Welcome to

STOURBRIDGE CHOIR

 AND ORCHESTRA

Stourbridge Choir and Orchestra (SC&O) would like to welcome you as a new member, and hope that you will read this as an introduction to how the organisation works. The choir and orchestra were founded in 1884 and have played in about 3 concerts a year, except during the war. We performed concert number 400 in 2009 and we want to keep this proud tradition alive.

REHEARSALS.  Rehearsals are at 7.30pm at the Unicorn Centre, Brettell Lane/King William St, Amblecote, Stourbridge, DY8 4ES. The orchestra rehearses on Monday and the choir on Tuesdays. There is plenty of parking.

At present we have one Music Director who conducts both the choir and orchestra.  Choir rehearsals begin with voice warm-ups before learning the music for the next concert.  Good sight reading is not a necessity as there will be plenty of opportunity to learn the music. The music is very varied, from Choral works with the orchestra to light-hearted songs with piano accompaniment.  The orchestra also plays a variety of music from classical to light music and as we do not at present have a full complement of players it is supplemented by a few first class players on concert days. 

The Director would like you to attend as many rehearsals as possible to be able to give a good performance at the concert.  After the concerts, rehearsals may continue at the request of the choir/orchestra members to sing /play extra music for fun.

MUSIC.  Copies of music to be performed are hired and there is a fee of £3 per term for hiring. People are responsible for handing their music back after a concert. Any music that is lost will be paid for by the singer/player.

CONCERTS.  Concerts are held 3 times a year on a Saturday in local venues.  One concert is sometimes combined with local junior school choirs. The season runs from September to June, with one concert in November/December, one in March/April and one in June/July.  Dates depend on availability of venues and try to minimize clashes with other societies’ events.

 On concert day a rehearsal is held in the venue, usually in the afternoon.

Dress for the occasion is all black: Dinner suit for the men, long black skirts/trousers and black blouses for the women with scarves for those in the choir.

Volunteers are always needed to help out with refreshments at concerts and everyone is asked to put up posters and sell as many tickets as possible.

COMMITTEE.    SC&O is run by a committee consisting of a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and other representatives of the choir and orchestra who meet before and after concerts in members’ houses to plan the programme and the venues.  The Music Director plans the musical programme including soloists, but is always open to suggestions.  The committee members arrange venues, publicity, tickets, refreshments and all the other necessities. New committee members are always welcome. An Annual General meeting is held at the Centre in September which is your opportunity to bring ideas to the organisation.

CHARITY.  SC&O is a charity and various fund raising events are held, in which you are encouraged to take part. Putting on concerts is fun, but expensive. We also take part in local community events and occasionally weddings(choir).

WEB SITE. There is a web site,  www.stourcos.org.uk and information about the concerts and rehearsal schedules can be found there.

SUBSCRIPTION.   The first year is £15 per term. After that the cost is £30 per term (that’s £3 a week) or £85 if paid all in one go in September. As we are a charity we hope you will Gift Aid your subscription if you are a tax payer. Students are free.

The chairman is Mollie Berry. Her phone number is 01384 373111 and e-mail address is mollie.hunton@btopenworld.com .    We hope you enjoy singing or playing with us.