cleeve to Stroud. People from Cheltenham and other places east of Gloucester probably use the ring road and approach Hare Lane car park from St Oswald's Rd. That's what I would do but there may be some who come in on London Rd and need to turn right at Black Dog Way. This is impossible now.

    Here is an article from Gloucestershire Live with details. 

    https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/one-way-system-place-gloucester-11000491

    Please note it is easier to travel into Gloucester via J11A rather than from J12 if travelling from the South, although you could follow the A38 to Cole Avenue and turn right onto the A38 Southern and Eastern Avenue to Barnwood Rd Roundabout, turn left onto Barnwood Rd and follow instructions above.

    Friday 3rd July rehearsal - 7.30-10.00pm at Tewkesbury Abbey, Tewkesbury GL20 5RZ to be taken by Adrian Partington and accompanied by Jonathan Hope. This is the rehearsal where we are told where to sit by Trevor Bartlett, the concert manager. If you cannot attend at this rehearsal please get a neighbour to reserve you a place.

    There is no parking available at the Abbey. Public parking is available at Vineyards and Meadow car parks. (GL20 5PG and GL20 5QB)
    Please arrive by 7.15pm and be seated by 7.25pm.
    Please enter by the North Door. Seating plans are available and the concert managers (Trevor Bartlett and Andrew Woodhall) will be present to assist you. PLEASE NOTE THE SEATING PLAN IS DIFFERENT TO WORKSHOP AND REHEARSAL SEATING.
    At the end of the rehearsal please stay seated until after the concert manager has issued gathering, mounting and dismounting instructions for the next day. We will dismount from the stands TOP row first.
    Unless instructed otherwise your rehearsal seat will be your seat for the rehearsal the next day and the concert.so please make a note of who is standing beside, in front of and behind you.

    Saturday 4th July afternoon rehearsal - Please be at the Abbey by 1.15pm and seated by 1.35pm. Assembly instructions and mounting plan will be announced before rehearsal starts. The rehearsal will start promptly and will end at 4.45pm prompt. There is a service starting at 5.00pm so please clear the area quickly.
    Green Room facilities have been arranged in the Meeting Room adjacent to the Abbey Café. This will be open from 12.30pm and closed at 1.30pm. Changing facilities are available behind screens in the meeting room. The Green room will only have seating for approximately 60 people due to fire regulations. The room will be secured at 1.15 and opened again at 4.50. One of the concert managers will have the key.
    The Green Room can be used after the rehearsal and before the concert (4.50pm to 7.10pm) however it is maximised at 60 persons. PLEASE NOTE the Green Room will be supervised or locked between 5.00pm and 6.15pm whilst the concert managers have a meal break. After 5.00pm seating in the Abbey Café can be used. PLEASE NOTE. The café will not be open and no food or drink will be available. If you take in your own food please be responsible for clearing away any rubbish.
    Before 4.45pm the Café and the toilet facilities are open to the general public. Toilet facilities are limited to say the least.

    Saturday 4th July Performance - At 7.00pm please start to assemble in the transepts as instructed at the rehearsals. Seats 1-8 in the north transept and seats 9-16 in the south transept. Please stand quietly and follow the instruction of the relevant concert manager.
    At 7.15 the choir will mount the staging, starting with the front row. Please remain standing until all are in place then upon signal from one of the tenors (TBA) take your seats. All rise as Adrian enters and remain standing until Adrian signals to be seated.
    There will be a short interval after the Bruckner Te Deum. Please remain in your seats if possible but remember to stretch and take on some water.
    At the end of the concert and after the applause, encores and presentations (if any) please dismount in an orderly fashion from the top row.

    The green room will be opened by the concert manager but will be only open for a short period of time until the keys have to be handed back to the verger.

    A38 Roadworks
    NB Please be aware that the A38 between Almondsbury and Grovesend/Thornbury has roadworks until at least October 2026 and parts of the road may be closed or reduced to one lane after 8pm. If you are coming from Bristol or Bath etc. it is probably best to use the M5.
    The road works are open during the day (6am – 8pm).
    For further information please see www.southglos.gov.uk/a38-bsw-active-travel

    If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter. I will be attending all rehearsals.

    Jos Gregson

    Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group

     
  • 2026 Big Sing Newsletter No 2 (2026 Big Sing)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Wed, 10 Jun 2026

    Reply to Jos Gregson,
    18 Willoughby Close,
    Alveston,
    Bristol BS35 3RW
    Tel: 01454-411652
    Email: josgregson@gmail.com
    SCBSG Website: bigsing.org

    WEEKS 3 and 4
    Dear Singer,

    Thank you for signing up to sing in our performance of the Brahms Academic Festival Overture, the Bruckner Te Deum and Parts II and III of Gustav Mahler’s Das klagende Lied. This will take place in Tewkesbury Abbey on Saturday 4th July 2026 as part of the Cheltenham Music Festival, we will be conducted by Adrian Partington and accompanied by the British Sinfonietta. There will be four soloists in the Bruckner and three soloists in the Mahler.

    If you would like details of the scores being used, Adrian Partington’s score amendments and which rehearsals to attend these were in Newsletter No. 1 which can be viewed on the website www.bigsing.org

    TICKETS
    I have a number of concert tickets available for sale. These are priced at £42 (44), £32 (28) and £15 (28). Numbers in brackets are the numbers of seats in our allocation. We have a large orchestra and the four front rows have been removed and the rows have been re-numbered so that the front row is now I.
    £42 seats – I7,  M1-4,  P12-15, Q1-2, R12, S1-4, V1-4, W12-15, X4, Z1-2, Z14-15, BB9-10
    £32 seats – DD10-11, EE1-2, GG8-11, HH3-6, KK1-6, LL10-12, MM2-3, OO9-12
    £15 seats –these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle. On the seating plan that is attached available seats are marked with an X
    You can also look on the Cheltenham Festival website. As I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out. Seats are also available from the Cheltenham Festival Box Office at cheltenhamfestivals.com/booking

    BUSES
    We will be running buses from Thornbury to every Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury rehearsal and the performance. These will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury which has two car parks adjacent to it. The cost will be £20 per trip and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel. Booking forms are available on the SCBSG website bigsing.org, from myself or can be sent electronically.. It is very important that singers complete and return the forms to me as we anticipate that there will be much demand particularly for the Tewkesbury runs.

    WEEK 3

    Thursday 18th June – local rehearsal from 7.30pm-9.30pm at Tabernacle URC Church, Parsonage Street, Dursley GL11 4BJ. This will be taken by Steven Kings and accompanied by Alison Howell. The church is situated on the street leading into Dursley from the A38. There is very limited parking at the church and these spaces are reserved for the conductor, accompanist etc. but there is a large car park at the leisure centre (Swimming pool) which is 50 yards further on and more parking at Sainsbury’s (with a 2 hour maximum).

    We are not running a bus to these four Dursley rehearsals. The following have agreed to drive and offer lifts, please contact one of the specified drivers and arrange pick-up points with them and offer payment for petrol.
    Mike Elcock (07979 700340)
    Jos Gregson (07974 049406)
    Caroline Stoner (07720773301)
    Tessa Sullivan (07771 904670)
    Lyn Summers (07866 992133)

    Directions to Tabernacle URC, Parsonage St., Dursley, GL11 4BW
    Travelling from Gloucester
    Follow the A38 south to Slimbridge Roundabout.
    Turn left along A4135 for 3.5 miles/5.2 km.  The church is on your left just before the roundabout in the centre of Dursley.
    Turn left at this roundabout for Parking at the Swimming Pool or in the centre of Dursley or turn right to park opposite the Old Spot Inn.

    Travelling from Thornbury
    Follow the A38 north to Berkeley Road Junction.
    Turn right along B4066 through Cam to the roundabout junction with the A4135. 
    Turn right towards Dursley for ¾ mile/1.2km.
    The Tabernacle Church is on the left just before the roundabout at the centre of Dursley.
    Turn left for parking at the Swimming Pool or turn right for parking opposite the Old Spot Inn.

    Travelling from Bristol
    Follow the M5 North to J14 (Falfield) and come off left towards the A38 along the B4509.
    At the A38 traffic lights turn right towards Dursley.
    Follow the directions above from Thornbury.

    WEEK 4
    Wednesday 24th June – local rehearsal from 7.30pm-9.30pm at Tabernacle URC Church, Parsonage Street, Dursley GL11 4BJ. This will be taken by Steven Kings and accompanied by Alison Howell. Details as for Thursday 18th June (note change of day)

    Thursday 25th June - rehearsal 7.30-9.30 at St John’s Northgate, Gloucester GL1 2AN to be taken by Adrian Partington accompanied by Steven Kings. Please attend if you possibly can. Please use the St John’s Lane entrance, not the Northgate Street entrance as this will facilitate checking in. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30. There is a bus from Thornbury to this rehearsal.

    Follow A417 towards Gloucester. At the first roundabout, take the 2nd left (A417). At the next roundabout take 2nd left (Corinium Avenue). At the next roundabout turn right along Barnwood Rd. At the *next roundabout turn right onto Estcourt Rd. At the next roundabout follow Estcourt Road (straight on). At the next roundabout turn left into Kingsholm Rd (A430) and follow the A430 to the Gouda Way T junction and turn right. Turn left into Park St/Hare St car Park.

    Walk south along Hare Lane and turn right into Northgate Street. Turn right into St John’s Lane to Church entrance.

    Please note it is easier to travel into Gloucester via J11A rather than from J12 if travelling from the South, although you could follow the A38 to Cole Avenue and turn right onto the A38 Southern and Eastern Avenue to Barnwood Rd Roundabout, turn left * onto Barnwood Rd and follow instructions above.

    A38 Roadworks
    NB Please be aware that the A38 between Almondsbury and Grovesend/Thornbury has roadworks until at least October 2026 and parts of the road may be closed or reduced to one lane after 8pm. If you are coming from Bristol or Bath etc. it is probably best to use the M5.
    The road works are open during the day (6am – 8pm).
    For further information please see www.southglos.gov.uk/a38-bsw-active-travel

    If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter. I will be attending all rehearsals.

    The next Newsletter No. 3 will include changing facilities, what to wear for the concert, getting on and off the staging etc.

    Jos Gregson

    Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group

     
  • 2026 Big Sing Newsletter no 1 (2026 Big Sing)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Fri, 29 May 2026

    Reply to Jos Gregson,
    18 Willoughby Close,
    Alveston,
    Bristol BS35 3RW
    Tel: 01454-411652
    Email: josgregson@gmail.com
    SCBSG Website: bigsing.org

    WEEKS 1 and 2

    Dear Singer,

    Thank you for signing up to sing in our performance of the Brahms Academic Festival Overture, the Bruckner Te Deum and Parts II and III of Gustav Mahler’s Das klagende Lied. This will take place in Tewkesbury Abbey on Saturday 4th July 2026 as part of the Cheltenham Music Festival, we will be conducted by Adrian Partington and accompanied by the British Sinfonietta. There will be four soloists in the Bruckner and three soloists in the Mahler.

    As there is a very busy rehearsal schedule and we are using several different venues I am planning to send out a regular Newsletter well before the start of each week giving details of dates and venues and also other details such as tickets, buses, concert dress etc.

    WHICH REHEARSALS SHOULD I ATTEND?
    Adrian would like all singers to attend the rehearsals that he is taking, namely those on 4/6, 6/6, 25/6, 2/7, 3/7 and 4/7. The evening rehearsal on 3/7 is particularly important as that is when our Concert Manager, Trevor Bartlett will sort out the seating plan and allocate places. If you cannot attend this please arrange with someone from your voice section to make sure that you know where to sit.
    Singers from audition choirs are also encouraged to attend the local rehearsals in Dursley. While these are for singers from smaller choirs to get to learn the work it is very helpful to have a more experienced singer singing alongside one and I hope that many of you will consider doing this.

    SCORES
    The hire score that we are using for the Bruckner Te Deum is Peters, for the Brahms we have our own copies and for the Mahler we have had special copies printed.

    SCORE AMENDMENTS
    Adrian has produced a number of revisions to all three scores. These are available to download on the website www.bigsing.org or if preferred ask me and I can email them to you. I will also have printed copies at rehearsals.

    TICKETS
    I have a number of concert tickets available for sale. These are priced at £42 (44), £32 (28) and £15 (28). Numbers in brackets are the numbers of seats in our allocation. We have a large orchestra and the four front rows have been removed and the rows have been re-numbered so that the front row is now I.
    £42 seats – I7,  M1-4,  P12-15, Q1-2, R12, S1-4, V1-4, W12-15, X4, Z1-2, Z14-15, BB9-10
    £32 seats – DD10-11, EE1-2, GG8-11, HH3-6, KK1-6, LL10-12, MM2-3, OO9-12
    £15 seats –these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle. On the seating plan that is attached available seats are marked with an X
    You can also look on the Cheltenham Festival website. As I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out. Seats are also available from the Cheltenham Festival Box Office at cheltenhamfestivals.com/booking

    BUSES
    We will be running buses from Thornbury to every Gloucester, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury rehearsal and the performance. These will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury which has two car parks adjacent to it. The cost will be £20 per trip and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel. Booking forms are available on the SCBSG website bigsing.org, from myself and are also attached. It is very important that singers complete and return the forms to me as we anticipate that there will be much demand particularly for the Tewkesbury runs.

    WEEK 1
    Thursday 4th June - rehearsal 7.30-9.30 at St John’s Northgate, Gloucester GL1 2AN to be taken by Adrian Partington accompanied by Steven Kings. Please attend if you possibly can. Please use the St John’s Lane entrance, not the Northgate Street entrance as this will facilitate checking in. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30. There is a bus from Thornbury to this rehearsal.

    Follow A417 towards Gloucester. At the first roundabout, take the 2nd left (A417). At the next roundabout take 2nd left (Corinium Avenue). At the next roundabout turn right along Barnwood Rd. At the *next roundabout turn right onto Estcourt Rd. At the next roundabout follow Estcourt Road (straight on). At the next roundabout turn left into Kingsholm Rd (A430) and follow the A430 to the Gouda Way T junction and turn right. Turn left into Park St/Hare St car Park.

    Walk south along Hare Lane and turn right into Northgate Street. Turn right into St John’s Lane to Church entrance.

    Please note it is easier to travel into Gloucester via J11A rather than from J12 if travelling from the South, although you could follow the A38 to Cole Avenue and turn right onto the A38 Southern and Eastern Avenue to Barnwood Rd Roundabout, turn left * onto Barnwood Rd and follow instructions above.

    Saturday 6th June? -? Workshop 10am-4pm at Christ Church, Malvern Road, Cheltenham GL50 2JH to be taken by Adrian Partington accompanied by Chris Williams.  As many of you as possible are urged to attend. There will be a tea and coffee break at around 11am, please bring a mug. Please bring your own lunch, we will stop for lunch between 1pm and 2pm. Parking – Please be sensible with parking and provided that you are fit park well away from the church, there is a lot of on-street parking.  If you are coming from south of Bristol this might be a very good occasion to use the bus from Thornbury.

    Coming in to Cheltenham from Junction 11 on the M5 approach Cheltenham on the A40. Cross the  first roundabout taking the third exit, pass GCHQ on your left and take the second exit at the next roundabout. Go straight ahead at the lights by the Shell station into Lansdown Road, Malvern Road is the eighth left turn and Christ Church faces you at the bottom of the road. There is parking along a lot of Malvern Road but as stated above please if possible park a good distance from the Church.

