Category: Information for the choir

Given the latest advice regarding the new Coronavirus (Covid-19) we have decided to cancel the last two sessions of this term. The committee have had a lot of discussion regarding what’s best to do, and at the end of the day the safety for all of us is the most important thing.

If you have already paid for this term, our plan is to automatically give you 2 sessions for free when the choir starts back up again. If you would prefer to have it refunded please speak to Fiachra or email treasurer@spectrumdevon.org.uk and we would be happy to refund this. The choir has enough surplus to cover this so there is no problem whatsoever if you would prefer to have a refund.

We were due to have a 2-week break for half-term March 31st and April 7, before starting again on April 14, however we will play it by ear as to when we will next have a rehearsal. Please keep an eye on your emails and the Facebook group for further information.

With that said, we are looking into ways of continuing gatherings in some sort of “virtual” way should we be unable to restart rehearsals next term. We’re currently exploring our options, and if anyone has any ideas or suggestions we’d be very open to it!

If you are having any issues at all, please do not hesitate to reach out and ask for help. We are here to sing and make beautiful music, but even more than that we are here to support each other and the people in our community. Whether you need something brought to your house, or just need a chat, there’s people here for you who are more than happy to help.

Please remember to stay at home if you have or live with someone with coronavirus symptoms:

• a high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
• a new, continuous cough – this means you’ve started coughing repeatedly

Take care of yourselves and of one another! Remember to reach out if you need anything, don’t suffer in silence!
Sending you all lots of love and healing,

Katja and the Spectrum Committee

The Summer Term is almost upon us and we can’t wait to get started!

The first two sessions are drop-ins

Whether you’ve been singing with us for months, or want to try out singing with Spectrum for the first time, everyone is welcome at the first two sessions of this term. They cost £5.50 per session – but we’d prefer you to commit to the full term (see below!)

• Our drop-in first session is this Tuesday 4th June!
• Next week, Tuesday 11th June, is also a drop-in. This session will kindly be led by our friend Becca, as Em will be taking a break.

Please arrive early and be ready to pay

To help make the first sessions of term go smoothly, please arrive 10-15 minutes early and have your payments ready (or pay by bank transfer in advance). We’d really like to get all the payments sorted out by 7.30, so you can enjoy the session. You can pay:

• By bank transfer: Spectrum Choir, Acct: 12687259, Sort: 40-20-30
• By cheque: payable to Spectrum Choir
• Or in cash!

Committing to the full term

Beyond the first two sessions, we ask that you commit to attending for the whole term and pay up front.

• We’ll meet every Tuesday, up to July 23rd.
• The term full cost for the term is £44.

Where and when?

As usual, we’ll be at Exeter Community Centre, every Tuesday evening, 7.30pm-9.30pm.

Exciting events this term

There’s lots happening this term! Don’t forget we’ll be singing at these events – stay tuned for details:

• Sat 15th June: Credsing
• Fri 26th July: Our fabulous summer concert!
• Fri 16th – Sun 18th August: Hand in Hand, Cardiff

We’re reaching the halfway point of the Winter term – here’s a look ahead at the term dates for the Spring and Summer.

The terms will be as follows

• Early Spring: Feb 26th – April 2nd (6 weeks, £33)
• Two week break
• Late Spring: April 23rd – May 21st (5 weeks, £27.50)
• One week break
• Summer: June 4th – July 23rd (8 weeks, £44)

If you’re coming to Hand in Hand you must commit to the Late Spring and Summer Term and to a dress rehearsal on August 13th. An allowance will be made if you need to miss an occasional session, but you must at least 9 of the 13 session in the two terms, as well as the dress rehearsal.

Full details

The full timetable is viewable as a spreadsheet.

Hand in Hand

We’re delighted to be one of more than 25 choirs from all over the British Isles who’ll be taking part in the 2019 Hand in Hand LGBT Choirs Festival. The festival spans Fri 16th, Sat 17th and Sun 18th August and promises to be our biggest performance yet.

Planning for the Hand in Hand Festival is well underway.

If you want to come and sing with Spectrum – and we hope you do! – the time to register is now!

You’ll need to confirm your attendance with us, and also register on Hand In Hand’s system and pay a £40 registration fee.

We know that for some members, the event will be expensive and we hope to be able to offer limited bursary support. Please donate to our bursary fund if you can.

