In Chamber Choir, the musicianship training will focus on finessing the vocal skills of the individual singers to form an excellent ensemble by:

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1 Music at Reading Performance, Musicianship, Community CHAMBER CHOIR Congratulations on securing a place in the University of Reading Chamber Choir. We hope that you will enjoy singing in this choir and find it a stimulating and enjoyable experience. The University of Reading Chamber Choir is an accomplished, ambitious, ensemble where singers are encouraged to be leaders, and to operate as a group of soloists. Competition to enter Chamber Choir is strong, and we keep a waiting list of potential additional singers. Chamber Choir is directed by Patrick Barrett. Musicianship training is embedded in all our choir rehearsals so singers learn about the music they sing alongside learning how to sing the repertoire being prepared for performances. This builds the transferable skills of aural memory, notation reading, good intonation and harmonic understanding. In Chamber Choir, the musicianship training will focus on finessing the vocal skills of the individual singers to form an excellent ensemble by: Facilitating you to develop a range of vocal tone colours and effects through technical exercises, and physical work focused on breathing and posture to develop vocal strength and a range of different vocal tone colours as an individual singer and chorally Communicating effectively through confident stage presence the fine detail of the interpretation of each piece of music, including the idiosyncrasies of the historical style and genre Consolidating harmonic and rhythmic hearing and reading through group rhythm, pitch and harmony exercises relating to the choral music sung, including contemporary classical harmonic language Developing sight singing expertise with solfa to develop fluent intonation Learning to sing choral repertoire by heart University of Reading 2017 Friday 10 November 2017 Page 1

2 Your commitment By joining Chamber Choir, you are agreeing to the following terms and conditions Relationships Members of Chamber Choir will work together and with the director, and appointed section leaders in a professional atmosphere of mutual respect focused on music making at the highest possible standard. Communication Please communicate directly with Katie Whaley on music@reading.ac.uk about anything to do with Chamber Choir, rather than with the director. This enables us to keep communications clear and enables us to support the director in their work. Please check your s regularly to make sure you have the latest information from us, and also check in on the website when asked to. It is a good idea to follow us on and Facebook in order to receive updates about our activities. Fees Please pay your subscription fee by week 3 of the Autumn term if paying the annual fee, or by week 3 of the term you singing in Chamber Choir if paying the termly fee. You can either pay by card at the first three rehearsals of each term, or online at Non payment of subscription fees is not acceptable. However, if you experience difficulties with this, please come and see either Katie or Rebecca as soon as possible to discuss the options. We don t want anyone to miss out because of financial hardship. Attendance We hope that you will prioritise Chamber Choir activities because you find them enjoyable and fulfilling. We expect members of the Chamber Choir to commit to attending at least 90% of, and ideally all, rehearsals and all performances. Non-attendance at rehearsals limits the achievement of the whole ensemble, and if a singer is unable to attend an appropriate number of rehearsals or fails to attend a performance they may be asked to leave the group. In this instance, the membership fee will not be re-funded, unless there is compelling evidence that the singer was unable to attend through circumstances beyond their control. Please take note of the rehearsal schedule given below and further rehearsals published at If you are unable to attend a rehearsal, please send an to music@reading.ac.uk as soon as you know you are unable to attend, giving a reason for your nonattendance. Music Please look after all music entrusted to you and return it in good condition when requested. In the event of loss or damage to your sheet music, you agree to pay the appropriate cost for replacement. Copies are often borrowed from other libraries around the country, and the cost of replacing lost music can be high. We look forward to working with you this year. Best wishes, Rebecca Berkley Artistic Director University of Reading 2017 Friday 10 November 2017 Page 2

3 AUTUMN TERM Please note that the rehearsal plans are subject to change without notice, so please ensure that you bring all music every week. Updates to dates, times, locations, and events will be ed to all members and posted in the Facebook group. AUTUMN TERM 2017 Date Starts Ends Event VENUE Rehearsal Rehearsal Please arrive early to pick up your music folders, register, and pay your subs. 1) Benedicamus Domino 2) O Magnum Mysterium 3) Away in a Manger 1) Serenissima una tota 2) Esti Dal 3) Benedicamus Domino Festival Weekend Solo Auditions Rehearsal Rehearsal If you would like to audition for a solo in Handel s Messiah, to be performed at the Festival Weekend, please see Katie to sign up for auditions. 1) Serenissima Una Tota 2) O Magnum Mysterium 3) Away in a Manger 1) Benedicamus 2) Totus Tuus 3) O Magnum Mysterium Festival Weekend - Please sign up at note there is an additional fee to pay for this event London Road Campus Solo either How Beautiful are the feet (part 2 number 28) or I know that my redeemer liveth (part 3 number 45) OR Why do the nations (part 2 number 40 air only) University of Reading 2017 Friday 10 November 2017 Page 3

