Hello everyone

The long-awaited, and much trailed, Egham concert details are now available.

As many of you know, the concert will be on the 18th February 2006, at the United Church in Egham. Run throughs will start at 11am, and the concert proper will start at 2pm.

Closing date for performers is 4th February 2006 . Listeners will be welcomed up to the day itself and on the door.

Details are on the new improved website here.

Cheers

Katyjay

i really want to play in that live in reading so it would be really easy for me to get to there and also i want to have more performing experience. i am only 17 though, would it be a bit to young to play in that?

Hi Pianoandflute

The concert was set up so that adult learners, who don't get any other opportunities through school concerts and music clubs, could have a chance of performing.

So the guidance that was set up was that an adult learner is someone who started or re-started learning their instrument after leaving full time education, and who is not yet professional or semi-professional on that instrument.

If there are performing slots not taken when the concert day comes, I may consider younger participants, but I'm afraid the oldies get priority to start with.

But thank you for your interest, and do feel free to come and cheer us on anyway. And keep an eye out in the early New Year when we finalise details of the Forums Concert in Leicester in April, as that won't be specifically for adult learners.

And in the mean time, why not take part in the Virtual Concert? See the General Music board for details.

Cheers

Katyjay

Filling in the form right now. Plane ticket booked
Have emailed you Katyjay, with a query.

I'll be coming

I must remember that I've got to PM you with a query too. No time now though!

I'd love to come and play.
I'll mark it in the diary now.

Great!

I definately intend to come along. Haven't decided what to play yet!

Hmm... train is a bit early, if I was looking at flights which airport do I need to get to?

Other ideas... anyone driving from the northwest who wants to share petrol costs or anyone nearer to Egham who would like to put me up on the Friday night? (PM me please about either of these).

Hi

The very nearest airport is Heathrow, which is about seven miles away. You can get a bus from there to Feltham and train from Feltham to Egham. Or we might be able to sort out someone to pick you up - if I can find a volunteer.

For those on the train, Egham is on the main line from Waterloo to Reading, next stop after Staines. And it's an even shorter walk from Egham station to this venue than it was from Chertsey to the venue last year!

Hi Katyjay

I'd love to play but do I now fall out of the catagory of been eligable as im still at uni?

Pinkoi
xxx

Didn't you start the 'cello while you were in employment, Pinkoi? I think that qualifies.

Cheers

Katyjay

Yeh i was on a year out industrial placement in IT... that was the only way i could fund the new found cello habbit.....
i still have the same job if that counts its just part time now!
i have reached the grand old age of 23 now.. and i have more than my fair share of grey hair! that must get me some grown up points!
pinkoi
xx

Anyone know a good place to look for cheap(er) flights?
Train journey looks a bit of a pain...

Isn't there a train from Manchester Piccadilly to Reading? Then you get the Waterloo train from Reading and it stops at Egham.

Hi

I'd quite like to take part - I couldn't come last year as it clashed with my holiday. What sort of pieces are people playing, and how many?

mike

Hi Mike

I'm not sure anyone's decided yet what they're playing. But if you look back to last February on this forum you'll find what was played last year.

I know there are potentially some duets this year as well as solos

Cheers

Katyjay

OK, thanks, I'll go hunting!

Hmm, so, you're all at quite a high level then!

Would I be able to play something like the second movement of Beethoven's Pathetique sonata? I could try playing the third movement again, but it didn't go that well earlier this year :-/ It was probably not a good piece to choose for my first public playing in ten years...

Err....no we're not all at a high level. I was trying to keep it a secret for fear of scaring people off, but I'll come clean and admit I'll be playing my violin to nearly Grade 1 standard at the concert! Earplugs will be available from a nearby pharmacist, and I'll give everyone plenty of warning!!

The Pathetique would be a fantastic choice, or anything else you care to select.

Do you have to be an adult learner to be part of the audience? I'd love to come and listen and I don't have any problems getting to Egham so long as there will be parking available.

I'd quite like to do this, but not sure about the standard expected. Could someone say a bit more about that? And also, having looked at the website, would we be expected to audition, or is it just a matter of filling in the form?

Jane

Since Katyjay must not have seen this yet - anyone is welcome to come and watch the concerts we arrange. The 'adult learner' stipulation for this one is just for the performers!


Standards at all the concerts have varied from about Grade 1-2 standard to Diploma level. The atmosphere is always very supportive, and the events provide a great opportunity for us adult learners (and younger students, at some of the other concerts) to get together.

There's no audition - just fill in the form! See you at Egham, then?!

I wish I were in UK so that I could join the adult leaners concert.

Hi everyone

Sorry, I missed these queries. Jo's absolutely right though. No limits on listeners' abilities (other than that they must be prepared to listen!). No auditions for participants - as long as you're an Adult Learner you can take part.


Cheers

Katyjay

[size=4] Hello I am thinking about taking part, do you have any other adult singers who take part?
I am currenlty working on my grade 3 pieces, so was thinking of dong one of these, would that be ok?
Do you need to know now which one or could I leave it till abit nearer once I have spoken with my teacher?
Dould I sing all three or is just one needed?
Many thanks
JoanneHat

Hi JoanneHat

Yes, the organiser's an adult singer - me! And I'm pretty sure there will be other adult singers there too.

A grade 3 piece would be great, or anything else you chose to sing. The ground rule is that you've got 5 minutes maximum - so two short pieces might be OK or 3 very very short ones!!

