New Year, New Plans

Type of post:	Choir news item
Sub-type:	No sub-type
Posted By:	Scott Stroman
Status:	Current
Date Posted:	Mon, 3 Jan 2022

Happy New Year to all our Eclectic Voices! I am so proud of what we achieved in 2021, inspired by the challenges we faced: the 30th anniversary concert with spectacular Mozart in June, wonderful performances of The Weekend in September, a terrific shared concert with our youth choirs in November, and to top it off, one of the most fun Christmas concerts I can remember, with our folk friends, just a few weeks ago. So, it's time to build on this, and take EV to the next level. Our next project is called EV Mixtape, inspired by a daily series on BBC Radio 3. I've put together a programme of short, snappy pieces of many styles based on a few themes, including some suggestions from EV members, that will run directly into each other without introduction.

The whole programme lasts just over an hour. It will have a few solo vocal spots and use some instruments played by EV members, and will feature one terrific solo jazz pianist. That's it—succinct, engaging, and easily tour-able. We'll start with a performance on Saturday 12 February at 7.30 at our Christ Church home base.

We have postponed the Peoples' Messiah project to 2023, as it would be too much of a challenge to recruit the extra participants from the community (that it is designed to inspire) at this time. Instead, we'll be going full-Bach: the motet BWV 227 Jesu Meine Freude and cantata BWV 4 Christ lag in Todesbanden, with the City Bach Society. We'll start on this in February and perform in early April.
And, we'll be joining with our younger singers, led by Sarah and Hannah, to celebrate HYC's 25 birthday at Christ Church on the afternoon of Saturday 26 March. And then to Edinbugh in the summer... Really looking forward to a great year with you all.

Thanks for your singing, your commitment, and your love of making music together.
Cheers, and many blessings for 2022, Scott Stroman
EV Music Director