2018/19
Karen writes:
The session began on Monday 3 September 2018, directly after the four summer meetings held in August. Because our Chair, Tom Malone, would be taking leave in September, he called the Annual General Meeting of 2017–18 for Monday 20 August. At this meeting, committee members Bridie O’Dowd and Joanna Redman were elected Treasurer and Secretary respectively, and Tom was re-elected Chair for a fourth and final term of office. Peter Chua, who has been our promoter, stood for a further year and was joined by Iain Armstrong as ordinary member without portfolio. Retiring Secretary Hannah Thorley and Treasurer Lilian Delaney had each served many years on the committee. Lilian was our first Assistant Treasurer and on succeeding to the office of Treasurer swiftly introduced electronic banking. Before her term as Secretary, Hannah was our first dedicated Social Secretary, and an excellent minutes secretary for many years. Another long serving retiree, Marie Morris, had fulfilled the roles of Assistant Treasurer and Vice Chair.
It was a great year for fundraising. Jackie organized a “Bake Freedom” cake stall on 10th September which raised £220 for the refugee charity Freedom from Torture. Voicebeat’s fundraising efforts in 2018 were directed towards Refuweegee, the third donation raised by a “Dutch auction” held during Folk Carols in the Pub. Our chosen charity for 2019 is the Refugee Survival Trust. A representative from RST was invited to speak at our summer concert, which raised around £700, a record amount. Proceeds from our “Grand Prize Draw” and Ceilidh in April (£314) also went to RST.
Membership numbers continue to grow, and attendance has visibly increased, but the gradual loss of our European friends since last session (2017–18) might be attributable to Brexit! We have however welcomed a number of new members during this session, and had the pleasure of singing with folks from Australia, Czech Republic, Egypt, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Kurdistan, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, and Shetland. Sadly we lost Tom McDonald, a member since January 2014, who died in July 2019 after a long illness. The presence of Voicebeat friends at his funeral was much appreciated. On a happier note, the stork delivered three Voicebeat babies towards the end of 2018, and it was a joy to see the happy mums with their bonny daughters at various events, and Marie a proud grandmother!
Three well-attended public workshops were held during the session: a Zimbabwean song workshop with Bruce Ncube, Americana with Brendan Taaffe, and Rembetiko (“Greek blues”) with Zoe Katsilerou. The West End folk carols workshop, always held on the last Monday of autumn term, was led by Katy and Heather from Muldoon’s Picnic, and included a carol in Portuguese. Voicebeat added a new carol to its repertoire – or a newly resurrected one – for Et barn er født i Betlehem had previously been introduced by Jane Tomlinson in 2006, though not many would remember that. This lovely Danish carol in two settings was learned in record time, recorded for Voicebeat’s e-carol, and received its first public performance in Folk Carols at “Dram!” on Saturday 15 December 2018. A flavour of the languages covered during the session is reflected in these varied workshops. Our summer concert repertoire showcased various familiar African and native British tongues, as well as Georgian, German, Greek, Italian, and Swedish. Of our new songs, the Italian comic ditty Cara Mama io sono malata and Asho Chela, a Georgian ploughing song introduced appropriately during the ploughing season were destined to become favourites, and Hannah choreographed a lively circle dance for our first performance of the Greek piece Pera stous pera kampous. Our termly catch-up rehearsals took place on three Saturdays, with grateful thanks to Bridie for hosting and baking, and David our Quartermaster and Housekeeper has kept us fed and watered at every Monday rehearsal and workshop.
Gigs during the session included the Carmunnock Gala Day in May, the Queen Margaret Drive “Great Street Play and Get Together” for the West End Festival, and on the same day, Sunday 23 June, our summer concert at the Kibble Palace (“Home Songs from Abroad”) was both a WEF and Refugee Festival Scotland event. External gig opportunities, especially of the remunerated kind, have been fewer this year. However, in February Harry involved Voicebeat in a new seasonal event, the Queen’s Park Wassail in the community apple orchards. Harry does like keeping us in touch with the cycle of nature, and we are very good at creating our own entertainment.
Social events in the Voicebeat calendar this session were many now regular features of the Voicebeat calendar. A weekend away to Millport at the College of the Holy Spirit 19–21 October was arranged by Bridie and Joanna and enjoyed by 22 members. On Thursday 6 December our second foray to the Tron panto, for Mammy Goose, was preceded by an enjoyable pre-theatre meal at Avant Garde. At our second and aforementioned ceilidh (Glasgow University Union on Saturday 27 April), together with sister choir Govanhill Voices, we sang a few songs and danced the night away to that splendid ceilidh band Canned Haggis. The session and summer was rounded off in fine style and glorious sunshine by our second canal barge trip. On Saturday 24 August we were joined by our many singing friends aboard Voyager, the Forth and Clyde Canal Society’s larger vessel, for a three hour return trip to Hillhead Basin, a bring-and-share lunch and much happy singing of shanties, and drinks at the The Stables. A great end to a great year for Voicebeat, thanks to Harry, Tom, and our fantastic committee, and a full diary of events already lined up for the new term.