4 Rehearsal Rehearsal Rehearsal Rehearsal 1) Esti Dal 2) Venite Gudete 3) The First Nowell 4) Serenissima Una Tota 1) O Magnum Mysterium 2) O Come All Ye Faithful 3) Totus Tuus 1) Away in a Manger 2) Benedicamus Domino 3) O Come O Come Emmanuel 4) O Magnum Mysterium 1) Esti Dal 2) Venite Gaudete 3) Hark the Herald 4) Serenissima Please note that singers who would like to audition for the Chamber Choir from Academic Voices will be joining the rehearsal this evening Christmas Light Switch On Please see further information to be distributed nearer the time. Please note that timings for this event may change. Repertoire: Rehearsal 1) Once in Royal David s City 2) I Saw Three Ships 3) Totus Tuus 4) Serenissima Una Noche 5) Ding Dong Merrily on High 6) O Come All Ye Faithful 1) Benedicamus Domino 2) Away in a Manger 3) Once in Royal 4) Venite Gaudete Great Hall Palmer G06 & Palmer Quad Great Hall Carol Service Great Hall University of Reading 2017 Friday 10 November 2017 Page 4

5 Please see further information to be distributed nearer the time. Please note that timings for this event may change. Repertoire: 1) O Come, O Come Emmanuel (All Verses) 2) Venite, Gaudete! 3) Once in Royal David s City (1, 2, 4, 5, 6) 4) Away in a Manger 5) The First Nowell (1, 2, 3, 5, 6) 6) Benedicamus Domino 7) O Come All Ye Faithful (1, 2, 5, 6) 8) Esti Dal 9) Hark the Herald Angels Sing (All Verses) I Look from Afar: Joint Dress Rehearsal I Look from Afar Please see further information to be distributed nearer the time. Please note that timings for this event may change. Please see further information to be distributed nearer the time. Please note that timings for this event may change. 1) Processional: I Look from Afar 2) It Came Upon the Midnight Clear 3) The Holly and the Ivy 4) Universal Voices 5) While Shepherds Watched 6) Campus Voices 7) Academic Voices 8) Zion Hears the Watchmen 9) Benedicamus Domino 10) Serenissima Una Noche 11) Totus Tuus 12) Of the Fathers Love Begotten 13) Recessional: In Dulci Jubilo - Bach Christ Church Christ Church Please ensure that your copies of the following are returned to your section leader. If you are unable to return them tonight, please speak to Katie to arrange an alternative return date. You will be charged if music is not returned on or before this date, without prior arrangement. 1) Venite, Gaudete! 2) Away in a Manger University of Reading 2017 Friday 10 November 2017 Page 5

6 3) Benedicamus Domino 4) Esti Dal 5) Carol booklet 6) I Look from Afar booklet Christmas Drinks! After the rehearsal we will all head to The Dairy at London Road for a drink to celebrate the end of a long and busy term! Singers from Academic Voices and Campus Voices will join after their concert. If anyone would like to organise anything further, please do! The Dairy University of Reading 2017 Friday 10 November 2017 Page 6

7 FURTHER AHEAD: We will distribute a detailed plan for the Spring and Summer terms later in the year, however please put these dates in your diary now! Spring Term rehearsals start Remembrance Festival Day 1- Rehearsals - Please sign up at note there is an additional fee to pay for this event Chamber Choir Lunchtime Concert details to follow Remembrance Festival Day 2- Rehearsals Remembrance Festival Day 3 and Concert- The Armed Man, plus Chamber Choir performance Brandenburg Festival details to follow Spring Term rehearsals finish Summer Term rehearsals start Summer Term rehearsals finish There will be at least one performance in the Summer term, more details to follow. University of Reading 2017 Friday 10 November 2017 Page 7

8 AUTUMN TERM REPERTOIRE: Christmas Light Switch On: - Totus Tuus - Serenissima Una Noche - O Come All Ye Faithful - Once in Royal David s City - I Saw Three Ships - Ding Dong Merrily on High Carol Service 1) O Come, O Come Emmanuel (1: Solo; 2: Chamber Choir; 3, 4, 5: Congregation) 2) Venite, Gaudete! 3) Once in Royal David s City (Congregation: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6) 4) Away in a Manger 5) The First Nowell (Congregation: 1, 2, 3, 5, 6) 6) Benedicamus Domino 7) O Come All Ye Faithful (Congregation: 1, 2, 5, 6) 8) Esti Dal 9) Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Congregation: All Verses) I Look From Afar 1) Processional: I Look from Afar 2) It Came Upon the Midnight Clear 3) The Holly and the Ivy 4) Universal Voices 5) While Shepherds Watched 6) Campus Voices 7) Academic Voices 8) Zion Hears the Watchmen 9) Benedicamus Domino 10) Serenissima Una Noche 11) Totus Tuus 12) Of the Fathers Love Begotten 13) Recessional: In Dulci Jubilo - Bach University of Reading 2017 Friday 10 November 2017 Page 8