2021/22
Karen writes:
“In person” rehearsals resumed at SDTA Studios on Monday 6th September, and it was lovely to be back, albeit in smaller numbers, masked, socially distanced, and finishing at 8:30pm. We were asked to register our availability for rehearsals (using Doodle.com) and notify Harry if unable to come so a place could be offered up. That way, we even had new folks visiting and joining! Carefully following the rules, we were always well ventilated (and chilly), with a rota for cleaning at the end of each evening, no shared refreshments or even a break. Instead, we sang in the carpark after rehearsal, to the delight of the neighbours!
We found some attractive improvements had taken place during the four terms the building had been closed. Gone were the sandstone walls behind gleaming white painted panelling, so much brighter. More exciting, the studio was now equipped with a wall mounted computer screen and other embellishments enabling blended rehearsals with our absent friends - some overseas, some shielding - and dispensing with the overhead projector, as we can call up lyrics and videos from the website as required. Harry however had two PCs about his table, and Fiona, Madame Chair, also appeared via Zoom though “in the room”.
After new year 2022, numbers gradually grew as restrictions eased, chairs moved closer together, and by Easter rehearsal times had extended to 9pm, there was no further requirement to wipe and disinfect chairs and facilities, register for a place or restrict numbers. We have however been circumspect. On reassembling for the summer term, numbers have been slow to pick up beyond the 18 permitted formerly. This is a familiar situation as Voicebeat has been low in numbers on several occasions before. Harry has kept up with the blended rehearsals until the close of the session, enabling some of us to keep using Zoom, and by this means we have been delighted to see Susanne, Joanna, and Maureen from afar, and others shielding nearer to home, including a very nautical parrot!
Many new faces have appeared briefly throughout the session. Some neighbours dropped in after hearing the carpark singing. We welcomed back three members, Anna and Selena after more than a decade, and Claire. I do hope we see more of them in the future. Athal visited one evening with baby Nathan, Shelly enjoyed a social event, and Mary K. came to the Workshop. Among our enthusiastic new singers in 2022 are Wilma, Conor and Iain (both from Voicemale), Margaret (Mike’s wife, a Gaelic speaker), and most recently Siu from China, serendipitously invited along by Patricia just two rehearsals before the summer concert, at which she sang some of the songs!
This has been a remarkable year for longevity, many singers having achieved their decade of membership. Among them are Jackie and Marie (9.1.12), Nik (7.5.12) and John (14.5.12). Tom (10.9.12) will be next. An interesting observation - folk who have been in Voicebeat longer than four years are extremely unlikely to leave. Three to four years tenure, they may be passing through, but unlikely to sever contact completely. We do seem to have more and more folks who stay with us, or keep in contact with us, which is lovely. Voicebeat is most definitely something of a family, and a tremendous bunch of people. Our longest serving members date from early 2004. (I have attempted to celebrate our current members’ joining dates, which were displayed at our rehearsal on 28th February.)
Christmas brought an invitation to perform for the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Vinicombe Street on Sunday 28th November, but sadly Harry had Covid so we could not sing. At close of term there was a Folk Carols rehearsal and a Mega Tombola for choir funds. Jackie and Marie organized carol busking outside Tesco Metro in Queen Margaret Drive on Thursday 16th December. On Friday 17th “Folk Carols in the Street” with Muldoon’s Picnic happened promenade style across four locations starting from Dram at 7:30 to a grand finale in Glasgow University cloisters.
In these strange times Voicebeat has survived financially by regular subscriptions and termly membership of £2, but no cash is handled, singers being encouraged to pay termly up front and in full directly into the Voicebeat bank account, which is much easier for Marie our Treasurer. We have been encouraged also to think not what Voicebeat can do for us, but what we can do for Voicebeat. Over the session Jackie came up with several fundraising ideas, a small tombola or draw here and there, and, for the month of February, a sponsored challenge undertaken by a few folks to do something every day for a small donation. Amazingly, this raised £406.65 for the choir.
Muldoon's Picnic, represented by Katy Cooper and Harry, led a well-attended workshop of Maying Songs in Glasgow University Chapel on Monday 4th April, which brought Voicebeat some members old and new. No further Covid testing or distancing measures necessary.
Altogether it has been an incredible year, and the transition from virtual to actual gigs – and paid gigs at that - has been amazing. Last session Dave put on a very impressive Burns Night celebration in place of a regular Zoom rehearsal on 25th January. This year the Bard’s birthday fell on a Tuesday, but we held our Burns Night by Zoom on Tuesday 1st February from 7:30–9:30pm. Most welcome were guests from Ohio, and one could clearly see sunshine and snow through their patio doors. Many other social events were being arranged. Tom enlisted a small group from Voicebeat to sing on the Tall Ship of the afternoon of Sunday 27th March. Restrictions on numbers meant that not everyone could go. Meanwhile Iain was busy contemplating the Ceilidh, planned for Saturday 14th May, but destined to be postponed indefinitely because our numbers were so small. Nik meanwhile got a small bunch of us together for a train ride to Edinburgh, lunch and a group visit to Van Gogh Alive, an amazing immersive portrayal of the artist’s life with sunflowers.
