Brecon Singers Notices 16th January 2025
Online Ticket Sales
Thanks to John Neville for the idea, Emma for producing a preliminary poster at lightening speed, and Alastair for linking up the bank details we are now able to sell tickets online. I put the St John Passion tickets on sale yesterday, available from our website and directly from Ticket Tailor at this link here Buy tickets – Bach St John Passion – Brecon Cathedral. Please spread this information/link far and wide via your social media and any other means you can think of!
Subs
Beatrice treated us to Ferrero Roche in an attempt to get us to pay our subs / to thank us for paying our subs! Thank you Beatrice. A reminder that subs are now due, £52.50 for the term payable by BACS to Account "Brecon Singers" Account number 86729861, sort code 51-81-27.
However, we fully appreciate that BACS is not an option for everyone, so please see Beatrice if you want to pay by cash or by cheque.
If you are a tax payer, please ensure you have completed a gift aid form for us.
High Wycombe choir exchange
We are visiting HW on Friday 4th - Sunday 6th July, They will be coming to us Friday 26th to Sunday 28th September.
The general plan for both weekends is arrive on Friday and go to hosts. Saturday morning coffee and cake. Saturday afternoon rehearsals for a concert in the evening. Sunday a workshop and go home. The fine details are yet to be organised, however I would like to know who wants to go, who will be requiring a host to accommodate them or whether you you will be finding your own accommodation. I will also need to know whether you want to go on the coach or will be making your own travel arrangements. I will put out a sign up sheet next week.
Half term rehearsals
Taking half term off is a hang over from when we rehearsed in Christ College. The committee have taken the decision that we will rehearse during half term when we have a big choral work to tackle in a short period of time. However, of course if you are booked to go somewhere, nobody will stop you, but remember that it is an expectation that you attend at least 70% of rehearsals. Please make Rob aware of any extenuating circumstances as we are able to be lenient.
Safeguarding, Diversity and Inclusion Policies
It is a requirement of our Safeguarding Policy that the Committee review this annually and that all members must read it and remind themselves of the requirements therein. The Committee have introduced a new Diversity and Inclusion Policy which will be reviewed by the Committee annually and all members must read and adhere to. Any queries about this, please do ask. I have cut and pasted both here, however they are easily accessible on our website under "Policies".
SAFEGUARDING POLICY
Legal Context
The law requires any organisation involving young people and vulnerable adults to take all reasonable measures to ensure that the risk of harm to their welfare are minimised, and where there are concerns, to share them with other local agencies. The relevant legal requirements arise from:
The Children’s Act 1989
The Human Rights Act 1998
The Protection of Children Act 1999
The Sexual Offences (Amendments) Act 2006
The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
The relevant government guidance includes Safe from Harm 1993
Working Together to Safeguard Children 1999
Caring for the Young and Vulnerable 2000
Brecon Singers recognises that it is not the role of our organisation to decide whether a child or vulnerable adult has been abused or not. This is the role of the Social Services department who have legal responsibility or the NSPCC who have powers to investigate child protection concerns under the Children Act.
Good Practice
In developing this Policy, Brecon Singers has taken input from the national amateur music performance association Making Music.
Who are Children or Vulnerable Adults?
In this context anyone up to the age of 19 is a child and anyone over 18 years who is or may be unable to take care of themselves or unable to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation is a vulnerable adult.
How Brecon Singers Operates
Brecon Singers is a Registered Charity, composed of choir members. Officers are elected and others co-opted to serve on the committee. Rehearsals are run by our self-employed Musical Director or a substitute on occasion, with an accompanist. There are neither employed staff nor volunteers in the conventional sense.
Brecon Singers does not advertise itself as an activity suitable for children or vulnerable adults. Most choir members are independent adults. It happens only rarely and as a result of our Scholarship programme that a young person or vulnerable adult joins, rehearses and performs with us.
