Back in Spades

 

We’re back.  This blog is back.

We’ve had two new homes and now rehearse at GoChurch, Media City – so still in Salford, after spending some time at Buile Hill Academy near Buile Hill Park, still Salford. So we’re still very much the Ordsall A Cappella Singers, singing from the heart of Salford.

We’ve won a couple of awards:  

Buxton Festival Fringe Large Ensemble category in 2022

Alderley Edge Festival  Winning the Community Choirs class and coming second in the Mixed Adult Voices class in 2023.

 And we have plans:

Chorlton ArtsFestival 27 May

We Invented The Weekend  4 June   

Summer Concert: 17 June 

Prestwich Carnival24 June  

Buxton 2023 Fringe  22 July  Cake is back - for the second concert at least.   

 

See more on our web site under Events for details.

 

Our new home is nice …. And right by a Metrolink stop. Handy as well for all of the cafés, restaurants and bars at Media City. We have a huge space so we can spread out. There are also comfy chairs to sit on during the break. Cakes aren’t quite back on the agenda yet, but we’re working on it. Biscuits, chocolates and a brew are.

We Zoomed our way through the pandemic and what a gift that was.  A bright spot to look forward to weekdays.

 

Our room in Buile Hill Academy was also huge and the choir is slightly smaller than it was. We’ve learnt to sing louder. Personally I couldn’t quite believe what I was hearing last year at Buxton at our first concert in the United Reformed Church. The sound seemed to bounce around the walls and fill the room right up to the high ceiling.  

“Is it my imagination,” I said to Jeff, “or are we singing louder?”

“You’re singing louder.”    

Loud, of course, has to be balanced with quiet and this is a huge feature of our rehearsals, as is taking deep breaths, standing correctly and opening mouths wide, in addition to getting the words and notes right and in the right order. But it is good to be back and to feel that music coursing through your body.   

Care to join us? You’d be very welcome. We don’t bite or audition.          

             

 

News February 2020

We’re now well into the new year and busy at rehearsals learning lots of new music. Remember , you can take  look at what we’re up to on our blog and Facebook page to get a flavour of it all.  

2020 is already filling up. Here are some of our planned activities.

7 March We’ll be taking part in the Salford ChoralCompetition. It’s lovely to enter a competition so close to home.  This will be our fourth year now.  It’s always a very enjoyable occasion and as ever at these events it’s good to see what other choirs are doing. We always get useful feed-back form the judges.    

14 March We’ll be supporting the Alzheimer’s Society’s GLOW Walk form 7.30 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Helly Hansen Watersports Centre on Salford Quays.

4 July Swinton Grove Family Fun Day. We’ll be supporting this event again. We’ll be there right at the beginning, helping to open the event.  We’ve attended this event many times before and it’s lovely.  Good food including excellent ice cream on offer.  If you come along, you may be able to combine it with a visit to the Gaskell House.    

11 July We’re off to the Llangollen Eisteddfod for the whole day. We’re not competing but we’re performing. This is a public-facing event. If you happen to be there that day, look out for us. This was a new venture for us last year and we had a lovely time. This is another occasion when we not only get the opportunity to perform but also to hear some other great singing.   

   

18 July Buxton Fringe Festival As usual we offer two concerts: 11.00 a.m. at the United Reformed Church and 3.00 p.m. at St Mary’s. Tickets are already on sale. More details https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ordsallsingers  This is one of our A Cappella and cake events so you’ll also be able to enjoy some delicious snacks. The Buxton Fringe anyway is full of delightful entertainment.  Take a look at their brochure https://www.buxtonfringe.org.uk/programme.php Items are being added constantly.   It’s a very special year this year, out tenth and coincides with fifteen years of the choir’s existence. So perhaps there’ll be a really special cake.

And we face an additional challenge. Last year we won the music award. Now what do we do?

One thing is sure: we’ll enjoy ourselves.

6 September  Lowry Open Day We’re not quite sure of the timing of this yet but watch this space. We took part in this last year and it was good fun.  Here’s a flavour of it from last year: https://thelowry.com/whats-on/open-day-2019/  

6 December  (oh yes, we like to plan ahead) 

We’ll be singing at Light Oaks Park, Salford. Find out about the Friends of Light Oaks Park here: https://lightoakspark.org.uk/

Some of our events are still under discussion and awaiting confirmation.  These include charity concerts, community events, private events (at least one wedding!), workshops and no doubt plenty of Christmas activity in December and late November.  Watch this space. 

Singing for and with the Friends of Buile Hill Park 15 December

Buile Hill Park has a certain drama but it and looks inviting even on a gloomy, slightly moist and misty Sunday afternoon in December.  Mature trees frame the sweeping lawns and older houses with windows ablaze look on from the street.  

The Pavilion is now even more comfortable and cosy that it was a year ago. Some beautifully crafted hand-made table decorations help to define a very Christmassy atmosphere. 

We are again made welcome with delicious biscuits, mince pies and warm drinks.

Christmas jumpers, fairy lights and warm clothing are de rigour.  

At 2 .00 p.m. exactly we venture out and sing a collection of traditional carols and other songs we have learnt. The promised rain arrives but it is quite gentle. The Friends of Buile Hill Park gather round and we also welcome families and dog-walkers. 

As the rain gets a little harsher audience and choir alike make their way back into the Pavilion where there are more refreshments and songs. We mingle with our audience and encourage everyone to join in. There are sheets with the words available. However, you just cannot do the actions to The Twelve Days of Christmas with a song sheet in your hand. Just watch that soprano over there.  She’s got it!  

There is wonderful rich bass voice behind me. Someone is clearly enjoying the songs.  He knows them very well indeed, even though he’s not a choir member. Alas, I can’t quite see who it is.

This is a delightful occasion as it was last year. We hope we’ll be invited again.

Next up: Christmas markets at 5.30 p.m. today.         

Two Special Memorial Services 10 & 11 December 2019

Perhaps there is some symbolism here. Two evenings running the rain thundered down and the days are shorter and darker at this time of year anyway, but then we arrived into the warmth and light of two lovely churches in order to take part in two very touching events.

Albion United Reformed Church 10 December

This is a huge church yet it was beautifully warm when we arrived, and all lit it by the Christmas Tree Festival exhibits. The memorial service here was arranged by Co-op Funeralcare Tameside Region.

St Wilfrid’s Church  11 December

This is a more intimate but equally charming church. And equally warm. We’ve been here before and were indeed welcomed like old friends. The service this time was organised by Northenden Funeralcare, also part of the Co-op group. 

These were memorial services, not funerals and though there is some sadness as loved ones who have passed recently are remembered, there was more joy and reverence than darkness. This was apparent in the very appropriate and moving readings at each event.   

On both occasions candles were lit to shine in the dark as a list of loved ones was read out. 

We sang a few well-known carols – Away in a Manger (both), Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Albion), O Come All Ye Faithfull (St Wilfrid’s) , Once in Royal David’s City (Albion) and  Silent Night (both). And at both venues we also sang The Blessing and Bridge over Troubled Waters, both of which fitted the theme of the events very well. In addition we sang The Water is Wide at St Wilfrid’s.  

It was good, too, to be able to chat to attendees and organisers over refreshments at the end of each service.

We must thank Funeral Celebrant Martin McNally for putting us in touch with the organisers. He happens to be one of our basses! 

What a privilege to be able to take part in these very special occasions.