Welcome to the RTWCS members' section.
This page includes recent notices and other information for the benefit of current choir members. Please click the "refresh" button on your browser to check for further updates.
Current Notices
- We welcomed Adrian Pitts for our first rehearsal of the year on 9th January when we started work on Carmina Burana. Members wishing to know more about this Karl Orff piece would be recommended to read the explanatory introduction and translation wittten by the late Richard Gosling for our 1999 performances of Carmina Burana. This document can be accessed via our list of 20th century concerts and programmes, or direct from this link. (Information on Richard Gosling can be read in the programme for his memorial concert in June 2011). There are several other translations available on the WWW.
- Please refer to the rehearsal section below about rehearsals and homework.
- Note all recent newsletters can accessed via our Newsletters Page.
- Please refer to the Music Director page for details of our guest conductors engaged for the Carmina Burana and Verdi's Requiem concerts in 2012.
- All those wanting to sing the Verdi Requiem (especially those new to the work) may wish to consider attending the workshop on 10th March at Christ's Hospital (see our Other Events page for details). Unfortunately this event is the day before our Carmina Burana concert.
- Provisional dates for concerts in 2012/13 include 14th April, 9th June and 10th November 2013 - dates for Christmas carol events in 2012 have not yet been fixed.
- We are calling for volunteers to assist Gareth Looker to help with publicity - bearing in mind that Gareth has also indicated a desire to step down at the end of this season.
- If any member would care to offer their services to assist with maintenance of this web site, please contact Gavin Grant. Tuition on the mysteries of how to do it will be attempted! Also please let him know of any problems, errors or omissions on this web site, or if they wish to post up information of interest.
- We will also need a new Concert Secretary in the new year - although Barbara Maw (who has done the job in the past) has kindly offered temporarily to fill the gap.
Rehearsals
Normal rehearsals are between 7:30pm and 9:30pm on Mondays in St John's Church Hall. There is usually a short break at about 8.30. Members should please arrive no later than 7.25pm and be ready to start singing at 7.30. Promptness, possession of a soft pencil (never use ink or highlighters on hired music) and minimum chatter during rehearsals is appreciated.
Extra rehearsals will be announced here:
- Rehearsals for Carmina Burana started on 9th January 2012 under Adrian Pitts.
- The rehearsals on 6th & 20th February will be directed by Robyn Sevastos.
- Adrian has prepared a rehearsal schedule and various helpful notes on the piece - please read this and use as a basis for homework!
- Following concerns about security at St John's, please note that the church has asked us to ensure the main door (from the Amherst Rd car park) is locked at the start of rehearsals; latecomers will need to press our (RTWCS dedicated) bell push to gain entry. Please try to be prompt as someone will need to come out of the rehearsal to open the door.
- A raffle in aid of choir funds is often held at rehearsals (not in the summer); suitable donations are always appreciated - please contact Jean Finch.
Miscellaneous Notices
- The Archive section of this web site has recently been expanded and now includes links to copies of all virtually all our concert programmes since 1959. Visitors to our photo gallery will see several recent additions to the collection of photos "on show", including some additional archive photos found in the Tunbridge Wells Museum.
- A letter from Bill McMillan highlighting the work of our 104 year-old (on 12th December 2011) president, Roy Douglas, was published in "The Courier" of 6th May 2011. It marked the elevation of "his" Warsaw Concerto to the Classic FM Hall of Fame (no 139). Written for the film Dangerous Moonlight in 1941, the work is officially attributed to Richard Addinsell and orchestrated by Roy Douglas, but Bill's letter tells us that the music was in fact Roy's! Rachmaninoff was originally asked to compose the piece, but he turned the commission down.
- RTWCS representatives met with the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council during 2011 to discuss the future of the Assembly Hall - an issue which was headlined in the local press and of concern to the society. However, as the "regeneration" project is now shelved, the pages relating to the discussion have now been deleted from this web site.
- Notice of other (non-RTWCS) concerts and other events of interest to members are listed here.
- Please ensure you know who your Line Representative(s) is/are, and make a note of their contact details - preferably informing them in advance if you are unable to attend rehearsals. Line representatives should be the main point of contact for members. To contact other committee officers and members, please refer to our main contacts page.
- Streamed "midi" and other music files files of the more popular choral works can be downloaded free of charge from "Cyberbass " and "LearnChoralMusic.co.uk". The latter site also has some useful tips on playing "midi" files. "ChoraLine" learning CDs or (tapes) can be ordered from Music Dynamics Ltd., alternative rehearsal CDs can be supplied from "Choral NoteBash".
- The results of the 2005/06 members' survey are available here.
- Any other notices? If you would like to put up a notice here that that you feel concerns or would be of interest to RTWCS members then please E-mail Gavin Grant
. Please also feel free to E-mail with feedback about the site, or to report any errors, omissions or broken links etc.