It's that time of year again.
Information and application form can be found here.

Will fit as many people in as I can but do be aware that there is a limit if we don't want to be there all night.
Applications dealt with on a first come first served basis.
As usual volunteer accompanists will be very welcome.

Stalybridge is always a good fun event!

Will definitely be there again, will organise impromptu groups for those who want to get involved in such things in the morning.

Form will either arrive with me to York, or with someone else to Blackburn.

It's a possibility - how far is the venue from the railway station sbhoa?

A little under a mile in an upwards direction.
We can usually arrange pick ups.

Just a quick reminder, folks - the "first come first served" applies to Sbhoa receiving your form and fee.

Saying here, or on Facebook, that you're coming does NOT secure you a place.

Thanks for the reminder.... I always forget to mention something.....

Joy and I are going to attend - really looking forward to it.

I'd love to go but am dependent on UK leave dates being approved and also possible south of France visit that week. But if there's one event I attend this year, this will be it!

Are there nice places to stay in or near Stalybridge?

Cool!

There are a number of guest houses and B&B's round Stalybridge. One I know a number of forumites have used in the past is the Premier Inn at Hyde, which I think charges ?29 per room for Friday night and ?54 per room Saturday night. Rooms are comfortable and clean, and there's plenty of parking outside too.

There will be a number of people volunteering to give lifts to those arriving by train and/or staying more than walking distance away from the church.

Hope to come to this but will know as soon as the train ticket prices are released. If the train timetable does not change, it looks as if there is a training leaving London (I think Euston) at 9.40 and then on the way home a train from Staylbridge at 1946.

Hoping to come to this one (I was planning to go to the Leeds Players for Pleasure summer concert, but the date finally settled on is one I can't make).

The piece I'm thinking of will need an accompanist: any sacrificial victims willing volunteers? ... piece is in an easy key for me (as an Eb player) so a few more flats in the key sig for the pianist (4, I think), but it's quite slow so shouldn't be too difficult?

We usually find enough volunteers among the pianists to accompany people. As long as the accompaniment isn't insanely difficult

Don't worry about accompanist, just send in your form and I'll sort out accompanist allocation later on when I know who needs fixing up.

Fab - will do. I don't think the accompaniment is insanely difficult: with practice even I might be able to manage it, so I suspect it will be fine for better pianists!



Count me in if you're thinking of something that can accommodate a sax. I can bring tenor as well as alto if that makes life simpler, key-wise. Also, without knowing who else is coming I don't want to volunteer to put together a pre-planned ensemble, but I have music for sax duet, trio and quartets if there are other players who would like to do a group piece...

This thread is a good place to hook up with others to arrange a small ensemble.
Do be aware though that to play an ensemble piece in the concert all of the performers need to have their forms in. Also to fit in as many solo slots as possible small ensemble slots are limited to four (may be more if there is a smaller than usual take up) and available on a first come first served basis.
There will be time in the morning for impromptu playing.
Do ask if you need to know more.

OK - if there's anyone out there who would like to do a small sax ensemble, please speak up! I'm roughly around Gr 5 standard on a good day, so it wouldn't be anything too taxing.

sbhoa - can I send my form in now in order to be sure of getting an individual slot, and then let you know if we manage to get an ensemble together, or do I need to have everything sorted and detailed on the form before sending it in?

I'd advise sending the form in straight away, as this event has sold out in the past and it'd be a shame to miss getting a place.

You can always sort out ensemble stuff afterwards.

Thanks, katyjay - will do!

Absolutely.
As long as I have details by 21st June I'm happy.
I realise that people may not be in a position to decide what to play just yet.

this event was great last year

Form will be with you very soon sbhoa

I've decided to throw caution to the wind and am about to post my form but have logged on to check on the info site that the amount for the cheque is ?10.

Sorry I won't be able to make this one. It's MamaDaisy's birthday on 23rd July and the family are taking her out. Thanks for the invite anyway, and I hope it goes really well for everyone (in fact, I'm sure it will!).

That's right.

