NSB Choir @ NFMY Birmingham
Tuesday 7 July 2015
Following the Regional event in March, I am delighted to tell you that Choir has been invited
to take part in this year’s National Festival of Music for Youth in Birmingham during the
first week of July. This is the third successive year that Choir has been given this honour. A
fantastic achievement!
We are scheduled to perform in Birmingham Town Hall on Tuesday 7 July at 2.58pm. We
will be singing ‘Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit’ (Spiritual arr Ken Burton), ‘Northern Lights’
(Ola Gjeilo), ‘Baba Yetu’ (Christopher Tin) and ‘My Spirit Sang All Day’ (Finzi) – without
copies!!! What a fabulous acoustic to get given the opportunity to perform in.
Everyone who is a member of the choir is expected to take part. It is our last performance of
the year and follows on from our final school concert performance on Thursday 2 July –
‘Summertime Celebration’.
I am also hoping that Jazz Vocal Group can gain a performance slot as part of the Festival
Fringe.
Rehearsals will continue to run as usual throughout the exam period and, although years 11,
12 & 13 exams take priority, we expect members of those year groups to attend as often as
their exam/revision schedule allows them to.
Commitment and responsibility to an ensemble are things that I value very highly, as do
many of our students, and it would be wrong for others to let them down. Everyone is
important to the team.
Rehearsals, lasting from 1.25 – 1.55pm, will take place on:
Wednesday 20 May
Wednesday 3 June
Wednesday 10 June
Wednesday 17 June
Wednesday 24 June
Wednesday 1 July
and
Monday 6 July (1.15 – 1.55pm)
Other rehearsals, either sectional or full, may be called as we approach our performance
dates.
A Parental Consent form (enclosed) needs to be completed for each participant.
I will be eternally grateful if Y11, 12 (only for the exam leave period) & 13 parents
would also complete the attached rehearsal availability pro-forma. Both forms should
be returned to the Music Office by Friday 22 May at the latest.
P.T.O.
National Festival tickets can be purchased from thsh.co.uk and cost £8 (£5 concessions –
aged 60+ or 21 and under). A £3 transaction fee, plus £1 (optional) postage, will be charged
on all bookings except purchases made in person at the Town Hall or Symphony Hall Box
Office. Also available are MFY 2 or 3 Day packages (20% off) and a MFY 4+ Day package
(25% off). Tickets allow you into all performances at all venues (space permitting).
All Choir members are expected to travel on the school coaches together. Coach timings
will be confirmed shortly. However, I understand that Northamptonshire County Youth
Choir will be performing in an earlier session. Please indicate on the attached form if
your son/daughter will be travelling to Birmingham with that group. Places on the
school coaches will be reserved for the return journey.
There may be some seats available for supporters on our coaches at a cost of £8 per
person. Please fill in the appropriate space on the attached form if interested.
‘Summer Celebration’ tickets are expected to go quite fast this year. Not only is it the last
concert for a number of students who will be leaving us this year, but it will also be my last
general concert as Director of Music at NSB prior to retiring from full-time teaching after 14
very happy years at the school. Tickets for this event cost £9 (£8 NSB Friends; £7
Concessions). Friends booking is already open, with all tickets on general release from 1
June.
I look forward to seeing you at our final concert of the year and at Birmingham.
B Johnson
Director of Music
NSB Choir @ NFMY Birmingham
Tuesday 7 July 2015
I have received and read the information.
This confirms that ______________________ (Student’s name) _________ (Form) also
understands the expectations outlined above.
Please complete the following grid if in Y11, 12 (exam leave period) or 13 only
Rehearsal Date
Mark X if Reason
not at
(Exam; exam revision; etc)
rehearsal
Wednesday 20 May
Wednesday 3 June
Wednesday 10 June
Wednesday 17 June
Wednesday 24 June
Wednesday 1 July
Monday 6 July
__________________________________ (Student’s name) will be travelling to Birmingham
with Northamptonshire County Youth Choir.
We would like to reserve _______ (insert number) of supporters’ seats on the school coach at
a cost of £8 each. The Music Office will confirm availability as soon as possible.
Signed: _________________________________________
(Parent/Guardian)
Date: ________________