Yvonne says: ” I don’t recall my first visit to Kaleidoscope Choir or even where it was being held, but I imagine it was about the year 2000. I had been made (voluntarily) redundant and was looking for something to do. My first real memory is of being measured for the compulsory jacket of iridescent musical notes on a black nylon background and the lady complaining that my large size would use up all of her remaining material. I think I wore it once. In preparation for joining a choir I had actually gone for a singing lesson to find out if I could sing. Turns out I could (ish) but weakly and that I was an alto.
I remember Helen joining, maybe within a year, and her coercing me to sit on the front row with her. We hit it off straight away. This was definitely at the Methodist Church now and maybe always had been. I think Helen was drafted onto the committee rather quickly and she talked me into becoming the Librarian, which I agreed to as long as I didn’t have to attend committee meetings. It did, however, mean that I had to store all the boxes of scores at home. This led to some interesting moments as Chris the irritable, exasperated MD would, in mid rehearsal, change her mind about what we were going to sing and look very disappointed that I hadn’t thought to bring the appropriate music with me! This all changed when we moved to Martin Heath Hall in Christchurch and had a delightful big cupboard to store it all in.
My life also changed, although I didn’t know it for another four years, when in 2011 a new accompanist called Rupert Feld appeared in our midst. We moved to Whittington and had to provide our own storage, which was situated in the nether regions behind the stage. This was even colder than our present area and further away so that, in moments of hilarity, someone would suddenly realise that I was still ‘out the back, filing’ and rehearsal started 10 minutes ago.
I think I became Treasurer In 2014, when Helen, who had become Chair by now, had been let down by the previous incumbent. I also, at this point realised that I had to attend committee meetings. I would observe that Jo (Bull) the current Librarian, and myself, share a birthday. Obviously a star sign that wrests organisation out of chaos!”
Compering at Boley Park, a while ago!
Yvonne has been a loyal and much loved and (now) strong alto singer for many years and deserves her time as a “choir member” as she moves into a new period of her life.