    Thursday 11th June – local rehearsal from 7.30pm-9.30pm at Tabernacle URC Church, Parsonage Street, Dursley GL11 4BJ. This will be taken by Steven Kings and accompanied by Alison Howell. The church is situated on the street leading into Dursley from the A38. There is very limited parking at the church and these spaces are reserved for the conductor, accompanist etc. but there is a large car park at the leisure centre (Swimming pool) which is 50 yards further on and more parking at Sainsbury’s (with a 2 hour maximum).

    This is a new venue for us but is highly rated by Tyndale Choral Society who use it for their regular rehearsals.

    We are not running a bus to these four Dursley rehearsals. The following have agreed to drive and offer lifts, please contact one of the specified drivers and arrange pick-up points with them and offer payment for petrol.
    Mike Elcock (07979 700340)
    Jos Gregson (07974 049406)
    Caroline Stoner (07720773301)
    Tessa Sullivan (07771 904670)
    Lyn Summers (07866 992133)

    Directions to Tabernacle URC, Parsonage St., Dursley, GL11 4BW
    Travelling from Gloucester
    Follow the A38 south to Slimbridge Roundabout.
    Turn left along A4135 for 3.5 miles/5.2 km.  The church is on your left just before the roundabout in the centre of Dursley.
    Turn left at this roundabout for Parking at the Swimming Pool or in the centre of Dursley or turn right to park opposite the Old Spot Inn.

    Travelling from Thornbury
    Follow the A38 north to Berkeley Road Junction.
    Turn right along B4066 through Cam to the roundabout junction with the A4135.  
    Turn right towards Dursley for ¾ mile/1.2km.
    The Tabernacle Church is on the left just before the roundabout at the centre of Dursley.
    Turn left for parking at the Swimming Pool or turn right for parking opposite the Old Spot Inn.

    Travelling from Bristol
    Follow the M5 North to J14 (Falfield) and come off left towards the A38 along the B4509.
    At the A38 traffic lights turn right towards Dursley.
    Follow the directions above from Thornbury.

    Saturday 13th June? -? Workshop 10am-4pm at Christ Church, Malvern Road, Cheltenham GL50 2JH to be taken by Steven Kings accompanied by Chris Williams.  As many of you as possible are urged to attend. There will be a tea and coffee break at around 11am, please bring a mug. Please bring your own lunch, we will stop for lunch between 1pm and 2pm. Parking – Please be sensible with parking and provided that you are fit park well away from the church, there is a lot of on-street parking.  If you are coming from south of Bristol this might be a very good occasion to use the bus from Thornbury.

    Coming in to Cheltenham from Junction 11 on the M5 approach Cheltenham on the A40. Cross the  first roundabout taking the third exit, pass GCHQ on your left and take the second exit at the next roundabout. Go straight ahead at the lights by the Shell station into Lansdown Road, Malvern Road is the eighth left turn and Christ Church faces you at the bottom of the road. There is parking along a lot of Malvern Road but as stated above please if possible park a good distance from the Church.

    A38 Roadworks
    NB Please be aware that the A38 between Almondsbury and Grovesend/Thornbury has roadworks until at least October 2026 and parts of the road may be closed or reduced to one lane after 8pm. If you are coming from Bristol or Bath etc. it is probably best to use the M5.
    The road works are open during the day (6am – 8pm).
    For further information please see www.southglos.gov.uk/a38-bsw-active-travel

    If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter. I will be attending all rehearsals.

    Jos Gregson

    Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group

     
  • 2026 Big Sing 4 July (2026 Big Sing)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Thu, 30 Apr 2026

    Dear Singer
    I am sending this to you as you took part in the April 11th Workshop studying the three works that we are to sing in Tewkesbury Abbey on the above date, the Brahms Academic Festival Overture, the Bruckner Te Deum and Mahler's Das klagende Lied or have been one of the singers who has added your name to the list but could not take part in the Workshop.

    If you are intending to sing with us but have not yet sent in your form or paid please could you do this as soon as possible as I have a lot of work to do before the concert including writing the programme etc.  If it helps you may pay by cheque and postdate to the 1st June, I will check dates.. A booking form is attached

    There will be a bus from Thornbury to the 7 rehearsal and performance venues in Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury, these will run from outside Ald in Thornburyi. These are on June 4th, 6th, 13th, 25th, and July 2nd, 3rd and 4th. The cost will be £20 per trip. A schedule with timings will be sent out nearer the time to book your place.

    On Dursley rehearsal dates we are asking members of the choir with larger cars to offer lifts and will send out more details nearer the time, Passengers can offer some petrol money to drivers.

    I now have our allocation of tickets for the concert and there is a map attached to this email Seats in green are $42, in purple are £32 and aisle seats (unreserved) are £15.£42 seats – I7, M1-4, P12-15, R12, Q1-2, R4-7, S1-4, S9-12, V1-4, W12-15, X4, Z1-2, Z14-15, AA6-7, BB9-10
    £32 seats – DD10-11, EE1-2, GG8-11, HH3-6, KK1-6, LL10-12, MM2-3, OO9-12
    £15 seats –these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle.
    IAs I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out. Seats are also available from the Cheltenham Festival Box Office at cheltenhamfestivals.com/booking

    Looking forward to singing with you

    Jos
     
  • 2026 Workshop Newsletter (2026 Workshop)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Fri, 20 Mar 2026

    Reply to Jos Gregson,
    18 Willoughby Close,
    Alveston,
    Bristol BS35 3RW
    Tel: 01454-411652
    Email: josgregson@gmail.com
    SCBSG Website: bigsing.org

    Dear Singer,

    Thank you for signing up to take part in the Workshop on the Brahms’ Academic Festival overture, the Bruckner Te Deum and Mahler’s Das klagende Lied. This will take place on Saturday 11th April at The Crypt School, Podsmead Road, Gloucester GL2 5AE and will be conducted by Adrian Partington.
    This will lead to a performance of these three works on 4th July 2026 in Tewkesbury Abbey as part of the Cheltenham Music Festival, accompanied by the British Sinfonietta and conducted by Adrian Partington with soloists.
    This Newsletter is to update you with information about the day. On this occasion there will be no splitting of the choir into Choir 1 and Choir 2 so the seating plan is much easier.

    THE CRYPT SCHOOL
    Coming from Junction 12 on the M5 follow signs ro Gloucester city centre on the dual carriageway. Cross two roundabouts and at the major lights that are next, turn right on the A38 to Gloucester City Centre, After around 800 yards Podsmead is on the left at lights. Turn left, go round a small roundabout and drive into the Crypt School driveway through the main gates. Please follow the SCBSG car park signs. There will be a car park on the left before you reach the school building and a further parking area for around 75 cars in front of the building. Check-in is at the main entrance on the other side of the building from the first car park.

    TIMETABLE
    9.30am – Arrival and registration
    10am-11am – first rehearsal
    11am-11.30am – coffee break
    11.30am-1.00pm – second rehearsal
    1.00pm – 2.00pm lunch break. PLEASE BRING A PACKED LUNCH
    2.00pm – 4.00pm third rehearsal (No tea break)

    CATERING
    There will be a coffee break at around 11am. To make sure we make minimum impact on the environment please bring your own mug and we will fill it for you. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available including gluten free biscuits. Recyclable cups will be available if you forget.

    SCORES
    The hire score that we are using for the Bruckner Te Deum is Peters, for the Mahler it is a special version that we have printed ourselves and for the Brahms we are using a one sheet printout which is available free. We will have copies of all scores at check-in.

    SCORE AMENDMENTS
    Adrian has produced a number of revisions to all three scores. These are available to download on the website bigsing.org or if preferred ask me and I can email them to you. I will also have printed copies at rehearsals. The amendments are available on the website at  https://www.bigsing.org/commonfiles/bigsing/db_uploads/Concert_notes_17722152557399.pdf.

    BUS
    The SCBSG will be running a bus from Thornbury to the Crypt School for the Workshop. This will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury at 08.45 and will return from Gloucester at 16.15 after the workshop. There are two car parks adjacent to Aldi though South Gloucestershire Council has now initiated parking charges. There is free parking in some local streets but please be careful to read the signs. The cost is £16  and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel.  Please book through myself if you want to use this service, payment may be made by BACS to SCBSG, sort code 55-61-38 account 72408375.

    To get to Aldi and the car park – approach Thornbury on the A38 from Bristol. Turn left at the lights by Berkeley Vale Motors (Hyundai agents) and proceed down Thornbury Hill to go straight ahead at the first roundabout (the Tesco roundabout) and left at the second roundabout. The turn to the car park is then the third right turn, the long stay section is well marked down the far end of the car park.

    BOOKING TO TAKE PART IN THE JULY CONCERT
    When you take your place at the Workshop you will find a booking form on your seat, this has details of all the rehearsal venues. These are also listed on the bigsing.org website. Please fill this in, pay by BACS or cheque and return the form to Jos as soon as possible to ensure your place. From 12th April 2026 it will be possible to sign up through the website www.bigsing.org.

    Note that the concert is in Tewkesbury Abbey on Sat 4th July this year and that you will be expected to attend the eve-of-oncert rehearsal in Tewkesbury Abbey on Fri evening 3rd July as this is when the Concert Manager organises the seating plan.

    Tewkesbury Abbey is very close to J9 on the M5, just north of Gloucester, so is easy to get to.

    If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter.

    All the best and I look forward to meeting up with you all.

    Jos Gregson

    Chairman,
    South Cotswold Big Sing Group
    20th  March 2026
     
  • 2025 Big Sing Wrap-up Newsletter (2025 Big Sing)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Sat, 12 Jul 2025

    Reply to Jos Gregson,
    18 Willoughby Close,
    Alveston,
    Bristol BS35 3RW
    Tel: 01454-411652
    Email: josgregson@gmail.com
    SCBSG Website: bigsing.org

    WRAP-UP NEWSLETTER
    Dear Singer,

    Thank you for taking part in last Saturday’s concert. Everything went really well on the night and our extra singers, Lay Clerks, ex-Lay Clerks and members of the National Chorus of Wales gave us a tremendous boost and were most welcome. In some rehearsals we had one lady tenor covering both tenor parts, in the performance we had ten of each so life became a bit easier. I thoroughly enjoyed singing with everybody and hope that you will all want to join in next year’s project.

    THANKS
    Huge thanks are due to the brilliant teaching team of Adrian, Steven, Chris, Jonathan, Julian and Alison H – we could not do it without you, thank you all so much.

    CONCERT FOLDER
    We are missing one Wycliffe Choral Society folder, black with the name on the front. If you know where it is please let me know.

    SCORES
    We are missing a number of scores. I have done the Brahms and we are missing 3 though I know that one of these went missing in the post together with a Berlioz score.
    Please search your bags for any scores that are not your own, if you find one please let me know together with the score number. I shall be making house calls next week.

    COMMENTS
    I have had a number of nice comments which I am passing on below, in no particular order, more or less as received. I must stress that my support team is invaluable and it would be very hard for me to manage without Trevor, Alison M, Mike, Andrew, Naomi and Lyn, as well as all of you who put out folders and programmes on the day.

    A very special “thank you” to you and your team for working so hard to give us all such a wonderful evening on Saturday. A precious experience to be remembered and treasured. (TSThornbury)

    I am now back in Cheltenham after attending tonight’s wonderful concert in Gloucester Cathedral.(AA- Cheltenham)

    Many thanks for a very enjoyable concert this evening. My head is still ringing from the Te Deum. (PS Thornbury)

    My thanks to you, Trevor and all the other people involved for the huge amount of work that goes into making these events a success. SCBSG provides a unique opportunity for less talented singers such as myself the experience of detailed teaching by one of the country's leading conductors and participation in works that would not otherwise be possible for smaller choirs. A particular thank you to Chris Swain who in spite of scanty numbers at rehearsals patiently succeeded in getting us through some of the more tricky parts of the music. I wish he had been music master when I was at Wycliffe when I was learning to play the clarinet, the then teacher didn't provide copies for B flat instruments so we had to learn to transcribe as we played which was not ideal. (BG (Tewkesbury CS)

    When you send out your congratulatory newsletter would you please include a note from me to everybody thanking them for their help in making such a successful performance. All the hard work paid off and Adrian was extremely impressed with our setups. (Trevor Bartlett – Concert Manager Wycliffe CS)

    I wanted to send you a personal email to say a big thank you for everything you have done to help make last night’s thrilling performance happen. Adrian, as always, supplied the magic but none of this would have happened without your enthusiasm and dedicated hard work behind the scenes. For me, and my fellow BCS participants I spoke to last night, this was the standout brilliant concert of the last 12 months and I can’t wait to sign up for next year. I have sung the Bruckner Te Deum before (most recently Three Choirs in Hereford in 2018) so hopefully it will be a bit familiar! The Mahler will be very interesting. (KF _ Bristol CS)

    I would like to say how grateful I am for all your organisation of the Big Sing.  It is always the highlight of the year for me and last night was no exception.  I thoroughly enjoyed all the rehearsals, and singing with the professional orchestra and excellent soloists in the magnificent Gloucester Cathedral is the culmination of a lot of hard work.  Adrian Partington is inspirational and excellent to sing with.  I really appreciate this opportunity which would be difficult to get anywhere else as an amateur singer.  Long may the Big Sing continue. (ME – Thornbury CS)

    As you know, I sadly had to duck out of singing last night due to health issues, but I was in the audience - and it was WONDERFUL!  A truly stupendous concert, really thrilling, and testament to all your hard work and organisation.  I sang every note "in my head" and soooo wished I was up there with you all!  Really well done, and congratulations on a truly successful and memorable evening.  (LW- Bristol CS)

    I'm just beginning to come down to earth after Saturday, still with a head full of music.
    Thanks for making such a glorious experience possible. It is a great space in which to sing a big work. The tenor soloist said he had never heard a noise like it, (and when we laughed, he said he meant it in a good way.) The ground moved for me when the organ played (though John says that for him it was when we stood up.) I always start the process wondering if I will manage to sing the work, and we always do, thanks to Adrian.
    The leader of the orchestra was John's second cousin, and she said how much she enjoyed playing pieces she had never done before. (AC – Stroud CS)

    And from Adrian a very generous email:-

    It was a fantastic evening, seemingly enjoyed by everybody. I've had several very excited emails about the Berlioz in particular.

    It was as good a concert as last year; possibly even better.. My particular joy was that the a cappella page in Movement V stayed absolutely in tune. That made me very happy!

    I have marked April 11th in my diary for a Mahler/Bruckner workshop. In many ways, this programme will be easier to bring together than the last three, partly because for the first time for some years, none of the pieces requires a children's choir!

    I think it is marvellous what energy and imagination you bring to the SCBSG and its singers! Thank you for making all these memorable.

    PHOTO GALLERY                                                                                                                             You may have noticed a photographer busy taking pictures both during our rehearsal on Saturday and also during the performance. The photographer, Michael Whitehead has kindly sent us a selection of these images and these may be viewed here: https://www.bigsing.org/dbpage.php?pg=album&Category=9 courtesy of ©Michael Whitefoot @whitefootimages

    NEXT YEAR
    Next year’s concert consists of three works. We start with Malcolm Sargent’s arrangement of the Brahms Academic Festival Orchestra with chorus and the first half is completed with the great Bruckner Te Deum for four soloists, chorus and orchestra. The second half comprises Mahler’s Das klagende Lied again for four soloists and chorus with full orchestra and we have the British Sinfonietta booked again to accompany us in this. Das klagende Lied is early Mahler written before the Titan, his First Symphony and is rarely performed as it is too expensive for many choirs to put on. There appears to only be one vocal score available at just under £40 and there are none for hire so we have had them printed from a free to use website on high quality paper and ring bound so that they lie flat. The Brahms will be made available free, it is a single sided A4 sheet so the only score requiring hire is the Bruckner.where we are using the Peters edition.
    We will be laying on a Workshop on 11th April ‘26 to show you these works and rehearsals for our performance on Saturday 4th July ‘26 will start in June.