Tom was busy organizing and promoting his Oban International Shanty Festival, the first to actually take place in Oban and in person. He hired a minibus to take Voicebeat friends up and back on the Saturday. There was of course much singing on the bus. The festival ran from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th June, and featured open air singing at various venues, gigs in pubs and whisky vaults, workshops on the Saturday and a splendid concert in the Rockfield Centre. Harry led one of the shanty workshops, Muldoon’s Picnic and Voicemale performed at the RNLI pier, Station Square and the Oban Inn. Several members of Voicebeat were there one way or another and a good day was had by all. The weather was kind, if windy. Many thanks to Tom and Bridie for a most enjoyable experience. Meanwhile, Bridie is busy organising our next Voicebeat Weekend Away for October.
Back now to the Voicebeat gigs. I believe we had five, including the virtual Burns Night. Saturday 7th May saw us gather in Queens Park for a Beltane/Mayday celebration along with other singing groups and the Border Reivers Morris dancers, who meet incidentally at Wellington Church. Here we sang some Maying songs and talked gently to the apple trees we had wassailed in February 2020. On Friday 27th May we were one of many choirs invited to perform for a Festival of Choirs at the Queens Park Arena. It was a chilly but fine evening with a large appreciative audience. Among our songs were our first performance of “Pique la Baleine” and “Fizzin’ on a Friday Night”. Then came a surprise last minute invitation to provide background entertainment on the opening day of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organizations (SCVO) Conference “The Gathering”, which was held in the SECC on Wednesday 15th June. Altogether a dozen of us convened at 8:30am for three singing sessions in a huge refreshment hall, and came across Inga, one of our own, taking coffee. We had been asked to be there all day, but negotiated to sing for the early birds, the mid-morning coffee break, and during lunch. We looked forward to a photo opportunity with the First Minister, but she made a swift getaway after breakfast. Unfortunately, Harry tested positive for Covid and was unable to lead us, but designated Fiona, Madam Chair, to guide us calmly and competently through a variety of songs, differing the repertoire for each slot, and giving us good practice for our upcoming concert.
The Voicebeat Summer Concert at The Kibble Palace - in the diary for many months - went splendidly on the evening of Saturday 18th June. Smaller scale than usual, but a very well-prepared programme thanks to Harry, with choir members Fiona and Tom speaking about the event and the charity Positive Action in Housing, and Linda and Jane introducing the songs and giving an account of their Voicebeat experience. Fiona Rickards sang the verses of “Pique la Baleine”. The highlight of the evening was our closing number “Fizzin’ on a Friday Night” sung in memory of its composer David A. Stevenson, our very own “Mister Voicebeat”. In days gone by David led the closing song at many of our concerts, his last being in June 2019. He is sadly missed but remains at the heart of Voicebeat. Tonight, Fiona Rickards led the choir very ably in the absence of Harry (who had the Covid!) and everyone was supportive and understanding. Our audience was small but very receptive, the evening was fine, clear, and not too hot, making for a very pleasant experience. We had lovely cool drinks, display boards, publicity, and a successful tombola. Many thanks to all singers who helped front of house and behind the scenes, Shantiketu for his excellent video recording, Carol stepping into the breach to replace altos absent because of illness, and Siu for her enthusiasm in all quarters. Thanks also to Craig for sound and lighting, Anastasia for photography, and the new team at the Kibble Palace, who ensured everything was in place for us. The gig has raised a record £702.50 for PAiH in cash and by Just Giving.
The session closed with our last informal rehearsal with “turns” on Monday 27th June. Many thanks to Harry for keeping us going - meeting, learning and singing - especially for his expertise with Zoom, likewise Fiona our Chair for her sunny disposition, technical expertise, and excellent choir-leading, our dedicated and enthusiastic committee, and the core of regular attenders who have made so much possible.
Two events followed - Tom’s fantastic and memorable 70th Birthday Bash Saturday 27th August on the Tall Ship “Glenlee”, and his second Glasgow Shanty Festival, which went down a storm on the afternoon and evening of Saturday 3rd September. It was a little wet! Voicebeat were among the singers below decks. Four summer rehearsals courtesy of Jane and Bridie enabled us to prepare two delightful nautical numbers to much acclaim.
