Welcome to our latest issue of IMPULSE, issue 10. You will find reports from the boys of our entry into the Bromley Festival and of our concert for the Langley Park Rotary Club.
There are also regular items from the Director and the Chairman which describe some of the exiting things coming up inthe near future.
IMPULSE Issue 10 our latest issue
This weekend has been hectic! Bromley Festival, Rotary Concert, Sunday rehearsal ... You've done well to sustain your energy, and vocal health, through some impressive singing! Awesome work!
Apart from the kids, there are a few people who deserve a big thank you for the noticeable improvement; Ian Maxwell, accompanist, administrator, graphic designer, Mr IT, loyal husband to our Treasurer etc ... A huge thank you for all your efforts. Linda Day, for organising uniforms and supervising the kids. Sandra Kirk, for your enormous efforts in recruitment. For those unaware, there are five, potentially six, schools booked for recruitment up until June, and already, a school booked for October. To the Parents, who assisted in assembling the stage, selling tickets at the door, organising drinks for the kids, it's great to have guys you on board.
A brief look into the future - Concert choir, please check if you're available to sing at the Wedding on May 23rd. Also, a reminder of the recording on the April 7th, 14:00 -17:00. The Mary King workshop is still booked for May 9th, although the times have altered slightly 11:00 - 14:00.
Many thanks for your hard work
Travis
Bromley Music Festival 2009
As I only moved up to the Concert Choir in January, this was my first competition so I was very excited about this event. I thought I might be nervous, but I wasn't - actually it was very good fun. We all watched Travis carefully and followed his instructions. Unlike last year, we were up against another choir in the same 'class'. We sang first. The pieces we sung were 'Let Your Voice Be Heard', and 'Start The Engine'. They both went very well, and we all enjoyed singing them. Then the second choir sang, and they were really good. The judge got up and told us what she thought. A few of the comments made about us were 'You sing on pitch all the time' and 'You pronounced all of the words and their endings clearly'.
When the judge announced the scores she gave the other choir one mark less than us, making us the winners! Yay!
We kept the Cup!
By Alexander Kirk
As I only moved up to the Concert Choir in January, this was my first competition so I was very excited about this event. I thought I might be nervous, but I wasn't - actually it was very good fun. We all watched Travis carefully and followed his instructions. Unlike last year, we were up against another choir in the same 'class'. We sang first. The pieces we sung were 'Let Your Voice Be Heard', and 'Start The Engine'. They both went very well, and we all enjoyed singing them. Then the second choir sang, and they were really good. The judge got up and told us what she thought. A few of the comments made about us were 'You sing on pitch all the time' and 'You pronounced all of the words and their endings clearly'.
When the judge announced the scores she gave the other choir one mark less than us, making us the winners! Yay!
We kept the Cup!
By Alexander Kirk
Park Langley Rotary Club Concert
On March the 28th, both the Training and Concert choirs sang at one of our biggest concerts of the year (so far). The concert repertoire was huge with most of the songs we had learnt in the past months being put to the test in this concert. The first half started off very well with "Let there be Music" and "Ahrirang" being sung first. We had a moment of panic and were all very worried when, halfway through "Moon at The Ruined Castle", Sebastian King was taken ill. The remaining boys finished it up early reasonably well as Seb was taken off and treated. The second was (as many people agreed) the stronger half, with all three "sea" songs being sung, as well as a great favourite of many boys, "Let Your Voice be Heard".
Feedback was very positive with very high praise being handed out. It was also noted by many people who saw our Rotary Club concert two years ago, that there had been considerable improvement to our singing.
By James Kirk
On March the 28th, both the Training and Concert choirs sang at one of our biggest concerts of the year (so far). The concert repertoire was huge with most of the songs we had learnt in the past months being put to the test in this concert. The first half started off very well with "Let there be Music" and "Ahrirang" being sung first. We had a moment of panic and were all very worried when, halfway through "Moon at The Ruined Castle", Sebastian King was taken ill. The remaining boys finished it up early reasonably well as Seb was taken off and treated. The second was (as many people agreed) the stronger half, with all three "sea" songs being sung, as well as a great favourite of many boys, "Let Your Voice be Heard".
Feedback was very positive with very high praise being handed out. It was also noted by many people who saw our Rotary Club concert two years ago, that there had been considerable improvement to our singing.
By James Kirk
Colin’s CornerI have just returned from two weeks in Hong Kong where I have been visiting five English schools. I was there to examine students for their performance work for GCSE Drama. I saw some amazing work by groups of boys and girls from many nationalities: Chinese, Korean, Indian, Japanese, American, Australian - and British too. The best work, unsurprisingly, came from those who were really committed as a group and had spent many hours outside of lessons rehearsing their work to the highest possible standard. I was very moved by a girl who was seriously disabled but who was strongly supported by all her group. There was a boy who was a fabulous dancer (ballet and break dance) but who had been very reluctant to share his skill with the group for fear of ridicule. I also went to a very impressive piano recital at the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts given by much older students who had clearly spent hours and hours practising to learn some incredibly difficult music.
I missed out on the opportunity to go to the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens because I had a definite date to be at Bromley High School last Friday for the Bromley Music Festival. I was not disappointed! Congratulations Concert Choir for another excellent achievement. I was especially pleased to note what examiners and adjudicators call 'rapport' - that is, the connection between you all, a sense of being alive and really being in touch with your audience. Saturday's concert was a brilliant evening - the best yet. Many people there who have heard you before were so impressed both by the quality of your singing and your stage discipline. Then on Sunday I listened to some of you rehearsing for the forthcoming
recording of Goodbye Everyday People - lots of hard work there!
Have you made the connection between my experiences in Hong Kong and BBS? Just to make sure: working together supportively with everyone (whether you like them or not), making the extra effort to ensure top class performance (including some practice at home), being proud of what you do and letting the world know it. I think that's why BBS is on a roll. Keep on rolling!
Colin Nash