    Thank you to everyone who contributed to my very generous Marks and Spencers voucher, maybe it is a hint that I am getting a bit scruffy and need to smarten up. I will and thank you.

    Jos Gregson

    Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group

     
  • 2025 Big Sing Newsletter No 4 (2025 Big Sing)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Thu, 26 Jun 2025

    Reply to Jos Gregson,
    18 Willoughby Close,
    Alveston,
    Bristol BS35 3RW
    Tel: 01454-411652
    Email: josgregson@gmail.com
    SCBSG Website: bigsing.org
    WEEK 4
    Dear Singer,

    Thank you for signing up to sing in our performance of the Berlioz Te Deum, the Brahms Alto Rhapsody and the Fauré/Messager Messe des pêcheurs de Villerville. This will take place in Gloucester Cathedral on Saturday 5th July 2025 as part of the Cheltenham Music Festival, we will be conducted by Adrian Partington and accompanied by the British Sinfonietta. Our soloists will be Dame Sarah Connolly in the Brahms and Liam Bonthrone in the Berlioz.

    We have now had three week’s rehearsals including a well attended and successful Workshop at Christ Church Cheltenham, very invigorating!

    We now have 127 singers booked so far, Adrian will be bringing in a number of singers from the BBC National Chorus of Wales to boost our numbers.

    WHICH REHEARSALS SHOULD I ATTEND?
    Adrian would like all singers to attend the rehearsals that he is taking, namely those on  2/7, 4/7 and 5/7. The evening rehearsal on 4/7 is particularly important as that is when our Concert Manager, Trevor Bartlett will sort out the seating plan and allocate places. If you cannot attend this please arrange with someone from your voice section to make sure that you know where to sit.
    Singers from audition choirs are also encouraged to attend the local rehearsals in Stonehouse and Alveston. While these are for singers from smaller choirs to get to learn the work it is very helpful to have a more experienced singer singing alongside one and I hope that many of you will consider doing this.

    SCORES
    The hire score that we are using for the Berlioz Te Deum is Schirmer, for the Brahms it is Novello and for the Fauré/Messager it is Leduc. I have one new Serenissima Berlioz Te Deum score (one only) available at £13.50 and Leduc Faure/Messager scores at £12.50.


    SCORE AMENDMENTS
    Adrian has produced a number of revisions to all three scores. These are available to download on the website bigsing.org or if preferred ask me and I can email them to you. I will also have printed copies at rehearsals.

    TICKETS
    I will have a number of tickets available for sale. These are priced at £42 (38), £32 (20), £22 (14) and £15 (28). Numbers in brackets are the numbers of seats in our allocation. As we have a large orchestra and the four front rows have been removed the rows have been re-numbered so that the front row is again A.
    £42 seats – A7-9, D3, H3-4, K5-8, M15-16,  R13-18, S3-4,
    £32 seats – EE3-7, EE14, FF13-15. GG6-9
    £22 seats – HH5, JJ15-16, KK3-7
    £15 seats –these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle.
    In addition I have three £42 tickets P7-9 which belong to a singer who finds that he has had a change of plans. Contact me if you would like these and I will give you payment details direct to the owner.
    Please note that any of my allocation of tickets that are left after 3rd July will be returned to Cheltenham Festival after 11am that day when I have a meeting in Gloucester.
    I have a seating plan and can send it to you if you require it or you can look on the Cheltenham Festival website. As I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out.

    BUSES
    We are running buses from Thornbury to every Gloucester and Cheltenham rehearsal and the performance. These will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury which has two car parks adjacent to it. The cost will be £15 per trip and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel. Booking forms are available on the SCBSG website bigsing.org or from myself.

    REHEARSAL LINKS
    Mike Elcock asks me to remind you that our website has some useful rehearsal links as well as everything you need to know about the Big Sing.  If you look at the repertoire page: https://www.bigsing.org/dbpage.php?pg=learning&repgroup=Status, you can click on the piece you want help on, and it will show a number of useful links such as YouTube, Choralia, Learn Choral Music where they are available.  We have also included a link to Dame Sarah Connolly singing the Alto Rhapsody on YouTube.  With YouTube and Choralia, you can vary the playing speed.  With Learn Choral Music, you need to download the appropriate midi file and then play it.  With John Fletcher Music, you need to login (for free).  Also ChoraLine have rehearsal files for the Berlioz that can be purchased and downloaded.  Do make use of these resources if you can.

    CONCERT FOLDERS
    We will be using folders courtesy of Thornbury and Wycliffe Choral Societies. As there are several different colours involved in the scores we are singing from we are very keen to use folders to give a uniform appearance. Folders will be on your seats when you arrive on Saturday 5th July. After the concert please remove your scores from the folders and place the folders in the separate boxes provided, preferably in boxes of Thornbury (maroon) folders or Wycliffe (black) folders.

    CONCERT DRESS
    For ladies – black top with at least three-quarter length sleeves, long black skirt or trousers.
    For gentlemen – black dinner jacket  with white shirt and black bow tie. We will be watching the weather forecast in concert week and if it will be very warm on concert day will dispense with jackets for the men. We will be changing in the Parliament Suite at the Cathedral and will be able to leave our smart clothes there for the rehearsal, the concert manager will lock the suite when we are rehearsing.

    TOILET
    The Cheltenham Festival are bringing in a mobile toilet for this concert which will be parked opposite the south door. It will be installed from 10am on concert day.

    WATER
    If you feel that you need to take a bottle of water in to the concert please can you take as small a bottle as you can manage with and keep it out of sight, both when taking your seat and also while sitting down. It is essential to stay hydrated while we sing as we do not need any cases of heatstroke.
    For the rehearsals on 4/7 and 5/7 pm we will not be having a juice break after an hour or so as this will mean dismounting the staging which takes time. Please bring any liquid refreshment that you require for those evening’s rehearsals. Non-alcoholic, of course!

    PROGRAMMES
    We have produced a 28 page programme with details of the orchestra and conductor, lists of the orchestra, singers and children’s choir members and most importantly a write-up on the works that we are performing together with the librettos where we are singing. At 5pm on the 5th after the afternoon rehearsal we would like a number of singers to help by putting a programme on each audience seat, also the soloists, singers and orchestra seats. The boxes of programmes will be stored in the Cathedral and the authorities are going to lend us a trolley to shift them.

    PARLIAMENT SUITE
    We will be using the Parliament Suite for changing in. As you enter the Cathedral Close through the main gate the entrance to the Parliament Suite is to the left and behind the West Door of the Cathedral. There are three rooms in the Suite. Ladies will use the room looking over the Close, the centre room will be used for serving juice and biscuits and the main room will be used by the men. We suggest that you bring a picnic or sandwiches to eat either in the cathedral grounds or in the Parliament Suite. The Parliament Suite will be open when you arrive for the afternoon rehearsal and will be locked by the Concert Manager while we rehearse and again while we perform.
    The Comfy Pew by the entrance to the Cathedral Close will be remaining open in case you wish to book a meal, I imagine booking will be essential.

    RADIO 3
    I have sent in a request for our performance to be mentioned in the breakfast programme on Radio 3; They say they have many requests and cannot guarantee to feature any particular concerts.

    RETURNING SCORES
    There will be boxes by the large pillars at the left and right of where we are singing on the staging. Please return all hired scores to these boxes as we leave the staging at the end of the concert. If for any reason you cannot make the concert please get one of your colleagues to return them for you. After the concert I effectively have a week to return all scores so I do not want to be chasing singers through Gwent, Wiltshire, Somerset and other counties to recover missing scores.

    WEEK 4
    Tuesday 1st July - rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Wycliffe Junior School Performing Arts Centre, Ebley Road, Stonehouse GL10 2LD to be taken by Chris Swain. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30. The rehearsal will start with the Berlioz for all voices and stop at 9.10, the ladies will then leave and Chris will take the tenors and basses through the Brahms Alto Rhapsody.

    To get to the venue from the M5 head for Stroud and cross five roundabouts. About 200 yards after the fifth roundabout there is an opening on the right labelled Gate 19 and a large car park. Go into the car park, park and there is a small gate in the fence. Go through this and the Performing Arts Centre is on the left after about 200 yards. Do not be diverted onto the Stroud bypass.
    Coming out of Stroud follow the A419 out of Stroud along Cainscross Road. Go straight across the large roundabout at the Marling School end into Westward Road. Gate 19 is around 1.25 miles on your left. Kennedy’s Garden Centre used to use the car park.

    Wednesday 2nd July - rehearsal 7.30-9.30  at The Crypt School, Podsmead Road, Gloucester GL2 5AE to be taken by Adrian Partington. As many of you as possible are urged to attend. We .will be serving water and squash at around 8.30pm.

    Coming from Junction 12 on the M5 follow signs to Gloucester city centre on the dual carriageway. Cross two roundabouts and at the major lights that are next turn right on the A38 to Gloucester City Centre. After around 800 yards Podsmead is on the left at lights. Turn left, go round a small roundabout and drive into the Crypt School driveway. There will be a large car park on the left before you reach the school building. Park your car and go round the side of the building, check-in is at the main entrance on the other side of the building from the car park.

    The Number 10 bus to Cheltenham from Gloucester and vice versa has a Podsmead Road stop.
    There are considerable delays due to road works on the A38 so you can either approach The Crypt School from the north, central Gloucester side or build in a bit of extra time for the road works.

    Thursday 3rd  July? -? rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Alveston Methodist Church, Greenhill Road, Alveston BS35 3RA to be taken by Steven Kings.  We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30. The rehearsal will start with the Berlioz for all voices and stop at 9.10, the ladies will then leave and Steven will take the tenors and basses through the Brahms Alto Rhapsody.

    Coming out of Bristol take the A38 – after you pass the village sign saying ALVESTON St Helen’s Church is on your left. Turn left immediately after St Helen’s Church, Alveston Methodist Church is around 400 yards on the left on the corner of Wolfridge Ride.Note that due to A38 “improvements” it is not possible to turn left towards Thornbury at the A38 traffic lights.

    Coming from the Stroud and Gloucester direction on the A38 go through the lights signed to Thornbury by Berkeley Vale Motors and immediately get into the right hand lane. Turn right into David’s Lane, drive to the T junction at the bottom, turn left and immediately right and Alveston Methodist is up to your left.

    Friday 4th July
    Rehearsal 7.30pm-10.00pm at Gloucester Cathedral GL1 2LX to be taken by Adrian Partington.  Note the slightly extended time. This is a full rehearsal for all singers. It is vital that as many of you as possible attend as this is when our Concert Manager Trevor Bartlett will sort out the seating plan. If you cannot attend please ensure that a colleague in your voice part keeps a seat for you for concert day. This is also when we will be joined by around 20 singers, many of them lay clerks or singers from the BBC National Chorus of Wales. A seating plan will be displayed in each transept and seating blocks will be colour coded with the stage midline separating the two choirs also clearly marked. At the end of the rehearsal we will practice exiting/unloading the stage and on the Saturday afternoon we will assemble in the transepts and practice a concert style entrance for just the ladies as the men will wait in the aisles as the Brahms is the second item in the concert.

    Saturday 5th  July – There is no morning orchestra only rehearsal. Our rehearsal is from 2pm-5pm with orchestra, please be in the Cathedral in your correct place by 1.45pm. The performance is at 7.30pm and will run to 9.30pm. Please be in the Cathedral for the performance by 7.15pm in position in either the North or South transept as directed by the Concert Manager on Friday. 4th July.

    The Cathedral is well signposted from the various roads coming into the city. There is parking in the Westgate Street car park as well as in the Park Street/Hare Street car park used for the St John’s Northgate rehearsals.

    STANDS AND SITS
    At the start of the concert only the ladies will be on the stage and they will stand when Adrian comes in. After they have sung they will sit and tenors and basses will enter the space between the back of the orchestra and the front row of lady singers. T1s followed by T2s will enter from the left up to the centre line on the staging, simultaneously B1s will enter from the right and move to the centre line followed by B2s. Men will not sit before their performance. After the performance of the Brahms there will be a short interval when the men will move to the back rows of the staging as directed by the Concert Manager.
    We will then seat ourselves on the Concert Manager’s instructions, ready for the Berlioz Te Deum. On Adrian’s entrance with our soloist he will stand the choir. After the second movement  “Tibi omnes” Adrian will seat the choir for the orchestral-only Marche. After the Marche Adrian will stand the choir for the “Dignare, Domine”. Adrian will then seat the choir after the “Christe, Rex gloriae” and the y will remain seated until the downbeat at bar 1 on Schirmer page 73 (Serenissima page 75) when they will stand very quietly and remaining standing until the end.

    I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at each rehearsal, especially  the combined rehearsals in Gloucester. Tickets are selling well, and hopefully we will be singing to a full house.

    If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter. I will be attending all rehearsals.

    Jos Gregson

    Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group
     
  • 2025 Big Sing Newsletter no 3 (2025 Big Sing)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Wed, 18 Jun 2025

    Reply to Jos Gregson,
    18 Willoughby Close,
    Alveston,
    Bristol BS35 3RW
    Tel: 01454-411652
    Email: josgregson@gmail.com
    SCBSG Website: bigsing.org
    WEEK 3

    Dear Singer,

    Thank you for signing up to sing in our performance of the Berlioz Te Deum, the Brahms Alto Rhapsody and the Fauré/Messager Messe des pêcheurs de Villerville. This will take place in Gloucester Cathedral on Saturday 5th July 2025 as part of the Cheltenham Music Festival, we will be conducted by Adrian Partington and accompanied by the British Sinfonietta. Our soloists will be Dame Sarah Connolly in the Brahms and Liam Bonthrone in the Berlioz.

    We have now had the first week’s rehearsals including a well attended and successful Workshop at Christ Church Cheltenham, very invigorating!

    We now have 119 singers booked so far, Adrian will be bringing in a number of singers from the BBC National Chorus of Wales to boost our numbers.

    WHICH CHOIR AM I IN?
    This is far less relevant than it was for our double choir performances in recent years. For the Berlioz Choir 1 will consist of all Sopranos, T1s and B1s. Choir 2 will consist of all Altos, T2s and B2s. The Fauré/Messager will be sung by all Sopranos and Altos, the Brahms will be sung by all Tenors and Basses.

    WHICH REHEARSALS SHOULD I ATTEND?
    Adrian would like all singers to attend the rehearsals that he is taking, namely those on 25/6, 28/6, 2/7, 4/7 and 5/7. The evening rehearsal on 4/7 is particularly important as that is when our Concert Manager, Trevor Bartlett will sort out the seating plan and allocate places. If you cannot attend this please arrange with someone from your voice section to make sure that you know where to sit.
    Singers from audition choirs are also encouraged to attend the local rehearsals in Stonehouse and Alveston. While these are for singers from smaller choirs to get to learn the work it is very helpful to have a more experienced singer singing alongside one and I hope that many of you will consider doing this.

    SCORES
    The hire score that we are using for the Berlioz Te Deum is Schirmer, for the Brahms it is Novello and for the Fauré/Messager it is Leduc. One of our accompanists has returned the Berlioz Te Deum Serenissima score and the Brahms Alto Rhapsody unused as he had them already so these are available at £13.50 and £8.50 respectively


    SCORE AMENDMENTS
    Adrian has produced a number of revisions to all three scores. These are available to download on the website bigsing.org or if preferred ask me and I can email them to you. I will also have printed copies at rehearsals.