Karen Ewing (Archivist)
“In person” rehearsals resumed at SDTA Studios on Monday 6th September, and it was lovely to be back, albeit in smaller numbers, masked, socially distanced, and finishing at 8:30pm. We were asked to register our availability for rehearsals (using Doodle.com) and notify Harry if unable to come so a place could be offered up. That way, we even had new folks visiting and joining! Carefully following the rules, we were always well ventilated (and chilly), with a rota for cleaning at the end of each evening, no shared refreshments or even a break. Instead, we sang in the carpark after rehearsal, to the delight of the neighbours!
We found some attractive improvements had taken place during the four terms the building had been closed. Gone were the sandstone walls behind gleaming white painted panelling, so much brighter. More exciting, the studio was now equipped with a wall mounted computer screen and other embellishments enabling blended rehearsals with our absent friends - some overseas, some shielding - and dispensing with the overhead projector, as we can call up lyrics and videos from the website as required. Harry however had two PCs about his table, and Fiona, Madame Chair, also appeared via Zoom though “in the room”.
After new year 2022, numbers gradually grew as restrictions eased, chairs moved closer together, and by Easter rehearsal times had extended to 9pm, there was no further requirement to wipe and disinfect chairs and facilities, register for a place or restrict numbers. We have however been circumspect. On reassembling for the summer term, numbers have been slow to pick up beyond the 18 permitted formerly. This is a familiar situation as Voicebeat has been low in numbers on several occasions before. Harry has kept up with the blended rehearsals until the close of the session, enabling some of us to keep using Zoom, and by this means we have been delighted to see Susanne, Joanna, and Maureen from afar, and others shielding nearer to home, including a very nautical parrot!
Many new faces have appeared briefly throughout the session. Some neighbours dropped in after hearing the carpark singing. We welcomed back three members, Anna and Selena after more than a decade, and Claire. I do hope we see more of them in the future. Athal visited one evening with baby Nathan, Shelly enjoyed a social event, and Mary K. came to the Workshop. Among our enthusiastic new singers in 2022 are Wilma, Conor and Iain (both from Voicemale), Margaret (Mike’s wife, a Gaelic speaker), and most recently Siu from China, serendipitously invited along by Patricia just two rehearsals before the summer concert, at which she sang some of the songs!
This has been a remarkable year for longevity, many singers having achieved their decade of membership. Among them are Jackie and Marie (9.1.12), Nik (7.5.12) and John (14.5.12). Tom (10.9.12) will be next. An interesting observation - folk who have been in Voicebeat longer than four years are extremely unlikely to leave. Three to four years tenure, they may be passing through, but unlikely to sever contact completely. We do seem to have more and more folks who stay with us, or keep in contact with us, which is lovely. Voicebeat is most definitely something of a family, and a tremendous bunch of people. Our longest serving members date from early 2004. (I have attempted to celebrate our current members’ joining dates, which were displayed at our rehearsal on 28th February.)
Christmas brought an invitation to perform for the lighting of the Christmas Tree in Vinicombe Street on Sunday 28th November, but sadly Harry had Covid so we could not sing. At close of term there was a Folk Carols rehearsal and a Mega Tombola for choir funds. Jackie and Marie organized carol busking outside Tesco Metro in Queen Margaret Drive on Thursday 16th December. On Friday 17th “Folk Carols in the Street” with Muldoon’s Picnic happened promenade style across four locations starting from Dram at 7:30 to a grand finale in Glasgow University cloisters.
In these strange times Voicebeat has survived financially by regular subscriptions and termly membership of £2, but no cash is handled, singers being encouraged to pay termly up front and in full directly into the Voicebeat bank account, which is much easier for Marie our Treasurer. We have been encouraged also to think not what Voicebeat can do for us, but what we can do for Voicebeat. Over the session Jackie came up with several fundraising ideas, a small tombola or draw here and there, and, for the month of February, a sponsored challenge undertaken by a few folks to do something every day for a small donation. Amazingly, this raised £406.65 for the choir.
Muldoon's Picnic, represented by Katy Cooper and Harry, led a well-attended workshop of Maying Songs in Glasgow University Chapel on Monday 4th April, which brought Voicebeat some members old and new. No further Covid testing or distancing measures necessary.
Altogether it has been an incredible year, and the transition from virtual to actual gigs – and paid gigs at that - has been amazing. Last session Dave put on a very impressive Burns Night celebration in place of a regular Zoom rehearsal on 25th January. This year the Bard’s birthday fell on a Tuesday, but we held our Burns Night by Zoom on Tuesday 1st February from 7:30–9:30pm. Most welcome were guests from Ohio, and one could clearly see sunshine and snow through their patio doors. Many other social events were being arranged. Tom enlisted a small group from Voicebeat to sing on the Tall Ship of the afternoon of Sunday 27th March. Restrictions on numbers meant that not everyone could go. Meanwhile Iain was busy contemplating the Ceilidh, planned for Saturday 14th May, but destined to be postponed indefinitely because our numbers were so small. Nik meanwhile got a small bunch of us together for a train ride to Edinburgh, lunch and a group visit to Van Gogh Alive, an amazing immersive portrayal of the artist’s life with sunflowers.