Have a look at the concert website, and when you're ready, print out the form and send it to me. As long as I know what you're singing in enough time to arrange an accompanist for you, we're in business!

Cheers

Katyjay

Hi Folks

Just a couple of answers to queries I've had recently. I'll try to incorporate these into the website soon (and try again to fix the busted links - not sure what went wrong there!)

1. Accompanists

I will try to match people who need accompanists with people who volunteer to accompany. Please make sure you get your music to your accompanist in good time (i.e. at least 2 weeks beforehand) or you may find yourself in difficulties.

If you have a regular accompanist you wish to bring with you to play for you on the day, please feel free. If they would like to listen to the concert, I'm afraid I'll have to ask you to buy an afternoon ticket for them.


2. Allocation of slots

I want to try to include as many activities as possible, and will push the length of the concert out as far as I can to accommodate everyone's wish to participate in solos and ensembles and with different instruments. This will, of course, be a lot easier if you keep your choice of work well within the 5 minute time limit.

However, in the event that I absolutely can't fit everything in, priority will be given as follows:

i. First solo instrument
ii. First ensemble grouping
iii. Second or subsequent solo
iv. Second or subsequent ensemble

And within each of these categories

i. Concert newbies who are adult learners
ii. Prior attendance but new instrument
iii. Old hands

I think that's the fairest way of doing it, and I hope that makes sure everyone has a chance to do something.

3. The Draw

I shall try (subject to making it work) to put this up on the website after the close of applications. It will be a genuinely random draw, but if anyone has a travel (or other) problem that means their position in the draw is going to be a problem, please contact me and I'll see if I can arrange a swap.


Any other queries, please feel free to contact me. And don't forget, you've only got until 4th February to get your application in, so hurry!


Cheers

Katyjay

[size=7Hello everyone
I am now unable to take part in this as I am now filming on the 18th Feb at Shepperton Studios.
I am in in opera being turned into a feature film.
I will be thinking of you all and wish everyone a really great time.
Hopefully I will be able to take part in the next one.
Best Wishes
JoanneHat][font=Book Antiqua]

That sounds really exciting, Joanne. Do have fun.

And if you felt like writing it up for the Viva Voice board afterwards, that would be good too.

Cheers

Katyjay

Am not sure about this but would a Grade 4ish piano be okay...... Definitely an adult returner. Or are you full up now?

Grade 4ish piano would be great! And no, we're not full up yet.

Cheers

katyjay

Katy, how many pieces are we permitted? I'd be quite interested in singing, and playing at least one of my instruments - would that be too much, do you think?

Hi Meerkat

I would think that we'd be able to accommodate at least one solo and one ensemble or two different instrument solos per person. More than that will be subject to the priority list I put a few posts back. And, as I mentioned, if you can keep your works well below the 5-minute maximum, the more I can pack in!

Cheers

Katyjay

oh oops, i've posted on the wrong thread. sorry i'm so easily confused. I meant to ask the same question re the leicester concert. Duh. Does the same answer apply?

Probably.

OOerrr, committed! Filled in the form, written the cheque, just have to put it in the post now.

Anyone wanting a lift from the Midlands (from Derby-ish south, I don't mind picking up en route) then pm me.

I've just had a look at the street plan via the Web site. I assume from the position of the church that it won't have its own parking. Could you please suggest which car park we should be heading for? There are two shown which look as if they are quite close, one in Church Road and one in Hummer Road. Are they both appropriate and likely to have spaces on a Saturday morning? What payment systems do they use?

What's the temperature in the church likely to be if the weather stays icy as it is at the moment? I guess it's a case of "if in doubt put on lots of layers"!

Church Road is the car park I usually use. There's a pedestrian footway through to High Street. It's pay and display £1 for 3 hours. I haven't used Hummer Road for ages, I'll have to go and recce. But it should also be fine. Generally I can find a slot when I need one.

There's also (not shown on the map) a long stay car park across from the station in Band Lane. Last time I used it the charge was £1 for the day, but that was last Summer.

There's also free parking at the library, which is a little further to walk.

High Street is a 20mph zone. There is space in front of the church for drop off/ pick up purposes, but not parking.

The church heating is of the sub-tropical variety. I have gone from shivering to shirtsleeves in less than an hour in there.

Cheers

Katyjay

[size=2]Hello Everyone
Just wishing you all the best for a super concert.
Am really sorry that its clashed with my filming but I am up for perfroming at the next one you do.
I look foward to reading all thereviews on here.
Have a good one
JoAnneHat

Thanks JoAnneHat.

We are also looking forward to hearing all about your filming

I was in the audience for the Chertsey concert and I don't know what the arrangements are for the rehearsals. Do we rehearse in the draw order? Or?

I think I read somewhere that rehearsals start at 11.00 though I can't now find where I read it! What about the string group rehearsal? I hope I'm not the only one who has failed to pick up this info.

I will be sending a final mailing later this week. I'm sorry - having been ill and just about staggered through my recital today I'm slightly behind hand.

Rehearsals will start at 11 as last time, and as last time, they will be on a first-come-first served basis. The string orchestra will have from 12.15 until 1 to practise.

Cheers

Katyjay

We were away over the weekend and I only woke up today to the fact that I didn't know about rehearsals. Sorry to hear you have been ill. I just had a quick look at your recital thread. Congratulations! Sorry you had to do it while still recovering, but that's what professional musicianship is all about.

Looking forward to Saturday,