    TICKETS
    I will have a number of tickets available for sale. These are priced at £42 (38), £32 (20), £22 (14) and £15 (28). Numbers in brackets are the numbers of seats in our allocation. As we have a large orchestra and the four front rows have been removed the rows have been re-numbered so that the front row is again A. A week ago the Cheltenham Festival Box Office themselves only had 20 nave seats left so we should be singing to a full nave.
    £42 seats – A7-9, D3, H3-4, K5-8, M15-16,  R13-18, S3-4,
    £32 seats – EE3-7, EE14, FF13-15. GG6-9
    £22 seats – HH5, JJ12-16, KK3-7
    £15 seats –these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle.
    In addition I have three £42 tickets P7-9 which belong to a singer who finds that he has had a change of plans. Contact me if you would like these and I will give you payment details direct to the owner.
    Please note that any of my allocation of tickets that are left after 3rd July will be returned to Cheltenham Festival after 11am that day when I have a meeting in Gloucester.
    I have a seating plan and can send it to you if you require it or you can look on the Cheltenham Festival website. As I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out.

    BUSES
    We are running buses from Thornbury to every Gloucester and Cheltenham rehearsal and the performance. These will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury which has two car parks adjacent to it. The cost will be £15 per trip and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel. Booking forms are available on the SCBSG website bigsing.org or from myself.

    REHEARSAL LINKS
    Mike Elcock asks me to remind you that our website has some useful rehearsal links as well as everything you need to know about the Big Sing.  If you look at the repertoire page: https://www.bigsing.org/dbpage.php?pg=learning&repgroup=Status, you can click on the piece you want help on, and it will show a number of useful links such as YouTube, Choralia, Learn Choral Music where they are available.  We have also included a link to Dame Sarah Connolly singing the Alto Rhapsody on YouTube.  With YouTube and Choralia, you can vary the playing speed.  With Learn Choral Music, you need to download the appropriate midi file and then play it.  With John Fletcher Music, you need to login (for free).  Also ChoraLine have rehearsal files for the Berlioz that can be purchased and downloaded.  Do make use of these resources if you can.

    WEEK 3
    Tuesday 24th June - rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Wycliffe Junior School Performing Arts Centre, Ebley Road, Stonehouse GL10 2LD to be taken by Chris Swain. We will be serving water and or1nge squash at around 8.30. The rehearsal will start with the Berlioz for all voices and stop at 9.00, the ladies will then leave and Chris will take the tenors and basses through the Brahms Alto Rhapsody.
    To get to the venue from the M5 head for Stroud and cross five roundabouts. About 200 yards after the fifth roundabout there is an opening on the right labelled Gate 19 and a large car park. Go into the car park, park and there is a small gate in the fence. Go through this and the Performing Arts Centre is on the left after about 200 yards. Do not be diverted onto the Stroud bypass.
    Coming out of Stroud follow the A419 out of Stroud along Cainscross Road. Go straight across the large roundabout at the Marling School end into Westward Road. Gate 19 is around 1.25 miles on your left. Kennedy’s Garden Centre used to use the car park.

    Wednesday 25th June - rehearsal 7.30-9.30 at St John’s Northgate, Gloucester GL1 2AN to be taken by Adrian Partington. Please attend if you possibly can. Please use the St John’s Lane entrance, not the Northgate Street entrance as this will facilitate checking in. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.

    Follow A417 towards Gloucester. At the first roundabout, take the 2nd left (A417). At the next roundabout take 2nd left (Corinium Avenue). At the next roundabout turn right along Barnwood Rd. At the *next roundabout turn right onto Estcourt Rd. At the next roundabout follow Estcourt Road (straight on). At the next roundabout turn left into Kingsholm Rd (A430) and follow the A430 to the Gouda Way T junction and turn right. Turn left into Park St/Hare St car Park.

    Walk south along Hare Lane and turn right into Northgate Street. Turn right into St John’s Lane to Church entrance.

    Please note it is easier to travel into Gloucester via J11A rather than from J12 if travelling from the South, although you could follow the A38 to Cole Avenue and turn right onto the A38 Southern and Eastern Avenue to Barnwood Rd Roundabout, turn left * onto Barnwood Rd and follow instructions above.

    Thursday 26th June? -? rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Alveston Methodist Church, Greenhill Road, Alveston BS35 3RA to be taken by Steven Kings.  We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30. The rehearsal will start with the Berlioz for all voices and stop at 9.10, the ladies will then leave and Steven will take the tenors and basses through the Brahms Alto Rhapsody.

    Coming out of Bristol take the A38 – after you pass the village sign saying ALVESTON St Helen’s Church is on your left. Turn left immediately after St Helen’s Church, Alveston Methodist Church is around 400 yards on the left on the corner of Wolfridge Ride.Note that due to A38 “improvements” it is not possible to turn left towards Thornbury at the A38 traffic lights.

    Coming from the Stroud and Gloucester direction on the A38 go through the lights signed to Thornbury by Berkeley Vale Motors and immediately get into the right hand lane. Turn right into David’s Lane, drive to the T junction at the bottom, turn left and immediately right and Alveston Methodist is up to your left.

    I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at each rehearsal, especially all the combined rehearsals in Cheltenham and Gloucester. Tickets are selling well, I am told that the Box Office only have 20 tickets left (I still have tickets as above) and hopefully we will be singing to a full house.

    Saturday 28th June - Workshop 10.00am-4.00pm at The Crypt School, Podsmead Road, Gloucester GL2 5AE to be taken by Adrian Partington. As many of you as possible are urged to attend. We will be serving tea, coffee and biscuits at around 11.30. Please bring a mug if possible and your own packed lunch.

    Adrian will be taking Tenors and Basses in the Brahms from 10am-10.30am so Sopranos and Altos do not have to be in until 10.30. The Tenors and Basses will rehearse in the front two rows for the Brahms and then will move to the back two rows for the Berlioz. At 3pm Tenors and Basses can go home and Adrian will rehearse the Sopranos and Altos. The rehearsal will finish at 4pm.

    Coming from Junction 12 on the M5 follow signs to Gloucester city centre on the dual carriageway. Cross two roundabouts and at the major lights that are next turn right on the A38 to Gloucester City Centre. After around 800 yards Podsmead is on the left at lights. Turn left, go round a small roundabout and drive into the Crypt School driveway. There will be a large car park on the left before you reach the school building. Park your car and go round the side of the building, check-in is at the main entrance on the other side of the building from the car park.

    The Number 10 bus to Cheltenham from Gloucester and vice versa has a Podsmead Road stop.
    There are considerable delays due to road works on the A38 so you can either approach The Crypt School from the north, central Gloucester side or build in a bit of extra time for the road works.

    If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter. I will be attending all rehearsals.

    Jos Gregson

    Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group
     
  • 2025 Big Sing Newsletter No 2 (2025 Big Sing)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Wed, 11 Jun 2025

    Reply to Jos Gregson,
    18 Willoughby Close,
    Alveston,
    Bristol BS35 3RW
    Tel: 01454-411652
    Email: josgregson@gmail.com
    SCBSG Website: bigsing.org
    WEEK 2

    Dear Singer,

    Thank you for signing up to sing in our performance of the Berlioz Te Deum, the Brahms Alto Rhapsody and the Fauré/Messager Messe des pêcheurs de Villerville. This will take place in Gloucester Cathedral on Saturday 5th July 2025 as part of the Cheltenham Music Festival, we will be conducted by Adrian Partington and accompanied by the British Sinfonietta. Our soloists will be Dame Sarah Connolly in the Brahms and Liam Bonthrone in the Berlioz.

    When you get this we will have had our first rehearsal in Stonehouse with rehearsals to come in Week 1 in Gloucester, Alveston and Cheltenham. By the end of Week 1 singers should be getting familiar with the wonderful works we are singing.

    We have 106 singers booked so far, Adrian will be bringing in a number of singers from the BBC National Chorus of Wales to boost our numbers.

    WHICH CHOIR AM I IN?
    This is far less relevant than it was for our double choir performances in recent years. For the Berlioz Choir 1 will consist of all Sopranos, T1s and B1s. Choir 2 will consist of all Altos, T2s and B2s. The Fauré/Messager will be sung by all Sopranos and Altos, the Brahms will be sung by all Tenors and Basses.

    WHICH REHEARSALS SHOULD I ATTEND?
    Adrian would like all singers to attend the rehearsals that he is taking, namely those on  25/6, 28/6, 2/7, 4/7 and 5/7. The evening rehearsal on 4/7 is particularly important as that is when our Concert Manager, Trevor Bartlett will sort out the seating plan and allocate places. If you cannot attend this please arrange with someone from your voice section to make sure that you know where to sit.
    Singers from audition choirs are also encouraged to attend the local rehearsals in Stonehouse and Alveston. While these are for singers from smaller choirs to get to learn the work it is very helpful to have a more experienced singer singing alongside one and I hope that many of you will consider doing this.

    SCORES
    The hire score that we are using for the Berlioz Te Deum is Schirmer, for the Brahms it is Novello and for the Fauré/Messager it is Leduc. We are now sold out of Serenissima Berlioz Te Deum and Peters Brahms Alto Rhapsody scores.

    SCORE AMENDMENTS
    Adrian has produced a number of revisions to all three scores. These are available to download on the website bigsing.org or if preferred ask me and I can email them to you. I will also have printed copies at rehearsals.

    TICKETS
    I will have a number of tickets available for sale. These are priced at £42 (38), £32 (20), £22 (14) and £15 (28). Numbers in brackets are the numbers of seats in our allocation. As we have a large orchestra and the four front rows have been removed the rows have been re-numbered so that the front row is again A. A week ago the Cheltenham Festival Box Office themselves only had 20 nave seats left so we should be singing to a full nave.
    £42 seats – A7-9, D3, K5-8, M15-18, R13-18, S3-4
    £32 seats – EE3-7, EE14, FF13-15. GG6-9
    £22 seats – HH5, JJ12-16, KK3-7
    £15 seats –these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle.
    I have a seating plan and can send it to you if you require it or you can look on the Cheltenham Festival website. As I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out.

    BUSES
    We are running buses from Thornbury to every Gloucester and Cheltenham rehearsal and the performance. These will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury which has two car parks adjacent to it. The cost will be £15 per trip and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel. Booking forms are available on the SCBSG website bigsing.org or from myself.

    WEEK 2
    Tuesday 17th June - rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Wycliffe Junior School Performing Arts Centre, Ebley Road, Stonehouse GL10 2LD to be taken by Chris Swain. We will be serving water and or1nge squash at around 8.30. The rehearsal will start with the Berlioz for all voices and stop at 9.00, the ladies will then leave and Chris will take the tenors and basses through the Brahms Alto Rhapsody.

    To get to the venue from the M5 head for Stroud and cross five roundabouts. About 200 yards after the fifth roundabout there is an opening on the right labelled Gate 19 and a large car park. Go into the car park, park and there is a small gate in the fence. Go through this and the Performing Arts Centre is on the left after about 200 yards. Do not be diverted onto the Stroud bypass.

    Coming out of Stroud follow the A419 out of Stroud along Cainscross Road. Go straight across the large roundabout at the Marling School end into Westward Road. Gate 19 is around 1.25 miles on your left. Kennedy’s Garden Centre used to use the car park.

    Thursday 19th June? -? rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Alveston Methodist Church, Greenhill Road, Alveston BS35 3RA to be taken by Steven Kings.  We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30. The rehearsal will start with the Berlioz for all voices and stop at 9.10, the ladies will then leave and Steven will take the tenors and basses through the Brahms Alto Rhapsody.

    Coming out of Bristol take the A38 – after you pass the village sign saying ALVESTON St Helen’s Church is on your left. Turn left immediately after St Helen’s Church, Alveston Methodist Church is around 400 yards on the left on the corner of Wolfridge Ride.Note that due to A38 “improvements” it is not possible to turn left towards Thornbury at the A38 traffic lights.

    Coming from the Stroud and Gloucester direction on the A38 go through the lights signed to Thornbury by Berkeley Vale Motors and immediately get into the right hand lane. Turn right into David’s Lane, drive to the T junction at the bottom, turn left and immediately right and Alveston Methodist is up to your left.

    I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at each rehearsal, especially all the combined rehearsals in Cheltenham and Gloucester. Tickets are selling well, I am told that the Box Office only have 20 tickets left (I still have tickets as above) and hopefully we will be singing to a full house.

    If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter. I will be attending all rehearsals.

    Jos Gregson

    Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group
     
  • 2025 Big Sing Newsletter No 1 (2025 Big Sing)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Wed, 4 Jun 2025

    Reply to Jos Gregson,
    18 Willoughby Close,
    Alveston,
    Bristol BS35 3RW
    Tel: 01454-411652
    Email: josgregson@gmail.com
    SCBSG Website: bigsing.org
    WEEK 1

    Dear Singer,

    Thank you for signing up to sing in our performance of the Berlioz Te Deum, the Brahms Alto Rhapsody and the Fauré/Messager Messe des pêcheurs de Villerville. This will take place in Gloucester Cathedral on Saturday 5th July 2025 as part of the Cheltenham Music Festival, we will be conducted by Adrian Partington and accompanied by the British Sinfonietta. Our soloists will be Dame Sarah Connolly in the Brahms and Liam Bonthrone in the Berlioz.

    As there is a very busy rehearsal schedule and we are using several different venues I am planning to send out a weekly Newsletter well before the start of each week giving details of dates and venues and also other details such as tickets, buses, concert dress etc.

    WHICH CHOIR AM I IN?
    This is far less relevant than it was for our double choir performances in recent years. For the Berlioz Choir 1 will consist of all Sopranos, T1s and B1s. Choir 2 will consist of all Altos, T2s and B2s. The Fauré/Messager will be sung by all Sopranos and Altos, the Brahms will be sung by all Tenors and Basses.

    WHICH REHEARSALS SHOULD I ATTEND?
    Adrian would like all singers to attend the rehearsals that he is taking, namely those on 11/6, 14/6, 25/6, 28/6, 2/7, 4/7 and 5/7. The evening rehearsal on 4/7 is particularly important as that is when our Concert Manager, Trevor Bartlett will sort out the seating plan and allocate places. If you cannot attend this please arrange with someone from your voice section to make sure that you know where to sit.
    Singers from audition choirs are also encouraged to attend the local rehearsals in Stonehouse and Alveston. While these are for singers from smaller choirs to get to learn the work it is very helpful to have a more experienced singer singing alongside one and I hope that many of you will consider doing this.

    SCORES
    The hire score that we are using for the Berlioz Te Deum is Schirmer, for the Brahms it is Novello and for the Fauré/Messager it is Leduc. We are now sold out of Serenissima Berlioz Te Deum and Peters Brahms Alto Rhapsody scores.


    SCORE AMENDMENTS
    Adrian has produced a number of revisions to all three scores. These are available to download on the website bigsing.org or if preferred ask me and I can email them to you. I will also have printed copies at rehearsals.

    TICKETS
    I will have a number of tickets available for sale. These are priced at £42 (38), £32 (20), £22 (14) and £15 (28). Numbers in brackets are the numbers of seats in our allocation. As we have a large orchestra and the four front rows have been removed the rows have been re-numbered so that the front row is again A.
    £42 seats – A7-9, D3, G15-16, H3-4, K5-8, M15-18,  S3-4, R13-18
    £32 seats –EE3-8, EE13-14, FF13-15. GG6-9
    £22 seats – HH5-8, JJ12-16, KK3-7
    £15 seats –these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle.
    I have a seating plan and can send it to you if you require it or you can look on the Cheltenham Festival website. As I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out. Seats are also available from the Cheltenham Festival Box Office at cheltenhamfestivals.com/booking

    BUSES
    We will be running buses from Thornbury to every Gloucester and Cheltenham rehearsal and the performance. These will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury which has two car parks adjacent to it. The cost will be £15 per trip and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel. Booking forms are available on the SCBSG website bigsing.org or from myself.