Choir rehearsals and performances are group activities, and there is no need for a member of the choir to be alone with another member of any age. Brecon Singers is therefore unlikely to be targeted by a person seeking opportunities to abuse children or vulnerable adults. Nonetheless Brecon Singers recognises the need to safeguard any young and vulnerable members and the Committee has therefore agreed the following Safeguarding Policy.
Brecon Singers’ Safeguarding Policy
1. Brecon Singers will publicise its Safeguarding policy on its website and draw it to the attention of members at the beginning of each term.
2. Young people will be welcome to participate in choral works requiring children and/or youth voices with Brecon Singers as long as their parents or responsible adult gives their permission for them to attend rehearsals and performances.
3. Brecon Singers have nominated a Designated Person, Penny Ashby, who is CRB-checked and who will attend appropriate training as required.
4. Choir members will report any concerns to the Designated Person. Detailed Guidance is available from the Designated Person.
5. In the absence of the Designated Person the matter should be brought to the attention of the Secretary of the Brecon Singers. A permanent confidential record will be kept of the report.
6. If Brecon Singers should need to recruit staff, then we will apply safeguarding principles to ensure that appointees are suitable to work with young or vulnerable people (see Appendix 8 of Detailed Guidance)
7. The policy and procedures will be reviewed annually at a committee meeting.
8. Approved at a committee meeting on 29th August 2019, reviewed on14th January 2025.
Brecon Singers Diversity and Inclusion Statement
The Brecon Singers Choir is committed to promoting a positive and diverse culture in which all members are valued and supported to fulfill their potential irrespective of their age, disability, race, religion, belief, gender or sexual orientation.
It is the responsibility of all members to:
• treat other members and visitors with dignity and respect; and avoid behaving in any manner that may give rise to claims of discrimination, harassment or victimisation.
• support and participate in any measures introduced to promote equality and diversity.
• actively challenge discrimination and disadvantage.
• report, to the Designated Officer Penny Ashby, or a committee member, any issues associated with equality and diversity.
Brecon Singers will publicise its Diversity and Inclusion Statement and draw it to the attention of members at the start of each term.
This statement was approved by the Committee on 14th January 2025 and will be reviewed annually.
Have a good week everyone.
Best wishes
Jo, Chair
Notices 9th January 2025
Happy New Year / Blwyddyn Newydd Dda !
Welcome:
We welcomed several new members to the tenor and alto sections last night. We hope you enjoyed the evening and look forward to getting to know you.
Subs:
Subs for this term are now due. This is £52.50 and we really would prefer BACS please if you can because this considerably reduces the amount of work and administration that the wonderful Beatrice and Alastair have to do. The Account is "Brecon Singers" Account 86729861, sort code 51-81-27.
However, we fully appreciate that BACS is not an option for everyone, so please see Beatrice if you want to pay by cash or by cheque.
If you are a tax payer, please ensure you have completed a gift aid form for us.
Rehearsal Schedule:
8.1.25 1,37,11,16b
15.1.25 16b bars 16-35, 5, 12b, 16d, 18b
22.1.25 2b, 2d, 40, 21b & 25b
29.1.25 14, 21f, 23b, 21d & 23d
5.2.25 15, 23d, 23f, 21b
12.2.25 3, 17, 25b, 32
19.2.25 22, 27b, 39
Chord Perfect
Here is the link to the practice tracks for the St John Passion from ChordPerfect (https://www.chordperfect.com/johann-sebastian-bach/). When you buy a set, you receive a coupon code which allows 50 other choir members to download their part for free.
The coupon code from Beatrice is 93fore23985-1230
I think you just add the part (SATB) you want to your shopping basket, enter the coupon code at checkout and check out without needing to pay anything. It should then send you an email with download links.
Publicity
Unfortunately Hannah has not been well enough to join us recently. With help from other members of the "publicity team" the committee have managed to cover the publicity aspect of Hannah's role, but with our own BS roles, personal, work and family commitments, we find ourselves struggling here. Is there anyone, or any two people who would be willing to help us out in a locum publicity role ahead of the concert on 12th April? Please do speak to any member of the committee.
Have a good week
BW, Jo, Chair