2025 Big Sing Newsletter No 1
| Type of post: | Choir news item |
| Sub-type: | No sub-type |
| Posted By: | Mike Elcock |
| Status: | Current |
| Date Posted: | Wed, 4 Jun 2025 |
Dear Singer,
Thank you for signing up to sing in our performance of the Berlioz Te Deum, the Brahms Alto Rhapsody and the Fauré/Messager Messe des pêcheurs de Villerville. This will take place in Gloucester Cathedral on Saturday 5th July 2025 as part of the Cheltenham Music Festival, we will be conducted by Adrian Partington and accompanied by the British Sinfonietta. Our soloists will be Dame Sarah Connolly in the Brahms and Liam Bonthrone in the Berlioz.
As there is a very busy rehearsal schedule and we are using several different venues I am planning to send out a weekly Newsletter well before the start of each week giving details of dates and venues and also other details such as tickets, buses, concert dress etc.
WHICH CHOIR AM I IN?
This is far less relevant than it was for our double choir performances in recent years. For the Berlioz Choir 1 will consist of all Sopranos, T1s and B1s. Choir 2 will consist of all Altos, T2s and B2s. The Fauré/Messager will be sung by all Sopranos and Altos, the Brahms will be sung by all Tenors and Basses.
WHICH REHEARSALS SHOULD I ATTEND?
Adrian would like all singers to attend the rehearsals that he is taking, namely those on 11/6, 14/6, 25/6, 28/6, 2/7, 4/7 and 5/7. The evening rehearsal on 4/7 is particularly important as that is when our Concert Manager, Trevor Bartlett will sort out the seating plan and allocate places. If you cannot attend this please arrange with someone from your voice section to make sure that you know where to sit.
Singers from audition choirs are also encouraged to attend the local rehearsals in Stonehouse and Alveston. While these are for singers from smaller choirs to get to learn the work it is very helpful to have a more experienced singer singing alongside one and I hope that many of you will consider doing this.
SCORES
The hire score that we are using for the Berlioz Te Deum is Schirmer, for the Brahms it is Novello and for the Fauré/Messager it is Leduc. We are now sold out of Serenissima Berlioz Te Deum and Peters Brahms Alto Rhapsody scores.
SCORE AMENDMENTS
Adrian has produced a number of revisions to all three scores. These are available to download on the website bigsing.org or if preferred ask me and I can email them to you. I will also have printed copies at rehearsals.
TICKETS
I will have a number of tickets available for sale. These are priced at £42 (38), £32 (20), £22 (14) and £15 (28). Numbers in brackets are the numbers of seats in our allocation. As we have a large orchestra and the four front rows have been removed the rows have been re-numbered so that the front row is again A.
£42 seats – A7-9, D3, G15-16, H3-4, K5-8, M15-18, S3-4, R13-18
£32 seats –EE3-8, EE13-14, FF13-15. GG6-9
£22 seats – HH5-8, JJ12-16, KK3-7
£15 seats –these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle.
I have a seating plan and can send it to you if you require it or you can look on the Cheltenham Festival website. As I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out. Seats are also available from the Cheltenham Festival Box Office at cheltenhamfestivals.com/booking
BUSES
We will be running buses from Thornbury to every Gloucester and Cheltenham rehearsal and the performance. These will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury which has two car parks adjacent to it. The cost will be £15 per trip and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel. Booking forms are available on the SCBSG website bigsing.org or from myself.
WEEK 1
Tuesday 10th June - rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Wycliffe Junior School Performing Arts Centre, Ebley Road, Stonehouse GL10 2LD to be taken by Chris Swain. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30. The rehearsal will start with the Berlioz for all voices and stop at 9.00, the men will then leave and Chris will take the ladies through the Fauré/Messager.