    WEEK 1
    Tuesday 10th June - rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Wycliffe Junior School Performing Arts Centre, Ebley Road, Stonehouse GL10 2LD to be taken by Chris Swain. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30. The rehearsal will start with the Berlioz for all voices and stop at 9.00, the men will then leave and Chris will take the ladies through the Fauré/Messager.

    To get to the venue from the M5 head for Stroud and cross five roundabouts. About 200 yards after the fifth roundabout there is an opening on the right labelled Gate 19 and a large car park. Go into the car park, park and there is a small gate in the fence. Go through this and the Performing Arts Centre is on the left after about 200 yards. Do not be diverted onto the Stroud bypass.
    Coming out of Stroud follow the A419 out of Stroud along Cainscross Road. Go straight across the large roundabout at the Marling School end into Westward Road. Gate 19 is around 1.25 miles on your left. Kennedy’s Garden Centre used to use the car park.

    Wednesday 11th June - rehearsal 7.30-9.30 at St John’s Northgate, Gloucester GL1 2AN to be taken by Adrian Partington. Please attend if you possibly can. Please use the St John’s Lane entrance, not the Northgate Street entrance as this will facilitate checking in. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.

    Follow A417 towards Gloucester. At the first roundabout, take the 2nd left (A417). At the next roundabout take 2nd left (Corinium Avenue). At the next roundabout turn right along Barnwood Rd. At the *next roundabout turn right onto Estcourt Rd. At the next roundabout follow Estcourt Road (straight on). At the next roundabout turn left into Kingsholm Rd (A430) and follow the A430 to the Gouda Way T junction and turn right. Turn left into Park St/Hare St car Park.

    Walk south along Hare Lane and turn right into Northgate Street. Turn right into St John’s Lane to Church entrance.

    Please note it is easier to travel into Gloucester via J11A rather than from J12 if travelling from the South, although you could follow the A38 to Cole Avenue and turn right onto the A38 Southern and Eastern Avenue to Barnwood Rd Roundabout, turn left * onto Barnwood Rd and follow instructions above.

    Thursday 12th June? -? rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Alveston Methodist Church, Greenhill Road, Alveston BS35 3RA to be taken by Steven Kings.  We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30. The rehearsal will start with the Berlioz for all voices and stop at 9.00, the men will then leave and Steven will take the ladies through the Fauré/Messager.

    Coming out of Bristol take the A38 – after you pass the village sign saying ALVESTON St Helen’s Church is on your left. Turn left immediately after St Helen’s Church, Alveston Methodist Church is around 400 yards on the left on the corner of Wolfridge Ride.Note that due to A38 “improvements” it is not possible to turn left towards Thornbury at the A38 traffic lights.

    Coming from the Stroud and Gloucester direction on the A38 go through the lights signed to Thornbury by Berkeley Vale Motors and immediately get into the right hand lane. Turn right into David’s Lane, drive to the T junction at the bottom, turn left and immediately right and Alveston Methodist is up to your left.

    Saturday 14th June - Workshop 10am-4pm at Christ Church, Malvern Road, Cheltenham GL50 2JH to be taken by Adrian Partington, Jonathan Hope and Steven Kings. Adrian has to attend a meeting in Gloucester in the morning so Jonathan will take the ladies in the main church in the Fauré/Messager while Steven takes the tenors and altos in the Music Room in the Brahms. As many of you as possible are urged to attend. There will be a tea and coffee break at around 11am, please bring a mug. Please bring your own lunch, we will stop for lunch between 1pm and 2pm. Parking – Please be sensible with parking and provided that you are fit park well away from the church, there is a lot of on-street parking.  If you are coming from south of Bristol this might be a very good occasion to use the bus from Thornbury.

    Coming in to Cheltenham from Junction 11 on the M5 approach Cheltenham on the A40. Cross the  first roundabout taking the third exit, pass GCHQ on your left and take the second exit at the next roundabout. Go straight ahead at the lights by the Shell station into Lansdown Road, Malvern Road is the eighth left turn and Christ Church faces you at the bottom of the road. There is parking along a lot of Malvern Road but as stated above please if possible park a good distance from the Church.

    I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at each rehearsal, especially all the combined rehearsals in Cheltenham and Gloucester. Tickets are selling well and hopefully we will be singing to a full house.

    If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter. I will be attending all rehearsals.

    Jos Gregson

    Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group
     
  • 2025 Programme (2024 Big Sing, 2024 Workshop, 2025 Big Sing, 2025 Workshop, Brought in Singers, Pre-2024)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Wed, 16 Apr 2025

    Dear Singer

    Our 2025 programme starts on Saturday April 26th with a Workshop on the three works that we will be performing at the Cheltenham Music Festival in July, These are the Berlioz Te Deum, the Brahms Alto Rhapsody and the Messe des  pêcheurs de Villerville by Gabriel Fauré and André Messager and we will be conducted by Adrian Partington. The Workshop is at The Crypt School, Podsmead Road, Gloucester GL2 5AE and runs from 10am - 4pm with check in from 9.30am. I will have scores available with me for both hire and purchase. A booking form is attached.

    Our rehearsals for the July 5th performance start on June 10th. Scores that have been hired for the Workshop may be kept for this with no additional charge. A rehearsal schedule and booking form are attached.

    For the concert our soloists are Dame Sarah Connolly in the Brahms and BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist Liam Bonthrone in the Berlioz, the orchestra will be the British Sinfonietta and our conductor will be Adrian Partington.

    All singers who take place in the Workshop are guaranteed a place in the concert. We will be limited to 150 adult singers by the staging in Gloucester Cathedral and we will be joined by around 50 choristers from Gloucester choirs in the Berlioz.

    Booking forms, etc are also online on our website. 

    Please contact me at josgregson@gmail.com if you have any queries.

    If you do not wish to be on our mailing list, please let the webmaster know.  His email address is webmaster@bigsing.org.

    Jos Gregson
    Chairman
    South Cotswold Big Sing Group
    www.bigsing.org
     
  • 2025 Workshop Final Arrangements (2025 Workshop)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Tue, 1 Apr 2025

    BERLIOZ TE DEUM, BRAHMS ALTO RHAPSODY AND FAURÉ/MESSAGER MESSE DES PÊCHEURS DE VILLERVILLE WORKSHOP NEWSLETTER
    26th April 2025
     
    Reply to Jos Gregson,
    18 Willoughby Close,
    Alveston,
    Bristol BS35 3RW
    Tel: 01454-411652
    email: josgregson@gmail.com


    Dear Singer
                        We are delighted that  you have signed up to take part in the Workshop on the Berlioz Te Deum, the Brahms Alto Rhapsody and the Fauré/Messager Messe des pêcheurs de Villerville. This will take place on Saturday April 26th at The Crypt School, Podsmead Road, Gloucester GL2 5AE and will be conducted by Adrian Partington.
                        This Newsletter is to update you with information about the day and which Choir you will be singing with.

    THE CRYPT SCHOOL
    Coming from Junction 12 on the M5 follow signs to Gloucester city centre on the dual carriageway. Cross two roundabouts and at the major lights that are next turn right on the A38 to Gloucester City Centre. After around 800 yards Podsmead is on the left at lights. Turn left, go round a small roundabout and drive into the Crypt School driveway. Please enter through the main gates and follow the SCBSG car park signs. There will be a large car park on the left before you reach the school building and parking for around 75 cars in front of the building.. Check-in is at the main entrance on the other side of the building from the first car park.

    TIMETABLE
    9.30am – Arrival and registration
    10am -11am – Rehearsal in the main auditorium for sopranos and altos, rehearsal in the Drama Studio for tenors and basses.
    11am -11.30am Coffee break
    11.30am -1.00pm Rehearsal continues. According to progress we will either continue with separate rehearsals for the Brahms and Fauré/Messager or combine to start rehearsing the Berlioz
    1.00 - 2.00pm lunch break. PLEASE BRING A PACKED LUNCH
    2.00pm - 4.00pm Rehearsal continues (No tea break)

    WHICH CHOIR AM I IN?
    The layout for this performance is completely different from the last few SCBSG events. The main auditorium seating will be set up in two blocks with a centre aisle.

    When you come in (if you are a soprano or alto) you will be rehearsing in the main auditorium. Our Concert Manager Trevor Bartlett will be in the auditorium to assist with seating you all.
    Facing the conductor Choir 1 will contain all sopranos with Soprano 1s at the right and Soprano 2s at the left. During the Fauré/Messager rehearsal please leave the front three rows empty as these will be filled later by tenors and basses when they join for the Berlioz. Choir 1 thus contains all S1s, all S2s, all T1s and all B1s. All sopranos will sing the Soprano 1 part.
    Choir 2 will contain all altos with Alto 1s at the right and Alto 2s at the left. Again please leave the front three rows empty. All altos will sing the Soprano 2 part. There is no written alto part.
    When the tenors and basses come in, Bass 1s will be at the right and Tenor 1s at the left of Choir 1. For Choir 2 this will be reversed (so that all the tenors are together in the centre) with Tenor 2s at the right and Bass 2s at the left. Choir 2 thus contains all A1s, all A2s, all T2s and all B2s.
    This may sound confusing but the seats will be well labelled.
    If you are a tenor or bass proceed to the Drama Studio and sit facing the conductor with T1s at the right, then T2s, B1s and B2s in that order. Our Deputy Concert Manager Andrew Woodhall will be on hand to assist you.

    For the main Berlioz rehearsal the layout will be as follows:-

                            CHOIR1                              CHOIR 2

               SOPRANO 1     SOPRANO 2           ALTO 1           ALTO 2

                   BASS 1            TENOR 1           TENOR 2          BASS 2

                                                CONDUCTOR

    CATERING
    There will be a coffee break at around 11am. To make sure we make minimum impact on the environment please bring your own mug and we will fill it for you. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available including gluten free biscuits. Recyclable cups will be available if you forget!

    SCORES
    These have now been distributed to all participants who have requested them. Jos will have with him spare copies of all scores, both those for sale and those for hire.
    If you are only doing the Workshop and not intending to do the July performance please return your scores, a box will be available on the large table in the foyer.

    SCORE AMENDMENTS
    Adrian Partington has made a number of adjustments to the scores and a list of these has been sent out to all those signed up. Please make every effort to get these entered in your  score.

    BUS
    The SCBSG is running a bus from outside Aldi in Thornbury to the Gloucester Workshop. The departure will be from outside Aldi in Thornbury at 08.45am on Saturday 26th April and the bus will leave from The Crypt School at 16.15pm for the return journey. The cost will be £15, this may be paid either by BACS to SCBSG sort code 55-61-38 Account 72408375 or by cheque made out to SCBSG sent to Jos Gregson, 18 Willoughby Close, Alveston, Bristol BS35 3RW.

    There is a large car park opposite Aldi, make sure that you park in the long-stay section otherwise you may get a parking ticket. At around 08.30 there should be plenty of parking.

    To get to Aldi and the car park – approach Thornbury on the A38 from Bristol. Turn left at the lights by Berkeley Vale Motors (Hyundai agents) and proceed down Thornbury Hill to  go straight ahead at the first roundabout (the Tesco roundabout) and left at the second roundabout. The turn to the car park is then the third right turn, the long stay section is well marked down the far end of car park.

    BOOKING TO TAKE PART IN THE JULY CONCERT
    When you take your place at the Workshop you will find a booking form on your seat. Please fill this in, pay by BACS or cheque and return the form to Jos as soon as possible to ensure your place. From April 26th it will also be possible to sign up through the website www.bigsing.org.


    All the best and I look forward to meeting up with you all.

    Jos Gregson
    Chairman
    South Cotswold Big Sing Group
    27th March 2025
     
    Attachment:
    Attachment
  • 2025 Workshop (2025 Workshop)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Tue, 19 Nov 2024

    Dear Singer

    We are sending you this email because you have sung with the South Cotswold Big Sing Group before, either for a Workshop or a concert or you have asked to be kept informed of future events.

    Our next event will be a Workshop at The Crypt School in Gloucester on 26th April 2025. This will be conducted by Adrian Partington and we will be rehearsing the three works that we will be performing for the Cheltenham Music Festival in Gloucester Cathedral on Saturday 5th July 2025, accompanied by the British Sinfonietta. The works to be performed are the Messe des pêcheurs de Villarel by Gabriel Fauré and André Messager, the Brahms Alto Rhapsody and the Berlioz Te Deum. The Messe is for women's voices, the Brahms for soloist and men's voices and the Berlioz for double choir with tenor soloist.

    The South Cotswold Big Sing Group would like to invite you to join us and I attach a booking form. As we did for our last concert you may keep the hire scores after the Workshop for rehearsals for the performance. A full schedule for rehearsals is on the website www.bigsing.org.

    If you no longer wish to receive these emails let me know and I will remove you from the database.

    Jos Gregson
    South Cotswold Big Sing Group
    www.bigsing.org
     
  • Holst and Poulenc Newsletter No 5 (2024 Big Sing)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Tue, 16 Jul 2024

    Reply to Jos Gregson,
    18 Willoughby Close,
    Alveston,
    Bristol BS35 3RW
    Tel: 01454-411652
    Email: josgregson@gmail.com
    SCBSG Website: www.bigsing.org

    POST-CONCERT ROUND-UP
    Dear Singer,
                            Sadly the concert is now over but it has left me with musical phrases running through my head which will take months to dissipate.
                            I am writing this listening to the 1962 Adrian Boult recording of the Hymn of Jesus with the BBC SO and Chorus, I think we were much better though the recording quality obviously does affect the Boult.

    THANKS
    My thanks of course to Adrian, without him the whole idea of the South Cotswold Big Sing Group would not function and his close ties with Gloucester Cathedral are enormously helpful, also his intimate knowledge of how to use the space to the best effect. He was, as ever, endlessly patient with the less experienced singers, our rehearsal conductors Chris and Steve did a fantastic job with giving the two choirs a good grounding in how the pieces worked, ably supported at the piano by Derek, Julian, Robin and Jonathan.
    The Gloucester Cathedral choristers were quite superb and thanks to Nia for rehearsing them and to Helena for making sure all the scores came back, well done.
    On the SCBSG side my thanks to Alison, my Vice-Chairman who manages to keep me well grounded when things start falling apart. David Joyce, our Concert Manager really has a thankless task in drawing up numerous layouts which are constantly having to be modified to suit singers individual problems or the sound that we make. Sadly David is standing down after managing 6 concerts for us but I am delighted that Trevor Bartlett of Wycliffe will take over the role. Mike Elcock also deserves special thanks for setting up the SCBSG website which is now working well after the odd hiccup which he has satisfactorily resolved. Our SCBSG Secretary Naomi was not singing in the concert unfortunately due to other commitments but has worked hard on making sure that all the agreements with the Festival are correctly worded and sorting out my sometimes confused drafts.
    Thornbury Choral Society members have been particularly helpful including Margaret, our bus monitor, Mary, Annis, Lyn and the whole team who put out programmes before the concert.
    Thanks to Wycliffe Choral Society for the loan of folders and to Rosemary for arranging that, also to Lyn for shifting several boxes of Thornbury’s folders.
    The main thanks are due to all you singers who took part, coping with a demanding rehearsal schedule and managing to get to rehearsals. Thank you all so much.
    Finally, my gratitude for a very generous gift given to me at our last rehearsal at St John’s Northgate, I will spend it wisely!

    LOST PROPERTY
    If anyone came away with a dark blue blazer with a red silk lining can they let me know. Thanks.

