A CHOIR FOR THE MILLENNIUM

Whenever a Community celebrates an event, be it a happy or a sad occasion, it usually includes music, often in the form of singing. We are therefore calling on the people of Histon and Impington, young and old, to join together to form a great

CHOIR FOR THE MILLENNIUM,

and to celebrate Midsummer of 2000 by making 'a joyful noise'.

The idea of a Midsummer Concert involving a large number of people was one of the first to be put forward in May of last year and has generally met with approval. But before the idea can be turned into reality, we need to know how many people would like to take part in such an event. It is therefore not yet possible to decide on the contents of the concert, but it would be wonderful if it were to consist of a major choral work (NOT Handel's Messiah; this is already in the pipeline for a one-off in the autumn). Depending on the response anything from a few Folk-song arrangements or Floral Dances to Haydn's Creation with a small orchestra or something even more ambitious can be considered.

You do not have to be an experienced singer and there will be no auditions but you should be able to sing in tune and, after a little bit of practice, follow a single line of printed music when it is played on the piano.

What will be required of the participants?

1. a love of singing
2. some interest in 'classical' music, but you don't have to be 'knowledgable' about it.
3. Instrumentalists should be of at least grade 6 standard.
4. a commitment to rehearse once a week from January 2000.

There will have to be a fee of £20.00 per participant (£10.00 for OAPs, students under 18 and the unemployed). This money is needed to pay for a Musical Director and rehearsal pianists, the hire of the music, performing rights and, unless we are lucky, the hire of the rehearsal venue.

If you would like to take part in this project, please fill in your name, address and telephone number, your voice type or instrument,and tick the appropriate box on the card that comes with this Newsletter, or contact Beatrix Bown on 561635 (evenings). It would be helpful to the organizers if you could write down your preferred rehearsal evening.

We are hoping for a terrific response from singers and instrumentalists and we will be looking for financial assistance when we know the likely scale of the project.