Unless you’ve applied for bursary support, please register with us and Hand In Hand by Tues 5th February.

How the year has flown by!

It’s hard to believe it, but it’s nearly the start of the Winter term! Term starts on January 8th and, as usual, we meet at 7.30pm in Exeter Community Centre.

Full term dates are below:

How much does it cost?

The term is six weeks long and will cost £33.

If money would be a problem – for example, because you’re on a low income, a student, or receiving benefits – we’re happy to offer a lower rate and the option to pay in weekly instalments. Please contact any member of the committee.

What’s the difference between “Drop-in” and “Committed”?

We ask that everybody commits to attending the full term, with the exception of the first two weeks.

• You can attend any of the drop-in sessions you like, without committing to the full term. These cost £5.50 each.
• If you attend from January 22nd onwards (and we hope you do!) you’ll need to pay for the full term at the cost of £33.
  • If you’ve paid separately for the drop-in sessions, the price will be reduced to take into account you’ve already paid.

New to the choir?

Hello and welcome! 🙂

If you’re interested in joining the choir, or would just like to see what we’re all about, we’d love to meet you. Our choir is for everybody in the LGBT+ community and friends. Our current members range in experience from people who’ve only ever sung in the shower, to seasoned singers with many years’ experience.

We recommend you come along at the start of term for the drop in sessions if you can, as this is when we’re at the start of learning new songs. During committed term time, we’ll be focussing hard on specific pieces and it might be difficult to catch up.

We’re a very friendly bunch and your first session is free, so you needn’t worry about the money.

If you’d like any further information, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

We’re off to a brrrrrilliant start to our 8-week long Winter term.

See below for the term dates:

The fees for this term will be £44.
Fees always very with the length of the term – longer terms cost more! – but the cost per session is always the same.

We never want anybody to be put off from coming to choir because of money, so if you are on a low income, receiving benefits, or a student, talk to a member of the committee and we can agree an amount that works for you. Paying in instalments is also available.

Stay tuned for more information about our end of term events!

Huge thanks to those who joined us for our first session of the new term last Tuesday. We hope you enjoyed singing again after a long summer’s break.

We’re running things slightly differently this Autumn, with two separate terms. Term dates and fees are below: (click to enlarge)

You can pay by bringing cash or a cheque with you (payable to Spectrum Choir), or by making a bank transfer (please use your name as a reference and let us know to expect your payment!).

• Name: Spectrum Choir
• Sort code: 40-20-30
• Acct number: 12687259

We don’t want anybody to feel they can’t afford to attend choir. If the fees are beyond your means – for example, if you are on benefits or unemployed – you’re welcome to pay an amount which would suit you better. It is possible to pay in instalments as well. Just ask a member of the committee.

Due to our upcoming performance in London, we have changed our timetable slightly to add more rehearsal times.

We will have 3 sessions (May 29, June 5, and June 12) that are only for those who are performing with The Pink Singers in London. We hate to have to leave anyone out, but we need to do this in order to be extremely polished for one of our biggest performances to date.

Everyone is still very welcome to our two drop-ins on May 15 and 22, and to join us for another committed term June 19-July 17, before we take a break for summer!

If you are performing with the Pink Singers in London, attendance to both drop-ins and the 3 session mini-term is mandatory. If there is a reason you cannot attend any of these, please get in touch with Emily as soon as possible.

The full timetable and term costs are available to download here.

We never want cost to be a barrier for anyone joining the choir, so if this is an issue, please get in touch.

Please also join us at Rosies after the session on May 22nd to celebrate another successful Spectrum term!

Subscribe to our Google Calendar.

Our Autumn/Winter Term starts on Tuesday 10th October 2017, with a half term break (no choir) on Tuesday 24th October, and our finalé on Tuesday 19th December.

Fees

This term’s fee will be £55, so please bring cash or a cheque to the first session.

Cheques payable to “Spectrum Choir”.
Ask if you’re interested in paying by bank transfer.

You can pay in instalments of £5.50/week by special arrangement; if you need to pay this way, please ask.
We would expect you to pay for every week (even if you’re absent!)

End of term

Our final session on 19th December will be our Grand Finalé!

A drop in session, open to anybody who wants to come – so invite your friends and let them hear what we’ve learnt!

We’ll be in the community centre’s ballroom, performing our more complex songs, and there will be time for everyone to sing more simple songs together too.