Tom was busy organizing and promoting his Oban International Shanty Festival, the first to actually take place in Oban and in person. He hired a minibus to take Voicebeat friends up and back on the Saturday. There was of course much singing on the bus. The festival ran from Friday 24th to Sunday 26th June, and featured open air singing at various venues, gigs in pubs and whisky vaults, workshops on the Saturday and a splendid concert in the Rockfield Centre. Harry led one of the shanty workshops, Muldoon’s Picnic and Voicemale performed at the RNLI pier, Station Square and the Oban Inn. Several members of Voicebeat were there one way or another and a good day was had by all. The weather was kind, if windy. Many thanks to Tom and Bridie for a most enjoyable experience. Meanwhile, Bridie is busy organising our next Voicebeat Weekend Away for October.
Back now to the Voicebeat gigs. I believe we had five, including the virtual Burns Night. Saturday 7th May saw us gather in Queens Park for a Beltane/Mayday celebration along with other singing groups and the Border Reivers Morris dancers, who meet incidentally at Wellington Church. Here we sang some Maying songs and talked gently to the apple trees we had wassailed in February 2020. On Friday 27th May we were one of many choirs invited to perform for a Festival of Choirs at the Queens Park Arena. It was a chilly but fine evening with a large appreciative audience. Among our songs were our first performance of “Pique la Baleine” and “Fizzin’ on a Friday Night”. Then came a surprise last minute invitation to provide background entertainment on the opening day of the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organizations (SCVO) Conference “The Gathering”, which was held in the SECC on Wednesday 15th June. Altogether a dozen of us convened at 8:30am for three singing sessions in a huge refreshment hall, and came across Inga, one of our own, taking coffee. We had been asked to be there all day, but negotiated to sing for the early birds, the mid-morning coffee break, and during lunch. We looked forward to a photo opportunity with the First Minister, but she made a swift getaway after breakfast. Unfortunately, Harry tested positive for Covid and was unable to lead us, but designated Fiona, Madam Chair, to guide us calmly and competently through a variety of songs, differing the repertoire for each slot, and giving us good practice for our upcoming concert.
The Voicebeat Summer Concert at The Kibble Palace - in the diary for many months - went splendidly on the evening of Saturday 18th June. Smaller scale than usual, but a very well-prepared programme thanks to Harry, with choir members Fiona and Tom speaking about the event and the charity Positive Action in Housing, and Linda and Jane introducing the songs and giving an account of their Voicebeat experience. Fiona Rickards sang the verses of “Pique la Baleine”. The highlight of the evening was our closing number “Fizzin’ on a Friday Night” sung in memory of its composer David A. Stevenson, our very own “Mister Voicebeat”. In days gone by David led the closing song at many of our concerts, his last being in June 2019. He is sadly missed but remains at the heart of Voicebeat. Tonight, Fiona Rickards led the choir very ably in the absence of Harry (who had the Covid!) and everyone was supportive and understanding. Our audience was small but very receptive, the evening was fine, clear, and not too hot, making for a very pleasant experience. We had lovely cool drinks, display boards, publicity, and a successful tombola. Many thanks to all singers who helped front of house and behind the scenes, Shantiketu for his excellent video recording, Carol stepping into the breach to replace altos absent because of illness, and Siu for her enthusiasm in all quarters. Thanks also to Craig for sound and lighting, Anastasia for photography, and the new team at the Kibble Palace, who ensured everything was in place for us. The gig has raised a record £702.50 for PAiH in cash and by Just Giving.
The session closed with our last informal rehearsal with “turns” on Monday 27th June. Many thanks to Harry for keeping us going - meeting, learning and singing - especially for his expertise with Zoom, likewise Fiona our Chair for her sunny disposition, technical expertise, and excellent choir-leading, our dedicated and enthusiastic committee, and the core of regular attenders who have made so much possible.
Two events followed - Tom’s fantastic and memorable 70th Birthday Bash Saturday 27th August on the Tall Ship “Glenlee”, and his second Glasgow Shanty Festival, which went down a storm on the afternoon and evening of Saturday 3rd September. It was a little wet! Voicebeat were among the singers below decks. Four summer rehearsals courtesy of Jane and Bridie enabled us to prepare two delightful nautical numbers to much acclaim.
Karen Ewing (Archivist)