To get to the venue from the M5 head for Stroud and cross five roundabouts. About 200 yards after the fifth roundabout there is an opening on the right labelled Gate 19 and a large car park. Go into the car park, park and there is a small gate in the fence. Go through this and the Performing Arts Centre is on the left after about 200 yards. Do not be diverted onto the Stroud bypass.
Coming out of Stroud follow the A419 out of Stroud along Cainscross Road. Go straight across the large roundabout at the Marling School end into Westward Road. Gate 19 is around 1.25 miles on your left. Kennedy’s Garden Centre used to use the car park.
Wednesday 11th June - rehearsal 7.30-9.30 at St John’s Northgate, Gloucester GL1 2AN to be taken by Adrian Partington. Please attend if you possibly can. Please use the St John’s Lane entrance, not the Northgate Street entrance as this will facilitate checking in. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.
Follow A417 towards Gloucester. At the first roundabout, take the 2nd left (A417). At the next roundabout take 2nd left (Corinium Avenue). At the next roundabout turn right along Barnwood Rd. At the *next roundabout turn right onto Estcourt Rd. At the next roundabout follow Estcourt Road (straight on). At the next roundabout turn left into Kingsholm Rd (A430) and follow the A430 to the Gouda Way T junction and turn right. Turn left into Park St/Hare St car Park.
Walk south along Hare Lane and turn right into Northgate Street. Turn right into St John’s Lane to Church entrance.
Please note it is easier to travel into Gloucester via J11A rather than from J12 if travelling from the South, although you could follow the A38 to Cole Avenue and turn right onto the A38 Southern and Eastern Avenue to Barnwood Rd Roundabout, turn left * onto Barnwood Rd and follow instructions above.
Thursday 12th June? -? rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Alveston Methodist Church, Greenhill Road, Alveston BS35 3RA to be taken by Steven Kings. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30. The rehearsal will start with the Berlioz for all voices and stop at 9.00, the men will then leave and Steven will take the ladies through the Fauré/Messager.
Coming out of Bristol take the A38 – after you pass the village sign saying ALVESTON St Helen’s Church is on your left. Turn left immediately after St Helen’s Church, Alveston Methodist Church is around 400 yards on the left on the corner of Wolfridge Ride.Note that due to A38 “improvements” it is not possible to turn left towards Thornbury at the A38 traffic lights.
Coming from the Stroud and Gloucester direction on the A38 go through the lights signed to Thornbury by Berkeley Vale Motors and immediately get into the right hand lane. Turn right into David’s Lane, drive to the T junction at the bottom, turn left and immediately right and Alveston Methodist is up to your left.
Saturday 14th June - Workshop 10am-4pm at Christ Church, Malvern Road, Cheltenham GL50 2JH to be taken by Adrian Partington, Jonathan Hope and Steven Kings. Adrian has to attend a meeting in Gloucester in the morning so Jonathan will take the ladies in the main church in the Fauré/Messager while Steven takes the tenors and altos in the Music Room in the Brahms. As many of you as possible are urged to attend. There will be a tea and coffee break at around 11am, please bring a mug. Please bring your own lunch, we will stop for lunch between 1pm and 2pm. Parking – Please be sensible with parking and provided that you are fit park well away from the church, there is a lot of on-street parking. If you are coming from south of Bristol this might be a very good occasion to use the bus from Thornbury.
Coming in to Cheltenham from Junction 11 on the M5 approach Cheltenham on the A40. Cross the first roundabout taking the third exit, pass GCHQ on your left and take the second exit at the next roundabout. Go straight ahead at the lights by the Shell station into Lansdown Road, Malvern Road is the eighth left turn and Christ Church faces you at the bottom of the road. There is parking along a lot of Malvern Road but as stated above please if possible park a good distance from the Church.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at each rehearsal, especially all the combined rehearsals in Cheltenham and Gloucester. Tickets are selling well and hopefully we will be singing to a full house.
If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter. I will be attending all rehearsals.
