newbies

Notes from a Small Island

Newbie soprano Louise reflects on her first concert as a Pink Singer at Notes from a Small Island last Saturday at Hackney Empire.

I have performed in smaller, more informal concerts before, and as a teacher every day is a performance for me, but nothing compares to standing under those bright and burning lights in front of over 600 people at the beautiful Hackney Empire. This was something very special.

charly-louise — Louise with Charly in rehearsal

I had felt anxious in the weeks running up to the concert, spending every spare moment listening to tracks, learning words and attempting to multi-task with the addition of choreography. But after a gruelling (and sweltering) technical rehearsal, 7pm somehow crept up on me and I can honestly say I was excited as the performance started. My concert cherry was about to pop as they say.

But would I go to death and go to slaughter? Would I panic part way through? It helped not being able to see anyone in the audience. In fact it required a leap of faith to even believe there was anyone out there until the first burst of rapturous applause after Under Pressure. Pressure off. I subsequently enjoyed every second of the entire concert, including our most challenging piece Peter Grimes. (I should add here that there was a 14 year old in the audience who loved it too but wondered why on earth we were singing so aggressively about peas and rice. Hmmm.)

pinkies_Jul14_quickPix-02 — Pink rose (Photograph by Suzanne Mitchell Photography)

The various emails and text messages I have received since the concert from friends and family put words to feelings much more succinctly than I can at the moment. I truly cannot find the words that adequately encapsulate what it meant to me. They tell me the Pink Singers are a choir to be proud of. They describe the performance as SENSATIONAL. They say we demonstrate diversity, humour and passion. They say that they feel that whenever we sing it feels like EVERY person they fix on is totally committed to singing, and to them individually. All true.

pinkies_Jul14_quickPix-08 — Pinkies during our tech rehearsal at Hackney Empire (Photograph by Suzanne Mitchell)

I feel both empowered and humbled by my first Pinkie concert. What an amazing thing to be part of! I am, alas, experiencing the PPBs – the Post Pinkie Blues. What am I going to do on my Sundays now? Everything now seems an insubstantial pageant in comparison. Although I have filled my summer with plans already, I will be counting down the weeks until the next season starts. And you really should come to our next concert. You may even be kissed on the nose by a gay…

With thanks to Suzanne Mitchell Photography

Louise

Timeline datestamp: 19 July 2014

Reflecting on Various Voices 2014: Pt1

Newbie tenor Chris recalls his experience of the Various Voices festival in Dublin last weekend…
Having only joined the Pink Singers for this season, “Various Voices” was not a term I was familiar with, however with the persuasion of my section leader I signed up for the unknown.
If I had known then what I know now, I would have joined the Pink Singers just to be allowed to come!
Initial preparations were frantic as I found out I would standing in the front row for our performances, and would actually have to learn the choreography rather than copy the person in front of me. I also managed to lose my wallet the day before I left, however, once I was on my (rather early) flight I was on my way to one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.
Over four days in Dublin I went through every possible emotion. I felt scared before my first ever Pinkie performance at the Axis Theatre in Ballymun, elated after we had nailed I, Choir and brought the audience to their feet, and once again with our set finale All By Myself.

The Pink Singers performing All by myself in January 2014

I cried as the Rock Creek Singers performed Make Them Hear You and again when Proud Voices took to the stage.

I was sad when it ended far too soon and am grateful that I shared the experience with so many wonderful people. There were so many highlights: getting to know people in my own choir much better, Luke wearing Brian’s (our mannequin) clothes to perform at The Helix, being taught how to use a drill by Jenny when erecting our exhibition, Singing the Changes, the gorgeous Dublin weather and meeting the many other choirs and realising how much joy LGBT choirs bring to people around the world.
If anyone gets the opportunity to travel in time and go again I would recommend it, otherwise you’ll just have to wait until Munich 2018. I’m excited already!
Don’t want to wait that long to see the Pink Singers? Get your tickets now for Notes from a Small Island, our celebration of British composers and songwriters on Saturday 19 July at Hackney Empire.

Turning 31 in style!

A couple of weeks back, the Pink Singers celebrated their 31st birthday with an evening of fashion faux pas and song. In this post, newbie tenor Albert shares the experience of his first party as a pinkie…
Yes, I am 30. So what? What a coincidence the Pink Singers was born as a choir just about 3 months before I was. And 3 decades later, our paths crossed. I had a rough idea about how the pinkies like to celebrate special occasions. I had seen pictures of people in costumes. But nothing could prepare me for the real thing.
Last Friday the Pink Singers had their 31st anniversary. In fact I should say OUR 31st anniversary, since I am one of them now. “Excuse me? The filmmaker, the camera guy is now singing?”. Yes, and it was kind of my newbie party as well. My verdict? You’re nuts. And I absolutely love that. Hilarious performances, drinks, snacks, awesome costumes, funny jokes (half of which I couldn’t understand, but still funny)…
Continue reading

Stepping into the limelight for the first time!

A Night at the Movies was the culmination of my first season with the Pinkies, and so I was continually reminded I was “popping my Pinkie cherry”. Prior to joining the choir, I had never been to a Pinkies concert. Although I had performed in choirs for many years in Sydney, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would I be nervous? Would it be a professional appearance? Would the concert ‘come together’ on the night?
Any uncertainty I had was soon eased upon arriving at the venue. As I walked from the Underground station to the venue, there was the most glorious parade of Pinkies carrying the most sensational array of hat boxes, suit bags, suitcases full of makeup, the obligatory feather boas and of course the absolutely necessary glitter that is required for such a concert.
There had been many months of rehearsals leading into the big day. There had been a lot of blood sweat and tears – and literally tears from all of us on different occasions trying as we tried to memorise repertoire and choralography (aka choreography for choirs).
The afternoon of the show was spent in a full technical rehearsal. It went something like this… Start a song. Stop midway. Move to the right. Readjust lighting levels. Have a sip of water. Start the song again. Stop again. We’d moved too far to the right. Shuffle the left. No the other left. No no. Keep going. Have a sip of water. Have a chat amongst ourselves. Fix the balance between the band and the choir. Have another chat. Okay start again. Repeat. Next song. Repeat the process. Have another sip of water.
I was soon starting to realise any apprehension I had about the concert had been far too premature. What was quickly unfurling was an A-Grade professional performance of the highest calibre – choir, bigband, piano, solos, movement, lighting, videos, audience interaction, emotion. There was an apparent degree of pre-performance preparation and thought put in by a very talented team of Pinkies. We were scheduled to deliver a fun-filled and spectacular evening. Continue reading “Stepping into the limelight for the first time!”

5 best bits of the Pinkies Christmas weekender

The now legendary Pink Singers annual weekend away took place a week before Christmas, and was packed with festive delights! After piling on the bus down to Sussex with fellow choir members, the party and workshops started in earnest.
My highlights would have to be:

The peaceful, picturesque location offering a welcome change to bustling London
Singing choir songs around the camp fire… even if we were ever so slightly out of tune and time… let’s blame the mulled wine for that
Learning how to sing well with the brilliant Sam Kenyon, including putting on a country western accent by replacing words with ‘quack’!
The meticulously organised and delicious Christmas dinner for 70 people, served by elves and reindeer
The price! How they ever managed to organise such a well-catered weekend on such a small budget is just amazing!

Having the opportunity to get to know so many members of the choir – they are such a genuinely great bunch of crazy people and I’m looking forward to more hilarious, fun nights in 2014!

Photographs by Hsien Chew and Simon Pearson

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