The session began on Monday 3 September 2018, directly after the four summer meetings held in August. Because our Chair, Tom Malone, would be taking leave in September, he called the Annual General Meeting of 2017–18 for Monday 20 August. At this meeting, committee members Bridie O’Dowd and Joanna Redman were elected Treasurer and Secretary respectively, and Tom was re-elected Chair for a fourth and final term of office. Peter Chua, who has been our promoter, stood for a further year and was joined by Iain Armstrong as ordinary member without portfolio. Retiring Secretary Hannah Thorley and Treasurer Lilian Delaney had each served many years on the committee. Lilian was our first Assistant Treasurer and on succeeding to the office of Treasurer swiftly introduced electronic banking. Before her term as Secretary, Hannah was our first dedicated Social Secretary, and an excellent minutes secretary for many years. Another long serving retiree, Marie Morris, had fulfilled the roles of Assistant Treasurer and Vice Chair.
It was a great year for fundraising. Jackie organized a “Bake Freedom” cake stall on 10th September which raised £220 for the refugee charity Freedom from Torture. Voicebeat’s fundraising efforts in 2018 were directed towards Refuweegee, the third donation raised by a “Dutch auction” held during Folk Carols in the Pub. Our chosen charity for 2019 is the Refugee Survival Trust. A representative from RST was invited to speak at our summer concert, which raised around £700, a record amount. Proceeds from our “Grand Prize Draw” and Ceilidh in April (£314) also went to RST.
Membership numbers continue to grow, and attendance has visibly increased, but the gradual loss of our European friends since last session (2017–18) might be attributable to Brexit! We have however welcomed a number of new members during this session, and had the pleasure of singing with folks from Australia, Czech Republic, Egypt, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Kurdistan, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, and Shetland. Sadly we lost Tom McDonald, a member since January 2014, who died in July 2019 after a long illness. The presence of Voicebeat friends at his funeral was much appreciated. On a happier note, the stork delivered three Voicebeat babies towards the end of 2018, and it was a joy to see the happy mums with their bonny daughters at various events, and Marie a proud grandmother!
Three well-attended public workshops were held during the session: a Zimbabwean song workshop with Bruce Ncube, Americana with Brendan Taaffe, and Rembetiko (“Greek blues”) with Zoe Katsilerou. The West End folk carols workshop, always held on the last Monday of autumn term, was led by Katy and Heather from Muldoon’s Picnic, and included a carol in Portuguese. Voicebeat added a new carol to its repertoire – or a newly resurrected one – for Et barn er født i Betlehem had previously been introduced by Jane Tomlinson in 2006, though not many would remember that. This lovely Danish carol in two settings was learned in record time, recorded for Voicebeat’s e-carol, and received its first public performance in Folk Carols at “Dram!” on Saturday 15 December 2018. A flavour of the languages covered during the session is reflected in these varied workshops. Our summer concert repertoire showcased various familiar African and native British tongues, as well as Georgian, German, Greek, Italian, and Swedish. Of our new songs, the Italian comic ditty Cara Mama io sono malata and Asho Chela, a Georgian ploughing song introduced appropriately during the ploughing season were destined to become favourites, and Hannah choreographed a lively circle dance for our first performance of the Greek piece Pera stous pera kampous. Our termly catch-up rehearsals took place on three Saturdays, with grateful thanks to Bridie for hosting and baking, and David our Quartermaster and Housekeeper has kept us fed and watered at every Monday rehearsal and workshop.
Gigs during the session included the Carmunnock Gala Day in May, the Queen Margaret Drive “Great Street Play and Get Together” for the West End Festival, and on the same day, Sunday 23 June, our summer concert at the Kibble Palace (“Home Songs from Abroad”) was both a WEF and Refugee Festival Scotland event. External gig opportunities, especially of the remunerated kind, have been fewer this year. However, in February Harry involved Voicebeat in a new seasonal event, the Queen’s Park Wassail in the community apple orchards. Harry does like keeping us in touch with the cycle of nature, and we are very good at creating our own entertainment.
Social events in the Voicebeat calendar this session were many now regular features of the Voicebeat calendar. A weekend away to Millport at the College of the Holy Spirit 19–21 October was arranged by Bridie and Joanna and enjoyed by 22 members. On Thursday 6 December our second foray to the Tron panto, for Mammy Goose, was preceded by an enjoyable pre-theatre meal at Avant Garde. At our second and aforementioned ceilidh (Glasgow University Union on Saturday 27 April), together with sister choir Govanhill Voices, we sang a few songs and danced the night away to that splendid ceilidh band Canned Haggis. The session and summer was rounded off in fine style and glorious sunshine by our second canal barge trip. On Saturday 24 August we were joined by our many singing friends aboard Voyager, the Forth and Clyde Canal Society’s larger vessel, for a three hour return trip to Hillhead Basin, a bring-and-share lunch and much happy singing of shanties, and drinks at the The Stables. A great end to a great year for Voicebeat, thanks to Harry, Tom, and our fantastic committee, and a full diary of events already lined up for the new term.