    REVIEW
    There was a review of the concert on Bachtrack which was very complimentary. It may be viewed at:- https://bachtrack.com/review-partington-holst-royal-liverpool-philharmonic-cheltenham-music-festival-gloucester-july-2024

    NEXT CONCERT
    The next concert will consist of the huge Berlioz Te Deum in the second half, this lasts nearly an hour. The first half consists of a Mass written jointly by Gabriel Fauré and André Messager called Messe des Pêcheurs de Villerville for women’s voices and the sublime Brahms Alto Rhapsody for men’s voices where we are hoping for a top mezzo soprano to take the solo. This concert will be on Saturday 5th July 2025 in Gloucester Cathedral and rehearsals will start on June 10th. I have worked out the rehearsal schedule but it needs confirming by Adrian and our rehearsal conductors Chris and Steven before it is posted on the website.

    WORKSHOP
    All being well with the Crypt School we plan to hold a Workshop on all three works there on Saturday 26th April 2025. In the morning Adrian will take the ladies through the Fauré/Messager Mass in the main auditorium while a second conductor takes the men through the Brahms in the Drama Studio, we will then go through the Berlioz Te Deum either later in the morning or in the afternoon.

    PHOTOGRAPHS
    If anyone has photographs of the day that they are happy to have posted on the website could they send them to Mike Elcock, mdelcock@gmail.com

    COMMENTS
    Although these comments are largely addressed to the Chairman they do of course refer to all who were involved and helped to make the event a success.
    • Still on a high this morning. It was great wasn't it. Fabulous bit of arranging Mr Chairman. I bow to you.  Enjoy the rest of the festival. (LS)
    • Congratulations on another brilliant success again! An excellent day! Well done! (AM)
    • I just wanted to say a huge thank you for all the incredible organisation you did for last night's performance. I think we all really enjoyed it and I hope it was up to Adrian's expectations. (AS)
    • It was a fantastic experience from which I am still buzzing. Would you also pass my thanks to David and the rest of the team but especially Choir 2 members for their understanding during my first attempt at "managing" at a concert!! (TB)
    • I just wanted to say a big thank you for all your hard work, supported by your committee that ensured a really enjoyable and exciting singing experience last night, at Gloucester Cathedral.(HH)
    • I know you have been properly and publicly thanked but I wanted to add an extra personal thank you.
    •  I can only begin to imagine the many hours, the background thought,  planning and the commitment which went into enabling such a tremendously well organised event as last night’s wonderful Concert to take place. You have given a thrilling opportunity to so many people so a HUGE thank you.(AB)
    • Congratulations on your success and organisation for last night's performance!!.  
    • Such a joyful concert - Gustav Holst at his absolute best! His truest masterpiece. You achieved an excellent concert for the festival.  There were many other highlights. Poulenc's Gloria! It was so dramatic and the solo, Samantha Clarke has an amazing voice - her performance was very moving!
    •  Thank you too for all the hard work you put in with the helpful "Event calendar" with dates of rehearsals, the song library with track recordings; I found  this helpful and the newsletters keeping everyone well informed.  
    • Adrian was so articulate, as I watched him, it helped me a great deal with the words and the timing.  He deserves more recognition. I felt we all (including the orchestra & cathedral choir) deserved a standing ovation. (CT)
    • Many congratulations on a wonderful concert on Friday, Jos. By a sheer fluke, I was in the Cathedral on Friday at lunchtime with my niece who is visiting from California.  I saw that the SCCG concert was on that evening and asked her if she would like to go.  She was delighted to have the opportunity to attend a concert in the cathedral and we managed to book two tickets in row D! We both thoroughly enjoyed the concert.  Thank you! (CB)
    • What a night! Absolutely fantastic performance by all and Adrian was magnificent in front of such a professional orchestra - not just in the performance itself, but also in the time-restricted rehearsal.
    • Your own efforts didn’t go unnoticed neither. Your hard work and preparation is what makes these events successful and I’m sure has been appreciated by all involved. (PH)
    • Thanks for all your hard work in making the whole event run so smoothly. I was fortunate to be placed right behind the orchestra and it was an awesome sound! I really enjoyed being part of the concert. (JD)
    • A big thank you for all you did to make Friday's concert happen. I thought it went well as I hope you and Adrian did, and the audience clearly loved it. (CS)
    • I thoroughly enjoyed singing with the choir. It was a really brilliant concert, and a great project to be a part of. (WR)
    • Thank you so so much for giving us all the opportunity to sing this wonderful music in this wonderful place. (TS)
    Jos Gregson

    Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group


     
  • Holst and Poulenc Newsletter No 4 (2024 Big Sing)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Wed, 3 Jul 2024

    Reply to Jos Gregson,
    18 Willoughby Close,
    Alveston,
    Bristol BS35 3RW
    Tel: 01454-411652
    Email: josgregson@gmail.com
    SCBSG Website: bigsing.org

    CONCERT FINAL NOTICES WEEK 5
    Dear Singer,
                            It is now coming up to concert week so I am sending out instructions for the final week‘s rehearsal and details of concert day.

    NIGEL PERRIN
    I am sure that those of you who have sung with us from the beginning when we did the Verdi Requiem in Tewkesbury Abbey in 2011 will be very sorry to hear that Nigel died last week at the young age of 76. Nigel was a great believer in the whole South Cotswold Big Sing Group project and gave unstintingly of his help in the first two concerts, before we moved to Gloucester Cathedral. He was a charismatic and exciting conductor and those of us lucky enough to sing with him learned a lot.

    PART LEARNING
    Reminder: Rehearsal website links can be found on our website here: https://www.bigsing.org/dbpage.php?pg=learning&repgroup=Status.  If you click on the relevant piece, you will find links to YouTube, Choralia, CyberBass, Learn Choral Music and John Fletcher Music where they are available.  There are now more YouTube voice parts videos added for the Poulenc and Messiaen.

    CONCERT FOLDERS
    We will be using folders courtesy of Thornbury and Wycliffe Choral Societies. As there are several different colours involved in the scores we are singing from we are very keen to use folders to give a uniform appearance. Folders will be on your seats when you arrive.          

    WATER
    If you feel that you need to take a bottle of water in to the concert please can you take as small a bottle as you can manage with and keep it out of sight, both when taking your seat and also while sitting down. It is essential to stay hydrated while we sing as we do not need any cases of heatstroke.
    For the rehearsals on 11/7 and 12/7 we will not be having a juice break after an hour or so as this will mean dismounting the staging which takes time. Please bring any liquid refreshment that you require for those evening’s rehearsals. Non-alcoholic, of course!

    PROGRAMMES
    We have produced a 24 page programme with details of the orchestra and conductor, lists of the orchestra, singers and children’s choir members and most importantly a write-up on the works that we are performing together with the librettos where we are singing. At 5pm on the 12th after the afternoon rehearsal we would like a number of singers to help by putting a programme on each audience seat, also the soloist’s, singers and orchestra seats. The boxes of programmes will be stored in the Cathedral and the authorities are going to lend us a trolley to shift them.

    PARLIAMENT SUITE
    We will be using the Parliament Suite for changing in. As you enter the Cathedral Close through the main gate the entrance to the Parliament Suite is to the left and behind the West Door of the Cathedral. There are three rooms in the Suite. Ladies will use the room looking over the Close, the centre room will be used for serving juice and biscuits and the main room will be used by the men. We suggest that you bring a picnic or sandwiches to eat either in the cathedral grounds or in the Parliament Suite. The Parliament Suite will be open when you arrive for the afternoon rehearsal and will be locked by the Concert Manager while we rehearse and again while we perform.
    The Comfy Pew by the entrance to the Cathedral Close will be remaining open in case you wish to book a meal, I imagine booking will be essential.

    RADIO 3
    I have sent in a request for our performance to be mentioned in the breakfast programme on Radio 3; They say they have many requests and cannot guarantee

    SCORES
    I am now assuming that everyone has the correct scores so will be reducing the number of spares that I carry with me. I still have a few copies of the Poulenc Salabert edition for sale and will have these with me.

    SCORE AMENDMENTS
    If you do not have these written in already please check the website where they are listed.

    RETURNING SCORES
    There will be boxes by the large pillars at the left and right of where we are singing on the staging. Please return all hired scores to these boxes as we leave the staging at the end of the concert. Please do not put the Messiaen score inside the larger scores, these had to be hired from five different sources and I do not want to lose any.

    TICKETS
    I will have a number of tickets available for sale up to 9th July evening. These are priced at £42 (38), £32 (34), £22 (14) and £15 (28). Numbers in brackets are the numbers of seats in our original allocation.
    As we have a large orchestra and the four front rows have been removed the rows have been renumbered so that the front row is again A.
    £42 seats – A7-10, D3-6, H4-6, M15-18, P5-6, R13-18
    £32 seats – EE3-6, EE15, FF13-15. GG6-8
    £22 seats – JJ15-16, KK3-7
    £15 seats – these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle.
    I have a seating plan and can send it to you if you require it or you can look on the Cheltenham Festival website. As I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out.
    Seats are also available from the Cheltenham Festival Box Office at cheltenhamfestivals.com/booking. Any tickets that I have not sold by 10th July will be returned to the Festival Box Office that morning.

    BUSES
    We will be running buses from Thornbury to every Gloucester and Cheltenham rehearsal and the performance. These will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury which has two car parks adjacent to it. The cost will be £15 per trip and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel  Margaret Pinder will be coach monitor (tel. 07753162920). Booking forms are available on the SCBSG website bigsing.org or from myself.

    CONCERT DRESS
    For ladies – black top with at least three-quarter length sleeves, long black skirt or trousers.
    For gentlemen – black dinner jacket  with white shirt and black bow tie. We will be watching the weather forecast in concert week and if it will be very warm on concert day will dispense with jackets for the men. We will be changing in the Parliament Suite at the Cathedral and will be able to leave our smart clothes there for the rehearsal, the concert manager will lock the suite when we are rehearsing.

    TOILET
    The Cheltenham Festival are bringing in a mobile toilet for this concert which will be parked opposite the south door. It will be installed from 10am on concert day.

    WEEK 5
    Tuesday 9th  July – rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Wycliffe College Chapel Bath Road, Stonehouse, GL10  2JQto be taken by Chris Swain. Please note that this is a change in venue from the last three rehearsals This rehearsal is for Choir 2. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.

    To get to the venue from the M5 head for Stroud on the A419. At the fourth roundabout take the first exit (B4008) and the official Wycliffe College car park is on your left. Alternatively you can turn left just after the lights before the roundabout and park in the school grounds, there are usually a lot of minibuses there. From the grounds you can see the spire of the chapel. If you park in the school car park walk in the same direction either along the road you have turned into or through the grounds, it is about 5 minutes walk.

    Wednesday 10th July – rehearsal 7.30-9.30 at St John’s Northgate, Gloucester GL1 2AN to be taken by Adrian Partington. This is a combined rehearsal for both Choirs 1 and 2 and the cathedral choristers so please attend if you possibly can. Please use the St John’s Lane entrance, not the Northgate Street entrance as this will facilitate checking in. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.

    Follow A417 towards Gloucester. At the first roundabout, take the 2nd left (A417). At the next roundabout take 2nd left (Corinium Avenue). At the next roundabout turn right along Barnwood Rd. At the *next roundabout turn right onto Estcourt Rd. At the next roundabout follow Estcourt Road (straight on). At the next roundabout turn left into Kingsholm Rd (A430) and follow the A430 to the Gouda Way T junction and turn right. Turn left into Park St/Hare St car Park.

    Walk south along Hare Lane and turn right into Northgate Street. Turn right into St John’s Lane to Church entrance.

    Please note it is easier to travel into Gloucester via J11A rather than from J12 if traveling from the South, although you could follow the A38 to Cole Avenue and turn right onto the A38 Southern and Eastern Avenue to Barnwood Rd Roundabout, turn left * onto Barnwood Rd and follow instructions above.

    Thursday 11th  July -? ? Rehearsal 7.30pm-10.00pm at Gloucester Cathedral GL1 2LX to be taken by Adrian Partington.  Note the slightly extended time. This is a full rehearsal for both Choir 1 and Choir 2. It is vital that as many of you as possible attend as this is when our Concert Manager David Joyce will sort out the seating plan. If you cannot attend please ensure that a colleague in your voice part keeps a seat for you for concert day. Choir 1 will access the staging from the North transept/ conductor’s left and choir 2 from the south transept but can find their seats as they arrive. A seating plan will be displayed in each transept and seating blocks will be colour coded with the stage midline separating the two choirs also clearly marked. At the end of the rehearsal we will practice exiting/unloading the stage and on the Friday afternoon we will assemble in the transepts and practice a concert style entrance. 

    Friday 12th  July – There is no morning orchestra only rehearsal. Our rehearsal is from 2pm-5pm with orchestra, please be in the Cathedral in your correct place by 1.45pm. The performance is at 7.30pm and will run to 9.30pm. Please be in the Cathedral for the performance by 7.15pm in the North transept if you are Choir 1, in the South Transept if you are Choir 2..

    The Cathedral is well signposted from the various roads coming into the city. There is parking in the Westgate Street car park as well as in the Park Street/Hare Street car park used for the St John’s Northgate rehearsals.

    STANDS AND SITS
    At the start of the concert, stand and sit with the orchestral leader. Adrian will then stand and sit the choir as appropriate. There will be a brief break between the Messiaen and the Poulenc; Adrian will go off after the Messiaen and return with the Soprano soloist.

    I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at each rehearsal relevant to the Choir that you are in, especially all the joint rehearsals in Cheltenham and Gloucester. Tickets are selling well and hopefully we will be singing to a full house.

    If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter

    Jos Gregson

    Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group
     
  • Holst and Poulenc Newsletter No 3 (2024 Big Sing)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Wed, 26 Jun 2024

    Reply to Jos Gregson,
    18 Willoughby Close,
    Alveston,
    Bristol BS35 3RW
    Tel: 01454-411652
    Email: josgregson@gmail.com
    SCBSG Website: bigsing.org

    WEEK 4
    Dear Singer,

                            Thank you for signing up to sing in our performance of Holst’s Hymn of Jesus and Poulenc’s Gloria. This will take place in Gloucester Cathedral on Friday 12th July 2024 as part of the Cheltenham Music Festival, we will be conducted by Adrian Partington and accompanied by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

                            By the time you get this we will have had the two Choir 1 and Choir 2 rehearsals in Alveston and Stonehouse and also the first joint rehearsal in Cheltenham and should all be getting a feel for the three works that we are singing.

    WHICH REHEARSALS SHOULD I ATTEND?
    Adrian would like all singers to attend the rehearsals that he is taking, namely those on 22/6, 26/6, 3/7, 6/7, 10/7, 11/7 and 12/7. The evening rehearsal on 11/7 is particularly important as that is when our Concert Manager, David Joyce will sort out the seating plan and allocate places. If you cannot attend this please arrange with someone from your voice section to make sure that you know where to sit.
    Singers from audition choirs are also encouraged to attend the local rehearsals in Stonehouse and Alveston. While these are for singers from smaller choirs to get to learn the work it is very helpful to have a more experienced singer singing alongside one and I hope that many of you will consider doing this.

    SCORES
    I have a small stock of the Poulenc Salabert score at £16, the Holst is sold out. I will have a small number of both scores for hire at £2 and also the Messiaen “O sacrum convivium”? ? which we are also singing, this one is free to hire.