Jos Gregson
Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group
Thank you for signing up to sing in our performance of the Berlioz Te Deum, the Brahms Alto Rhapsody and the Fauré/Messager Messe des pêcheurs de Villerville. This will take place in Gloucester Cathedral on Saturday 5th July 2025 as part of the Cheltenham Music Festival, we will be conducted by Adrian Partington and accompanied by the British Sinfonietta. Our soloists will be Dame Sarah Connolly in the Brahms and Liam Bonthrone in the Berlioz.
As there is a very busy rehearsal schedule and we are using several different venues I am planning to send out a weekly Newsletter well before the start of each week giving details of dates and venues and also other details such as tickets, buses, concert dress etc.
WHICH CHOIR AM I IN?
This is far less relevant than it was for our double choir performances in recent years. For the Berlioz Choir 1 will consist of all Sopranos, T1s and B1s. Choir 2 will consist of all Altos, T2s and B2s. The Fauré/Messager will be sung by all Sopranos and Altos, the Brahms will be sung by all Tenors and Basses.
WHICH REHEARSALS SHOULD I ATTEND?
Adrian would like all singers to attend the rehearsals that he is taking, namely those on 11/6, 14/6, 25/6, 28/6, 2/7, 4/7 and 5/7. The evening rehearsal on 4/7 is particularly important as that is when our Concert Manager, Trevor Bartlett will sort out the seating plan and allocate places. If you cannot attend this please arrange with someone from your voice section to make sure that you know where to sit.
Singers from audition choirs are also encouraged to attend the local rehearsals in Stonehouse and Alveston. While these are for singers from smaller choirs to get to learn the work it is very helpful to have a more experienced singer singing alongside one and I hope that many of you will consider doing this.
SCORES
The hire score that we are using for the Berlioz Te Deum is Schirmer, for the Brahms it is Novello and for the Fauré/Messager it is Leduc. We are now sold out of Serenissima Berlioz Te Deum and Peters Brahms Alto Rhapsody scores.
SCORE AMENDMENTS
Adrian has produced a number of revisions to all three scores. These are available to download on the website bigsing.org or if preferred ask me and I can email them to you. I will also have printed copies at rehearsals.
TICKETS
I will have a number of tickets available for sale. These are priced at £42 (38), £32 (20), £22 (14) and £15 (28). Numbers in brackets are the numbers of seats in our allocation. As we have a large orchestra and the four front rows have been removed the rows have been re-numbered so that the front row is again A.
£42 seats – A7-9, D3, G15-16, H3-4, K5-8, M15-18, S3-4, R13-18
£32 seats –EE3-8, EE13-14, FF13-15. GG6-9
£22 seats – HH5-8, JJ12-16, KK3-7
£15 seats –these are aisle seats and unnumbered, state whether you prefer south or north aisle.
I have a seating plan and can send it to you if you require it or you can look on the Cheltenham Festival website. As I sell tickets I will update this list so that it is current when I send it out. Seats are also available from the Cheltenham Festival Box Office at cheltenhamfestivals.com/booking
BUSES
We will be running buses from Thornbury to every Gloucester and Cheltenham rehearsal and the performance. These will leave from outside Aldi in Thornbury which has two car parks adjacent to it. The cost will be £15 per trip and the 33-seater coach will be operated by Mike’s Travel. Booking forms are available on the SCBSG website bigsing.org or from myself.
WEEK 1
Tuesday 10th June - rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Wycliffe Junior School Performing Arts Centre, Ebley Road, Stonehouse GL10 2LD to be taken by Chris Swain. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30. The rehearsal will start with the Berlioz for all voices and stop at 9.00, the men will then leave and Chris will take the ladies through the Fauré/Messager.
To get to the venue from the M5 head for Stroud and cross five roundabouts. About 200 yards after the fifth roundabout there is an opening on the right labelled Gate 19 and a large car park. Go into the car park, park and there is a small gate in the fence. Go through this and the Performing Arts Centre is on the left after about 200 yards. Do not be diverted onto the Stroud bypass.