I've filled in my form. Just got to remember to post it now.

Hope to see you some other time soon.

Just got back from posting the form.

You could get the prize for being first...... ok..I lied, there is no prize.

Mine's in the post too.

Looks like it's a race between us then, andante in c.

3-way race, definitely! Mine also hit the post at around 3.10 this afternoon

Even if it's just you and I, I'm sure I can rustle something up. I have a rehearsal the day before where I'll need my sax, so it'll be with me anyway

I'm expecting at least one more sax player.

OK If I know sax types, I'll see what I can do

Leave now approved in principle (pending confirmation of cover), South of France jaunt very iffy, so I'm signing up!!!

sbhoa, can I scan and send my form via email for the time being and post a cheque from New Zealand in May? I don't trust the post from Costa Rica one little bit.

This will be my first Forum concert.

How does it work to coordinate accompaniment and/or playing in an ensemble? Do we sound each other out here?

I would be up for a combo with other people/someone else, if anyone can put up with me on the oboe.

Otherwise, if solo, I was thinking of possibly:
- a Schumann Romance if there's a pianist is up for this
- or maybe Piazzolla (do I dare?)
- also happy to do a much easier piece (possibly something jazzy or latino) if there is more demand for that from learner accompanists
- or unaccompanied if easiest (eg a movement from a Telemann Fantasia)

Brilliant! It'll be great to meet you - and you'll smash to smithereens the record for the longest trip to a forums gig....

I'm sure we can find an accompanist to handle stuff if it's not too tricky

As far as a duet,trio or whatever goes, it'd depend on whether there are any slots left over (I think Sbhoa's limiting it to 4 combos....) but I'm up for anything with anyone

I'm sure we can incorporate you into the morning jamming

Will leave it to sbhoa to answer everything else Will be good to see you again

My form is ready to go in the post tomorrow. No idea what I'm going to play yet though. Will talk to teacher about it on Wednesday

Which Piazolla are you thinking of Katica?

That's great! It will be good to see you again and to hear you play.
Yes, send me the form then sort out the payment later.
I'll allocate accompanists later then I put you in touch so that you can send on music.
As Katyjay said I'm initially limiting duets etc. to 4 slots to allow as many solo performances as possible.
If you manage to sort something out with some other people then you (or they) can bag a slot if there's one still available. You use time in the morning to rehearse together.
There will be informal playing going on during the morning too.

Oh, and my form is filled out. It will be planted in Louise's paw on Sunday when I see her, along with a nice clean 10 pound note (only the best for you ). Then both form and 10 pound note will be in your paw at Blackburn, sbhoa

First place was a 3 way tie between Saxophile, pianonotes and andante-in-c.

will be good to see you again katica



Not a problem Barry, sbhoa will get your form and money





*note to self - the nice clean ten pound note is not mine, do not spend it*

Oblivion.

A faster tango would be nice too but too tough.



(Will be nice to see you, b-c, louise and flobiano again too... and to meet famous folks like katyjay)

Oblivion is a wonderful piece of music.
I've just dug out the music, I can play the piano accompaniment for Oblivion quite happily, I thought the Romance no 1 looked doable as well - but I've just tried it, I can just about hack my way through it but it is probably best left to the real pianists.

Will be nice to see you again too Katica, and meet some new faces too.

Do you want to take on Katica's accompaniment if she plays that?

Yes would be happy to. Just send you a PM actually!

WONDERFUL!!!!! THANK YOU FLOBIANO!!!
Will get in touch... have to go finish up reports (feeling like this by the end of this week... )

I'll definitely have alto with me, and can bring tenor as well if that helps. Though I sound rather better on alto than tenor still!

I also have some not-too-difficult music for trio (AAT) and quartet (SAAT or AAAT), and will shortly have some books of intermediate duets as well (just ordered them today, for use with my teacher).

OK : I'll just have alto with me - not sure what others we may have, but yes, bring some music : that'd be fab

Website is down

Don't know if it's katyjay who needs to check that out?
I have information and forms i can email if anyone is having problems.