    SCORE AMENDMENTS
    Adrian has produced a number of revisions to all three scores. These are available to download on the website bigsing.org or if preferred ask me and I can email them to you. I will also have printed copies at rehearsals.
    At the rehearsal at Christ Church on June 22nd he changed one of his original revisions. In the Poulenc Gloria we will no longer change “Deus” to “fili” at two places after rehearsal mark 39, please revise your scores accordingly

    TICKETS
    I will have a number of tickets available for sale. These are priced at £42 (38), £32 (34), £22 (14) and £15 (28). Numbers in brackets are the numbers of seats in our original allocation.
    As we have a large orchestra and the four front rows have been removed the rows have been renumbered so that the front row is again A.
    £42 seats – A7-10, D3-6, H4-6, K7-8, M15-18, P5-6, R13-18
    £32 seats – EE3-8, EE15, FF13-15. GG6-8
    £22 seats – HH5-8, JJ12-16, KK3-7
    £15 seats – these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle.
    I have a seating plan and can send it to you if you require it or you can look on the Cheltenham Festival website. As I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out.
    Seats are also available from the Cheltenham Festival Box Office at cheltenhamfestivals.com/booking. Any tickets that I have not sold by 10th July will be returned to the Festival Box Office that morning.

    BUSES
    We will be running buses from Thornbury to every Gloucester and Cheltenham rehearsal and the performance. These will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury which has two car parks adjacent to it. The cost will be £15 per trip and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel apart from the 26th June when Mike’s Travel have had to hire in another operator as they are already booked up. Margaret Pinder will be coach monitor. Booking forms are available on the SCBSG website bigsing.org or from myself.

    CONCERT DRESS
    For ladies – black top with at least three-quarter length sleeves, long black skirt or trousers.
    For gentlemen – black dinner jacket  with white shirt and black bow tie. We will be watching the weather forecast in concert week and if it will be very warm on concert day will dispense with jackets for the men. We will be changing in the Parliament Suite at the Cathedral and will be able to leave our smart clothes there for the rehearsal, the concert manager will lock the suite when we are rehearsing.

    TOILET
    The Cheltenham Festival are bringing in a mobile toilet for this concert which will be parked opposite the south door. It will be installed from 10am on concert day.

    WEEK 4
    Tuesday 2nd July – rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Wycliffe Junior School Performing Arts Centre, Ebley Road, Stonehouse GL10 2LD to be taken by Chris Swain. This rehearsal is for Choir 2. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.

    To get to the venue from the M5 head for Stroud and cross five roundabouts. About 200 yards after the fifth roundabout there is an opening on the right labelled Gate 19 and a large car park. Go into the car park, park and there is a small gate in the fence. Go through this and the Performing Arts Centre is on the left after about 200 yards. Do not be diverted onto the Stroud bypass.
    Coming out of Stroud follow the A419 out of Stroud along Cainscross Road. Go straight across the large roundabout at the Marling School end into Westward Road. Gate 19 is around 1.25 miles on your left. Kennedy’s Garden Centre used to use the car park.

    Wednesday 3rd July – rehearsal 7.30-9.30 at St John’s Northgate, Gloucester GL1 2AN to be taken by Adrian Partington. This is a combined rehearsal for both Choirs 1 and 2 so please attend if you possibly can. Please use the St John’s Lane entrance, not the Northgate Street entrance as this will facilitate checking in. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.

    Follow A417 towards Gloucester. At the first roundabout, take the 2nd left (A417). At the next roundabout take 2nd left (Corinium Avenue). At the next roundabout turn right along Barnwood Rd. At the *next roundabout turn right onto Estcourt Rd. At the next roundabout follow Estcourt Road (straight on). At the next roundabout turn left into Kingsholm Rd (A430) and follow the A430 to the Gouda Way T junction and turn right. Turn left into Park St/Hare St car Park.

    Walk south along Hare Lane and turn right into Northgate Street. Turn right into St John’s Lane to Church entrance.

    Please note it is easier to travel into Gloucester via J11A rather than from J12 if traveling from the South, although you could follow the A38 to Cole Avenue and turn right onto the A38 Southern and Eastern Avenue to Barnwood Rd Roundabout, turn left * onto Barnwood Rd and follow instructions above.

    Thursday 4th July -? ? rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Alveston Methodist Church, Greenhill Road, Alveston BS35 3RA to be taken by Steven Kings. This rehearsal is for Choir 1. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.

    Coming out of Bristol take the A38 – after you pass the village sign saying ALVESTON St Helen’s Church is on your left. Turn left immediately after St Helen’s Church, Alveston Methodist Church is around 400 yards on the left on the corner of Wolfridge Ride.
    Coming from the Stroud and Gloucester direction on the A38 go through the lights signed to Thornbury by Berkeley Vale Motors and immediately get into the right hand lane. Turn right into David’s Lane, drive to the T junction at the bottom, turn left and immediately right and Alveston Methodist is up to your left.

    Saturday 6th July –Workshop 10am-4pm at Christ Church, Malvern Road, Cheltenham GL50 2JH to be taken by Adrian Partington and Steven Kings.  This is a full rehearsal for both Choir 1 and Choir 2 and as many of you as possible are urged to attend. There will be a tea and coffee break at around 11am. Please bring your own lunch, we will stop for lunch between 1pm and 2pm. Parking – Please be sensible with parking and provided that you are fit park well away from the church, there is a lot of on-street parking.  If you are coming from south of Bristol this might be a very good occasion to use the bus from Thornbury.

    Coming in to Cheltenham from Junction 11 on the M5 approach Cheltenham on the A40. Cross the  first roundabout taking the third exit, pass GCHQ on your left and take the second exit at the next roundabout. Go straight ahead at the lights by the Shell station into Lansdown Road, Malvern Road is the eighth left turn and Christ Church faces you at the bottom of the road. There is parking along a lot of Malvern Road but as stated above please if possible park a good distance from the Church.

    I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at each rehearsal relevant to the Choir that you are in, especially all the joint rehearsals in Cheltenham and Gloucester. Tickets are selling well and hopefully we will be singing to a full house.

    If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter.

    Jos Gregson

    Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group
     
  • Holst and Poulenc Newsletter No 2 (2024 Big Sing)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Wed, 19 Jun 2024

    Reply to Jos Gregson,
    18 Willoughby Close,
    Alveston,
    Bristol BS35 3RW
    Tel: 01454-411652
    Email: josgregson@gmail.com
    SCBSG Website: bigsing.org

    WEEK 3
    Dear Singer,

                            Thank you for signing up to sing in our performance of Holst’s Hymn of Jesus and Poulenc’s Gloria. This will take place in Gloucester Cathedral on Friday 12th July 2024 as part of the Cheltenham Music Festival, we will be conducted by Adrian Partington and accompanied by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

                            By the time you get this we will have had the first Choir 1 and Choir 2 rehearsals in Alveston and Stonehouse and also the first joint rehearsal in Cheltenham and should all be getting a feel for the three works that we are singing.

    WHICH CHOIR AM I IN?
    The Holst is written for double choir plus a children’s choir which adds to the complications. Choir 1 will consist of singers south of Stroud, Choir 2 consists of singers from Stroud, Stonehouse and north. There are a few singers who have not listed their choir membership, please use this as a guide.

    For the purposes of the July performance:-

    CHOIR 1 will? ? consist of singers from Bath Choral Society, Bristol Chamber Choir, BBC National Chorus of Wales,? ? Bristol Choral Society, Campden Chorus,? ? Gwent Bach Choral Society,? ? Henleaze Choral Society, Lucis Choir, Bath, Malmesbury Choral Society,? ? Oxford Bach Choir, Swindon Choral Society, Thornbury Choral Society, Tyndale Choral Society,?and Weston super-Mare Choral Society.

    CHOIR 2 will consist of singers from? ? Cirencester Choral Society, Fairford Choral Society, Gloucester Choral Society,? ? Newent Choral Society, Philomusica, Stroud Choral Society, Tewkesbury Choral Society,? ? Three Choirs Festival Chorus, Worcester Festival Chorus and Wycliffe Choral Society.

    WHICH REHEARSALS SHOULD I ATTEND?
    Adrian would like all singers to attend the rehearsals that he is taking, namely those on 22/6, 26/6, 3/7, 6/7, 10/7, 11/7 and 12/7. The evening rehearsal on 11/7 is particularly important as that is when our Concert Manager, David Joyce will sort out the seating plan and allocate places. If you cannot attend this please arrange with someone from your voice section to make sure that you know where to sit.
    Singers from audition choirs are also encouraged to attend the local rehearsals in Stonehouse and Alveston. While these are for singers from smaller choirs to get to learn the work it is very helpful to have a more experienced singer singing alongside one and I hope that many of you will consider doing this.

    SCORES
    I have a small stock of the Holst Stainer and Bell score for sale at £8 (one only left) and also the Poulenc Salabert score at £16. I will have a small number of both scores for hire at £2 and also the Messiaen “O sacrum convivium” which we are also singing, this one is free to hire.

    SCORE AMENDMENTS
    Adrian has produced a number of revisions to all three scores. These are available to download on the website bigsing.org or if preferred ask me and I can email them to you. I will also have printed copies at rehearsals.

    TICKETS
    I will have a number of tickets available for sale. These are priced at £42 (38), £32 (34), £22 (14) and £15 (28). Numbers in brackets are the numbers of seats in our original allocation.
    As we have a large orchestra and the four front rows have been removed the rows have been renumbered so that the front row is again A.
    £42 seats – A7-10, D3-6, H4-6, K7-8, M15-18, P5-6, R13-18
    £32 seats – CC3-4, EE3-8, EE15, FF13-15. GG6-9
    £22 seats – HH5-8, JJ12-16, KK3-7
    £15 seats – these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle.
    I have a seating plan and can send it to you if you require it or you can look on the Cheltenham Festival website. As I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out.
    Seats are also available from the Cheltenham Festival Box Office at cheltenhamfestivals.com/ booking

    BUSES
    We will be running buses from Thornbury to every Gloucester and Cheltenham rehearsal and the performance. These will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury which has two car parks adjacent to it. The cost will be £15 per trip and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel apart from the 26th June when Mike’s Travel have had to hire in another operator as they are already booked up. Margaret Pinder will be coach monitor. Booking forms are available on the SCBSG website bigsing.org or from myself.

    WEEK 3
    Tuesday 25th June – rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Wycliffe Junior School Performing Arts Centre, Ebley Road, Stonehouse GL10 2LD to be taken by Chris Swain. This rehearsal is for Choir 2. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.

    To get to the venue from the M5 head for Stroud and cross five roundabouts. About 200 yards after the fifth roundabout there is an opening on the right labelled Gate 19 and a large car park. Go into the car park, park and there is a small gate in the fence. Go through this and the Performing Arts Centre is on the left after about 200 yards. Do not be diverted onto the Stroud bypass.
    Coming out of Stroud follow the A419 out of Stroud along Cainscross Road. Go straight across the large roundabout at the Marling School end into Westward Road. Gate 19 is around 1.25 miles on your left. Kennedy’s Garden Centre used to use the car park.

    Wednesday 26th June – rehearsal 7.30-9.30 at St John’s Northgate, Gloucester GL1 2AN to be taken by Adrian Partington. This is a combined rehearsal for both Choirs 1 and 2 so please attend if you possibly can. Please use the St John’s Lane entrance, not the Northgate Street entrance as this will facilitate checking in. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.

    Follow A417 towards Gloucester. At the first roundabout, take the 2nd left (A417). At the next roundabout take 2nd left (Corinium Avenue). At the next roundabout turn right along Barnwood Rd. At the *next roundabout turn right onto Estcourt Rd. At the next roundabout follow Estcourt Road (straight on). At the next roundabout turn left into Kingsholm Rd (A430) and follow the A430 to the Gouda Way T junction and turn right. Turn left into Park St/Hare St car Park.

    Walk south along Hare Lane and turn right into Northgate Street. Turn right into St John’s Lane to Church entrance.

    Please note it is easier to travel into Gloucester via J11A rather than from J12 if travelling from the South, although you could follow the A38 to Cole Avenue and turn right onto the A38 Southern and Eastern Avenue to Barnwood Rd Roundabout, turn left * onto Barnwood Rd and follow instructions above.

    Thursday 27th June? ? rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Alveston Methodist Church, Greenhill Road, Alveston BS35 3RA to be taken by Steven Kings. This rehearsal is for Choir 1. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.

    Coming out of Bristol take the A38 – after you pass the village sign saying ALVESTON St Helen’s Church is on your left. Turn left immediately after St Helen’s Church, Alveston Methodist Church is around 400 yards on the left on the corner of Wolfridge Ride.
    Coming from the Stroud and Gloucester direction on the A38 go through the lights signed to Thornbury by Berkeley Vale Motors and immediately get into the right hand lane. Turn right into David’s Lane, drive to the T junction at the bottom, turn left and immediately right and Alveston Methodist is up to your left.

    I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at each rehearsal relevant to the Choir that you are in, especially all the joint rehearsals in Cheltenham and Gloucester. Tickets are selling well and hopefully we will be singing to a full house.

    Rehearsal website links can now be found on our website here: https://www.bigsing.org/dbpage.php?pg=learning&repgroup=Status.  If you click on the relevant piece, you will find links to YouTube, Choralia, CyberBass, Learn Choral Music and John Fletcher Music where they are available.

    If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter

    Jos Gregson

    Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group

     
  • Holst and Poulenc Newsletter No 1 (2024 Big Sing)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Tue, 28 May 2024

    Reply to Jos Gregson,
    18 Willoughby Close,
    Alveston,
    Bristol BS35 3RW
    Tel: 01454-411652
    Email: josgregson@gmail.com
    SCBSG Website:  bigsing.org

    WEEKS 1-2
    Dear Singer,

                            Thank you for signing up to sing in our performance of Holst’s Hymn of Jesus and Poulenc’s Gloria. This will take place in Gloucester Cathedral on Friday 12th July 2024 as part of the Cheltenham Music Festival, we will be conducted by Adrian Partington and accompanied by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

                            As there is a very busy rehearsal schedule and we are using several different venues I am planning to send out a weekly Newsletter well before the start of each week giving details of dates and venues and also other details such as tickets, buses etc. As there is only one rehearsal in week 1 this is included in this first sending.

    WHICH CHOIR AM I IN?
    The Holst is written for double choir plus a children’s choir which adds to the complications. Choir 1 will consist of singers south of Stroud, Choir 2 consists of singers from Stroud, Stonehouse and north. There are a few singers who have not listed their choir membership, please use this as a guide.

    For the purposes of the July performance:-

    CHOIR 1 will  consist of singers from Bristol Chamber Choir, BBC National Chorus of Wales,  Bristol Choral Society, Campden Chorus,  Gwent Bach Choral Society,  Henleaze Choral Society, Lucis Choir, Bath, Malmesbury Choral Society,  Oxford Bach Choir, Swindon Choral Society, Thornbury Choral Society, Tyndale Choral Society,  and Weston super-Mare Choral Society.

    CHOIR 2 will consist of singers from  Cirencester Choral Society, Fairford Choral Society, Gloucester Choral Society,  Newent Choral Society, Philomusica, Stroud Choral Society, Tewkesbury Choral Society,  Three Choirs Festival Chorus, Worcester Festival Chorus and Wycliffe Choral Society.

    WHICH REHEARSALS SHOULD I ATTEND?
    Adrian would like all singers to attend the rehearsals that he is taking, namely those on 22/6, 26/6, 3/7, 6/7, 10/7, 11/7 and 12/7. The evening rehearsal on 11/7 is particularly important as that is when our Concert Manager, David Joyce will sort out the seating plan and allocate places. If you cannot attend this please arrange with someone from your voice section to make sure that you know where to sit.
    Singers from audition choirs are also encouraged to attend the local rehearsals in Stonehouse and Alveston. While these are for singers from smaller choirs to get to learn the work it is very helpful to have a more experienced singer singing alongside one and I hope that many of you will consider doing this.

