kensington community singers
Thanks to everybody from Kensington Community Singers who sang in our service in March. The choir has been running for two years now, ably led by congregation member Jen Hazel, who came over from the States to study for a Masters degree in Performing Arts. Having been gainfully employed in a special school working with autistic children it was a shock to all of us to hear that Jen would have to go back to the States in order to sort out a more permanent visa. She hopes to return to the UK in the autumn and in the meantime the Community Singers will be taking a break.
In the meantime, there will still be opportunities to sing here at Essex Church, and not just in our weekly Sunday morning services. Our monthly chanting group Songs and Silence continues to meet on the second Sunday of every month and we are planning some one-off singing sessions after services during the summer to which everyone is invited. There is also talk of a 'Big Sing' event sometime this year where we invite other singing groups to join us for an afternoon. So watch this space for more details and have a look at the video of the Community Singers' rendition of 'Lean on Me' - now on our Facebook page and shortly to be available on this website - courtesy of Jim Blair who recorded it for posterity.
Rev. Sarah Tinker
Click here to view photographs of Kensington Community Singers in action.
First Public Performance - December 2007
The first public performance of the Kensington Community Singers burst forth in December. The group consists of twelve people, four from the church and eight from the broader community. The December debut was a great success, with both the congregation and the choir enjoying themselves - a sure formula for future happiness.
The polished performance included three songs which allowed the choir to demonstrate its range. The contributions were: 'Something Told the Wild Geese', 'Shalom Havayreem' and the toe tapping 'Lean on Me'. I had difficulty controlling my feet. At the end of the performance there was a vibrant energy in the room and a desire for more. At this point I reflected back to the group's first practice session some months earlier when I had quickly moved into the garden and turned on my personal music player to mask the sound. The choir had worked hard and developed into a joy.
Let's not forget to give a big thanks to Jen Hazel, the talented and determined choir leader, who got this project going and who manages to produce great sounds from once timid voices. Thanks too to Margaret Marshall who sings regularly in our Sunday choir and has been lifting our spirits in worship for many years now. Kensington Community Singers' soprano section was, by all accounts, glad to have Margaret with them to help hit those high notes.
I am very proud of Caroline's participation, and have noted that she is having great fun in the choir. There is an opening for new members, no classical training required. Where are those fine male voices hiding?
Jim Blair
last updated: 03 Aug 2009
