www.richchoral.org.uk

Registered Charity No 1019807

Summer 2025 Newsletter

Chair’s Report

It doesn’t seem possible that a whole year has gone by since our last Summer newsletter, but it has and a lot has happened.

The 2024-2025 season has seen a significant shift with the appointment of Ben as our new Musical Director. He has brought renewed zest to our rehearsals and performances. This has led to our singing with more confidence and with an improved sound. A sound which has been remarked upon positively by members of our audiences.

It is pleasing to see choir numbers increasing which can only add strength to our performances. We saw over 40 people join us for our Come and Sing Messiah and are hoping that at least some of those will join us on 8th September when we commence our new season.

The appointment of Ben has given your committee a golden opportunity to have fresh and creative thinking on the way forward for RCS.

Whilst our Come and Sing Messiah Day was undoubtedly successful, our audience numbers were disappointing. Increasing and varying publicity and marketing will be crucial to our future. Coffee mornings are good for fundraising and raising our profile. Our next one is on Thursday, 4 September. Further details will be contained in the Social Secretary’s report from Judy Weeks.

The possibility of working with other choirs in our area is an exciting prospect. It could mean increasing our audience numbers whilst also enabling us to reach those who wouldn’t normally consider attending a choral society concert.

To attract audiences, consideration must also be given to our repertoire and how often we offer it.

Exciting times await us, and I know that all members of RCS will be up for the challenge!

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Registered Charity No 1019807

As ever, I wish to thank publicly all members of your committee. You see how hard they work but may not be aware of how much goes on behind the scenes. They are an incredible support to both the society and me, as Chair.

Thanks, must also go to those volunteers who ensure our performances run smoothly and to the team who provide our refreshments during rehearsals.

Our AGM is taking place at 7pm on Monday 29 September where you will be electing your Officers and Committee for the next year. It will be the end of my three-year term of office as Chair. I will be stepping down from that Office and from the Committee. Also leaving Office will be David Barraclough, our Treasurer and David Boath, our Secretary. There are nominations for Chair and Treasurer but none yet for Secretary.

Jan Beeton and Mary Branigan will also be stepping away after many years of service as Membership Secretary and Secretary respectively and latterly, committee members.

It has been a huge privilege to serve as your Chair and I truly appreciate the kind words and support you have given to me during that time.

Finally, the sudden death of Sara Vaux came as a huge shock to all of those who knew her. Several of us attended her Service of Thanksgiving in Middleton Tyas Church. The church was packed to overflowing. She’ll be sorely missed by many.

Judy Moorhouse OBE: Chair, Richmondshire Choral Society

Musical Director’s Report

In our 2024/25 season, we performed three great works of the Western canon: Faure’s Requiem, a short yet dramatic piece paired with Christmas favourites; Haydn’s The Creation, a thrilling orchestral narrative combining Genesis with Paradise Lost; and Handel’s evergreen Messiah, which requires little

introduction.

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Registered Charity No 1019807

During this period, it has been my pleasure to witness your commitment to learning the parts, willingness to take risks, and enjoyment of singing. It is this continual derivation of value and satisfaction from crafting such works that

keeps us coming back.

Choral music is challenging to learn and to sing well, but it is nothing short of public art that all of us have proudly displayed this season. The challenge is

likened to the effort required to climb a mountain: one can describe the view from the summit, but the value can only be truly appreciated when

undertaking the journey oneself. That is what it means to be immersed in the moment, where you fully grasp the piece, with great poetry set to sonorities. Let’s spread the word that this is a choir worth joining and/or hearing!

Looking ahead, for December, we will be working towards a programme that includes Puccini’s operatic Messa di Gloria, as well as a Christmas selection featuring Bob Chilcott, our very own Mark Harrison, and a selection of carols.

For a flavour of 2026, we will perform the mighty Brahms’s Requiem, and later in the year a Classical double-bill of Mozart’s Requiem and Haydn’s Nelson Mass. There is plenty of great music to look forward to singing, so have a restful summer, and I look forward to starting rehearsals with you on the

Puccini in the Autumn.

Benjamin Noble, Musical Director

www.richchoral.org.uk

Registered Charity No 1019807

Social Secretary Report

Social Evening.

I was very pleased to welcome so many of you to our social evening at the Golf Club. A big thank you to Marian for gathering your names while I was

recuperating. Suggestions are welcome for a venue for next year.

Coffee mornings.

Our coffee mornings realise around £300 so are well worth the effort. I was

very grateful to those of you who helped and donated at the last one. The next date we have been offered is Thursday, 4th September. We will need the usual helpers, also cakes and prizes for the tombola and raffle. As this is before choir reconvenes donations will need to be dropped off at the Town Hall before

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Registered Charity No 1019807

10.00am on the day. If you can help on the day please email me at the address shown below. Thank you again for your support.

Social Media.

We have a Facebook page which is spreading information concerning the choir really well. If you have access to Facebook please search for the page at

Richmondshire Choral Society. The more members who like and share our page, the more it spreads our message.

Lastly a big thank you to the tea and coffee makers who provide the opportunity for a good chin-wag during our break.

Judy Weeks.

Treasurer's Report

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Registered Charity No 1019807

The full accounts will be presented at the AGM.

Looking ahead, the Society’s costs continue to rise. The Methodist Church have advised of an increase in the rate for hire of our rehearsal room and your

committee has agreed an increase in the weekly fees we pay to Ben and Andrew in line with pay rates nationally. As a consequence, the committee has agreed a small increase in your annual subscription from £120 to £130.

As usual, subscriptions may be paid in full (£130) in September, or as two

payments each of £65 in September and January. Payment by bank transfer is preferred - to Richmondshire Choral Society, sort code 40-52-40, account no 00016006. Cheques are also acceptable, but cash only as a last resort,

please, because of the difficulty in paying this into the Society’s account in bank-less Richmond.

On a personal note, I should like to thank Dave Hughes for responding to my plea last year for a successor. Dave will take over as Treasurer as and when our bankers have completed their apparently endless checks to enable the mandate to be changed.

David Barraclough

Key Dates for 2025 – 2026/27 Season

Xmas Concert  Saturday 6^th December 2025

Spring Term  Monday 5^th January 2026