We don’t think Victoria knew how long a commitment she was making when she answered an advert in the Rugeley Post in 1993 asking for ladies to join a local choir. The new choir was then known as the Elliott Singers. She has been with what became Kaleidoscope Choir ever since – our longest serving member!
The original choir sang popular songs and songs from the shows in three-part harmony and rehearsals took place in St Paul’s Church Rugeley. Since then, the rehearsal venue has changed several times, moving to Whittington in 2012. When Tony Elliott retired, the decision was made to change the name of the choir to Kaleidoscope.
There have been several Musical Directors since, including Louise Cait who successfully led the choir in a televised edition of Songs of Praise from Lichfield Cathedral. Victoria remembers this as a highlight – Kaleidoscope singing with other local choirs. Now singing under Musical Director, Rupert Feld, she has sung many solos, including the choir’s current version of Scarborough Fair. Victoria sings first soprano and has a remarkable strong, sweet voice.
Her all-time favourite song from the choir’s repertoire is “Run”, originally sung by Snow Patrol. The song builds from a quiet verse into a hopeful chorus symbolizing light at the end of a dark tunnel and urging us to shine through our struggles. But her favourite from Kaleidoscope’s current repertoire is John Rutter’s “The Lord Bless you and keep you.” She loves the buildup of emotion as the choir sings the final “Amens”. That’s quite a contrast to her favourite musical – South Pacific – which she has sung in as an active member of Rugeley Musical Theatre group.
Victoria says, “I feel so grateful to still be able to sing – so many people lose their voice as they become older, but crossed fingers, I haven’t.”
You certainly haven’t Victoria – long may you sing with Kaleidoscope.
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.