Return to the podium

A major step forward. Newstead Abbey Singers concert at Trinity Methodist Church, Mansfield Woodhouse. I conducted the unaccompanied items, played the accompaniments, and - more significantly - compered.

One of the most difficult things with this choir is fitting it into the space. 16 singers, all with music stands and chairs, some of whom have mobility difficulties to be fitted into a small Methodist chapel with its central pulpit and raised dais. It requires creativity and patience! With everyone shoehorned into place and with the conductor stood in the first row of pews the concert went well. The choir sang a very varied programme with good attention to detail and style and little tuning problems. I appreciated the support of the whole choir - thank you.

My own singing is getting back to normal. I have now sung two services without the safety net of a deputy and have been quite pleased to have got through more or less satisfactorily.