Coming out of Stroud follow the A419 out of Stroud along Cainscross Road. Go straight across the large roundabout at the Marling School end into Westward Road. Gate 19 is around 1.25 miles on your left. Kennedy’s Garden Centre used to use the car park.
Wednesday 11th June - rehearsal 7.30-9.30 at St John’s Northgate, Gloucester GL1 2AN to be taken by Adrian Partington. Please attend if you possibly can. Please use the St John’s Lane entrance, not the Northgate Street entrance as this will facilitate checking in. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30.
Follow A417 towards Gloucester. At the first roundabout, take the 2nd left (A417). At the next roundabout take 2nd left (Corinium Avenue). At the next roundabout turn right along Barnwood Rd. At the *next roundabout turn right onto Estcourt Rd. At the next roundabout follow Estcourt Road (straight on). At the next roundabout turn left into Kingsholm Rd (A430) and follow the A430 to the Gouda Way T junction and turn right. Turn left into Park St/Hare St car Park.
Walk south along Hare Lane and turn right into Northgate Street. Turn right into St John’s Lane to Church entrance.
Please note it is easier to travel into Gloucester via J11A rather than from J12 if travelling from the South, although you could follow the A38 to Cole Avenue and turn right onto the A38 Southern and Eastern Avenue to Barnwood Rd Roundabout, turn left * onto Barnwood Rd and follow instructions above.
Thursday 12th June? -? rehearsal 7.30-9.30pm at Alveston Methodist Church, Greenhill Road, Alveston BS35 3RA to be taken by Steven Kings. We will be serving water and orange squash at around 8.30. The rehearsal will start with the Berlioz for all voices and stop at 9.00, the men will then leave and Steven will take the ladies through the Fauré/Messager.
Coming out of Bristol take the A38 – after you pass the village sign saying ALVESTON St Helen’s Church is on your left. Turn left immediately after St Helen’s Church, Alveston Methodist Church is around 400 yards on the left on the corner of Wolfridge Ride.Note that due to A38 “improvements” it is not possible to turn left towards Thornbury at the A38 traffic lights.
Coming from the Stroud and Gloucester direction on the A38 go through the lights signed to Thornbury by Berkeley Vale Motors and immediately get into the right hand lane. Turn right into David’s Lane, drive to the T junction at the bottom, turn left and immediately right and Alveston Methodist is up to your left.
Saturday 14th June - Workshop 10am-4pm at Christ Church, Malvern Road, Cheltenham GL50 2JH to be taken by Adrian Partington, Jonathan Hope and Steven Kings. Adrian has to attend a meeting in Gloucester in the morning so Jonathan will take the ladies in the main church in the Fauré/Messager while Steven takes the tenors and altos in the Music Room in the Brahms. As many of you as possible are urged to attend. There will be a tea and coffee break at around 11am, please bring a mug. Please bring your own lunch, we will stop for lunch between 1pm and 2pm. Parking – Please be sensible with parking and provided that you are fit park well away from the church, there is a lot of on-street parking. If you are coming from south of Bristol this might be a very good occasion to use the bus from Thornbury.
Coming in to Cheltenham from Junction 11 on the M5 approach Cheltenham on the A40. Cross the first roundabout taking the third exit, pass GCHQ on your left and take the second exit at the next roundabout. Go straight ahead at the lights by the Shell station into Lansdown Road, Malvern Road is the eighth left turn and Christ Church faces you at the bottom of the road. There is parking along a lot of Malvern Road but as stated above please if possible park a good distance from the Church.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at each rehearsal, especially all the combined rehearsals in Cheltenham and Gloucester. Tickets are selling well and hopefully we will be singing to a full house.
If you have any queries at all please contact me at any of the contact points at the head of this Newsletter. I will be attending all rehearsals.
Jos Gregson
Chairman, South Cotswold Big Sing Group