    SCORES
    I have a small stock of the Holst Stainer and Bell score for sale at £8 and also the Poulenc Salabert score at £16. I will have a small number of both scores for hire at £2 and also the Messiaen “O sacrum convivium”  which we are also singing, this one is free to hire.

    SCORE AMENDMENTS
    Adrian has produced a number of revisions to all three scores. These are available to download on the website bigsing.org or if preferred ask me and I can email them to you. I will also have printed copies at rehearsals.

    TICKETS
    I will have a number of tickets available for sale. These are priced at £42 (38), £32 (34), £22 (14) and £15 (28). Numbers in brackets are the numbers of seats in our allocation.
    As we have a large orchestra and the four front rows have been removed the rows have been renumbered so that the front row is again A.
    £42 seats – A7-10, D3-6, G11-16, H3-6, K5-8, M15-18, P5-10, R13-18
    £32 seats – CC3-6, EE3-8, EE13-14, EE15, FF13-15. GG6-9
    £22 seats – HH5-8, JJ12-16, KK3-7
    £15 seats – these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle.
    I have a seating plan and can send it to you if you require it or you can look on the Cheltenham Festival website. As I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out. Those struck through are sold and will be removed for future sendings.
    Seats are also available from the Cheltenham Festival Box Office at cheltenhamfestivals.com/booking

    BUSES
    We will be running buses from Thornbury to every Gloucester and Cheltenham rehearsal and the performance. These will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury which has two car parks adjacent to it. The cost will be £15 per trip and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel. Booking forms are available on the SCBSG website bigsing.org or from myself.

    WEEK 1

    Thursday 13th June  rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Alveston Methodist Church, Greenhill Road, Alveston BS35 3RA to be taken by Steven Kings. This rehearsal is for Choir 1. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.

    Coming out of Bristol take the A38 – after you pass the village sign saying ALVESTON St Helen’s Church is on your left. Turn left immediately after St Helen’s Church, Alveston Methodist Church is around 400 yards on the left on the corner of Wolfridge Ride.
    Coming from the Stroud and Gloucester direction on the A38 go through the lights signed to Thornbury by Berkeley Vale Motors and immediately get into the right hand lane. Turn right into David’s Lane, drive to the T junction at the bottom, turn left and immediately right and Alveston Methodist is up to your left.

    Tuesday 18th June – rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Wycliffe Junior School Performing Arts Centre, Ebley Road, Stonehouse GL10 2LD to be taken by Chris Swain. This rehearsal is for Choir 2. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.

    To get to the venue from the M5 head for Stroud and cross five roundabouts. About 200 yards after the fifth roundabout there is an opening on the right labelled Gate 19 and a large car park. Go into the car park, park and there is a small gate in the fence. Go through this and the Performing Arts Centre is on the left after about 200 yards. Do not be diverted onto the Stroud bypass.
    Coming out of Stroud follow the A419 out of Stroud along Cainscross Road. Go straight across the large roundabout at the Marling School end into Westward Road. Gate 19 is around 1.25 miles on your left. Kennedy’s Garden Centre used to use the car park.

    Thursday 20th June  rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Alveston Methodist Church, Greenhill Road, Alveston BS35 3RA to be taken by Steven Kings. This rehearsal is for Choir 1. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30. For directions see 13th June

    Saturday 22nd June – Workshop 10am-4pm at Christ Church, Malvern Road, Cheltenham GL50 2JH to be taken by Adrian Partington and Steven Kings.  This is a full rehearsal for both Choir 1 and Choir 2 and as many of you as possible are urged to attend. There will be a tea and coffee break at around 11am. Please bring your own lunch, we will stop for lunch between 1pm and 2pm.

    Parking – Please be sensible with parking and provided that you are fit park well away from the church, there is a lot of on-street parking.  If you are coming from south of Bristol this and the next Christ Church rehearsal on July 6th might be a very good occasion to use the bus from Thornbury.

    Coming in to Cheltenham from Junction 11 on the M5 approach Cheltenham on the A40. Cross the  first roundabout taking the third exit, pass GCHQ on your left and take the second exit at the next roundabout. Go straight ahead at the lights by the Shell station into Lansdown Road, Malvern Road is the eighth left turn and Christ Church faces you at the bottom of the road. There is parking along a lot of Malvern Road but as stated above please if possible park a good distance from the Church.

    I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at each rehearsal relevant to the Choir that you are in, especially all the joint rehearsals in Cheltenham and Gloucester. Tickets are selling well and hopefully we will be singing to a full house.

    If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter

    Jos Gregson

    Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group
     
  • Big Sing Performance (2024 Workshop)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Thu, 9 May 2024

    It is now just five weeks before we start rehearsals for our Gloucester Cathedral concert on July 12th. Adrian has signed up a small number of additional singers from Gloucester Cathedral, the BBC National Chorus of Wales and the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama to strengthen our numbers, these are tenors, basses and a few sopranos.

    This is being sent to you because you sang in our Workshop in April. It would be very helpful if you could confirm that you intend to take part in the main concert as I have a great deal of work to do with the programme and the various rehearsals  If it helps payment may be made by postdated cheque dated 1st June 2024. If you have already told me that you will not be taking part my apologies.

    I attach the booking form. I also attach a bus booking form, we will be running a bus from Thornbury to all 7 Gloucester and Cheltenham rehearsals which may well suit those of you from the Bristol area.

    I have tickets for our concert in all price ranges, let me know if you require any and I will send you details of what I have available.

    Jos Gregson
    South Cotswold Big Sing Group
    www.bigsing.org
     
  • March 2024 Update (2024 Workshop, 2024 Big Sing, 2025 Big Sing, Pre-2024)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Sat, 2 Mar 2024

    Reply to Jos Gregson,                                                                                                                 
    18 Willoughby Close,
    Alveston,
    Bristol BS35 3RW
    Tel: 01454-411652
    Email: josgregson@gmail.com

    2nd March 2024

    Dear Singer,
                            This is being sent to you as you have either sung with the South Cotswold Big Sing Group before or have signed up for our April Workshop on Holst’s Hymn of Jesus and Poulenc’s Gloria with the possible intention of singing in the July performance of these works.

    BOOKING FOR THE APRIL 20th WORKSHOP
    Bookings may be made by accessing the South Cotswold Big Sing Group website at www.bigsing.org and downloading the booking form. If you are a member of Bristol, Gloucester, Stroud, Thornbury or Wycliffe Choral Societies and require scores these will be handed out by either Adrian Partington, Steven Kings or choir representatives. Otherwise they will be posted to you.

    CRYPT SCHOOL APRIL 20th 2024 WORKSHOP
    This will take place at The Crypt School, Podsmead Road, Gloucester GL2 5AE and will run from 10am-4pm. We will be rehearsing both works as well as the Messiaen “O sacrum convivium”, see the note below.
    Teas, coffees and biscuits will be served in the morning. Please bring your own lunch. There will be no afternoon tea break.
    Timetable:-
                    9.30am: Arrival and registration
                    10am-11am First rehearsal
                    11am-11.30am Coffee break
                    11.30am-1.00pm second rehearsal
                    1.00pm -2.00pm lunch break. PLEASE BRING A PACKED LUNCH.
                    2.00pm-4.00pm third rehearsal

    CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL CONCERT 2024
    The date for this will be Friday July 12th 2024 in the evening. Usually our concerts are on a Saturday with our rehearsal to sort out the seating plan on the Friday. We have the Cathedral booked for Thursday July 11th 2024 so that we can do this. The performance will be accompanied by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Adrian Partington.

    ADDITIONAL WORK
    In addition to the Holst and the Poulenc the choir will sing Olivier Messiaen’s “O sacrum convivium”. Scores for the Messiaen will be handed out at the Workshop and there will be no additional charge for these scores. The orchestra will also play Vaughan Williams’ “Five Variants of Dives and Lazarus”.

    SCORES
    A reminder that you may keep your score/scores between the Workshop and the June/July rehearsals and performance with no charge for the second hiring. If you only do the performance there will be the normal charge of £2 per score, again with no charge for the Messiaen.

    SOUTH COTSWOLD BIG SING GROUP CONCERT 2025
    The Cheltenham Festival have asked us to move our planned June 2025 concert to July 2025 and make it part of the 2025 Cheltenham Music Festival. This will be on Saturday 5th July 2025. This is helpful as it means that we will be using the Cheltenham Festival’s publicity and ticketing facilities.
    This concert will be accompanied by the British Sinfonietta and conducted by Adrian Partington.
    The full programme will be as follows:-
    Messe des p?cheurs de Villerville by Gabriel Fauré and André Messager – for women’s voices.
    Alto Rhapsody by Johannes Brahms for men’s voices.
    Te Deum by Hector Berlioz.
    There is a full rehearsal schedule on the website, Choir 1 comprises singers south of Stroud and will rehearse in Alveston, Choir 2 consists of singers from Stroud and north and will rehearse in Stonehouse. Joint rehearsals for both choirs are either at The Crypt School, Gloucester, Christ Church, Cheltenham, St John’s Northgate, Gloucester or in Gloucester Cathedral.

    BUS
    There will be a bus from Thornbury to Gloucester for the Workshop on 20th April. This will leave from outside Aldi at 08.45 and return from The Crypt School at 16.15. Tickets will cost £15 and can be obtained from Jos Gregson (email jos@josgregson@gmail.com, tel. 01454-411652)

    SINGING NUMBERS
    Choir numbers will be limited to 150 by the organisers so as to comfortably accommodate the choir. The Holst is written for three choirs, the third choir will consist of Gloucester Cathedral choristers and these will be seated separately. There will be a small group of six lay clerks who will be accommodated among the main choirs so that we will only have space for a maximum of 144 singers.

    WEBSITE
    The new website is now up and running, the address is www.bigsing.org. There have been a few minor teething problems but Mike Elcock has worked very hard over the summer and autumn to integrate the old database and we now have the system running to Mike’s satisfaction. The website is always kept up to date, so please refer to it for the latest news and events.

    Jos Gregson
    Chairman South Cotswold Big Sing Group
    www.bigsing.org

    Please do not reply to this email.  If you want to unsubscribe from our emails, please email webmaster@bigsing.org.
     
  • Chorus Notes for 2024 (2024 Workshop, 2024 Big Sing)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Wed, 3 Jan 2024

    Adrian Partington has made a number of adjustments to the scores of Holst's Hymn of Jesus, Poulenc's Gloria and Messiaen's "O sacrum convivium". for our July Cheltenham Festival concert

    These are attached. Please pencil those relevant to your voice part into your score (apart from the Messiaen unless you have your own copy of the score). Messiaen scores will be handed out at check-in on Workshop day on 20th April.
    Attachment:
    Attachment
  • October 2023 Newsletter (2024 Workshop, 2024 Big Sing, 2025 Big Sing, Pre-2024)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Wed, 4 Oct 2023

     
    Dear Singer

    Welcome to the new South Cotswold Big Sing Group website. Our Webmaster Mike Elcock has worked very hard over the summer months to set this up in conjunction with Making Music and all future group email communications about Workshops, Big Sings etc. will come through this website.

    The website address is https://www.bigsing.org and you are invited to look over it and make helpful suggestions or comments. It is very new and Mike can add extra features according to requirements and also adjust any entries where necessary.

    Our next event is a Workshop on Saturday 20th April 2024 at The Crypt School in Gloucester where Adrian Partington will introduce us to Holst’s Hymn of Jesus and Poulenc’s Gloria which we will be performing in Gloucester Cathedral on behalf of the Cheltenham Music Festival on 12th July 2024. Rehearsals for the performance start on 13th June in Alveston and 18th June in Wycliffe.

    Enjoy the new site, the committee will be making every effort to publish all relevant information with timings, dates etc. for relevant events.

    Jos Gregson
    Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group
    www.bigsing.org
    Tel: 01454-411652
    email: jos@josgregson.plus.com
    4 October 2023

    PS Please let us know if you wish to be taken off our mailing list.
     
  • July 2023 Newsletter (2024 Workshop, 2024 Big Sing, 2025 Big Sing, Pre-2024)
  •  

  • Date Posted: Thu, 6 Jul 2023


    UPDATE JULY 2023

    Reply to Jos Gregson

    18 Willoughby Close,

    Alveston,

    Bristol BS35 3RW

    Tel: 01454-411652

    Email: jos@josgregson.plus.com

    6th July 2023

    Dear Singer

    I am now in a position to give a date for our July 2024 Cheltenham Festival concert and more detail on our own June 2025 concert.

    CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL CONCERT 2024

    The date for this will be Friday July 12th 2024 in the evening. Usually our concerts are on a Saturday with our rehearsal to sort out the seating plan on the Friday. I have ensured we have the Cathedral booked for Thursday July 11th 2024 so that we can do this.

    We will be performing Holst’s “The Hymn of Jesus” and Poulenc’s “Gloria”.

    SOUTH COTSWOLD BIG SING GROUP CONCERT 2025

    As the Cheltenham Festival were not happy with our suggestion of the Berlioz Te Deum for their 2024 we will be putting it on in Gloucester Cathedral ourselves on Saturday 21st June 2025.

    The full programme will be as follows:-

    Messe des Pêcheurs de Villerville by Gabriel Fauré and André Messager – for women’s voices.

    Alto Rhapsody by Johannes Brahms for men’s voices.

    Te Deum by Hector Berlioz.

    NEW SECRETARY FOR SOUTH COTSWOLD BIG SING GROUP

    Rosemary Robinson has now stood down from the office at her request. Our new Secretary will be Naomi Buckler and we welcome her to the position.  We are still looking for a Concert Manager.

    The Committee would very much like to thank Rosemary for her years of sterling service, while also acting as the Wycliffe liaison.

    WEBSITE

    Our Website Manager Mike Elcock will be changing over the website from the one currently in use.  The existing website was taken over many years ago from the one produced by John Hicks of Tyndale Choral Society.  The existing website uses Serif WebPlus software which is now no longer supported and is outdated.  The new website will use software supplied by Making Music (the Making Music Platform) which is specifically written for music groups and incorporates modern functionality.  It is already used by several local choirs.  It will combine the existing website and also the current mailing list database also supplied by John Hicks.  We have only just sent payment and there is a lot of work in the changeover so it will probably be 2-3 months before we can make the switch.

    If you wish to access the current website it is at SCCG.info, the new website will have a slightly different address.

    Jos Gregson

    Chairman South Cotswold Big Sing Group

Latest News

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    Fri, 10 Jul 2026
    Reply to Jos Gregson, 18 Willoughby Close, Alveston, Bristol BS35 3RW Tel: 01454-411652 Email: josgregson@gmail.com SCBSG Website: bigsing.org WRAP-UP Dear Singer, Thank you all so much for the generous ... more

  • Latest Update

    Tue, 30 Jun 2026
    Herewith the latest instructions. Please note that we will all be singing the Brahms from memory, no scores or folders to be used. It should look professional that way. Brahms ... more

  • 2026 Big Sing Newsletter No 3

    Mon, 22 Jun 2026
    Reply to Jos Gregson, 18 Willoughby Close, Alveston, Bristol BS35 3RW Tel: 01454-411652 Email: josgregson@gmail.com SCBSG Website: bigsing.org WEEK 5 Dear Singer, Thank you for signing up to sing ... more

  • 2026 Big Sing Newsletter No 2

    Wed, 10 Jun 2026
    Reply to Jos Gregson, 18 Willoughby Close, Alveston, Bristol BS35 3RW Tel: 01454-411652 Email: josgregson@gmail.com SCBSG Website: bigsing.org WEEKS 3 and 4 Dear Singer, Thank you for signing up ... more

More news...

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