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NEW DUTY ACCOMPANIST REQUIRED

The choir urgently needs to employ a deputy accompanist to replace its long-standing pianist who has just retired. Good basic pianist skills are very important, and sight-reading skills would be advantageous. Previous experience of accompanying a choir is not essential but would be helpful.

The detailed job specification is to:

- Accompany the choir at its rehearsals from 19:15 to 21:15 on Wednesdays and Sundays (excluding bank holiday week-ends, a two week break at Christmas, and up to six holiday rehearsals taken by arrangement with the M/D).

- Help the choir with its note learning and development/refinement of new pieces to a performance standard during choir rehearsals.

- Accompany the deputy M/D in selected pieces at concerts (usually about 12 per year) listed a year ahead in the choir’s annual diary.

- Gain familiarity with the choir’s live music repertoire (usually 45 to 50 pieces at any one time subject to a 20% change every year or so).

- Offer input to music related discussions with the M/D and deputy M/D.

- Participate in a two hour music committee meeting 3 times a year.

The remuneration package includes:

- £1500 per year reviewed annually

- Optional subsidised participation in choir tours and visits (same subsidy as choristers).

- Clothing as required for performing with the choir.

- The long term loan of an electric piano

- The option of accompanying the choir at wedding engagements at £40 per wedding (4 to 6 per year)

Apply to the M/D (07974155175) or secretary (01352 732122) or email bevcorflint@tiscali.co.uk for one of the working interviews to be held on 1/02/2012, 05/02/2012, or 08/02/2012.

 

SUCCESS AT THE NORTH WALES CHORAL FESTIVAL

Saturday November 5th 2011, a day of celebration, not of Bonfire Night, but winning the male Voice section of this prestigious Festival.

In 2010 we came second out of eight choirs, this year first out of two. Nothing to shout about you might say, but then again you can only beat what is put before you. Particularly pleasing was the fact that the opponents were Bro Colwyn, conducted by our previous accompanist and Deputy M.D., Aled Edwards. They put out a very strong choir, something like 60 on stage, but as the adjudicator said you have to make use of the resources available and apparently Flint did that better.

This competition is not wholly about good singing and tone, but also about entertainment and Huw Dunley, M.D. was insistent on a popular programme, choosing a rousing patriotic song, “Y Ddaw Wladgarw”, a ferocious spiritual “Go Down Moses” and that old Victorian favourite “The Lost Chord”.

Both the singing by the choir and the choice of music by the conductor, plus excellent accompaniment by Gareth Hughes saw the trophy and £500.00 safely in our hands.

This is our fourth success at this Festival as well as two seconds and we look forward to next year when we would hope for a bigger entry and therefore greater kudos when we win. Here’s to it.

 

A TRIUMPH IN DUNKIRK

Being in the right place at the right time has often paid great dividends for the choir. That’s how we ended up performing in the Millennium Dome on December 31st 1999 and, similarly, in the Stade De France rugby stadium in Paris in front of 80,000 people. On a slightly less heroic scale that’s also why we were in Loon Plage this July. Denez Prigent had asked that town’s festival organisers if they would arrange for Flint Male Voice Choir to be his backing group for a couple of items. We’d performed in our own right at other French Celtic festivals and he’d liked what he’d seen; especially our professionalism. This professionalism was seriously tested because we arrived in Normandy after ten hours on the coach with no idea what he wanted us to do. As it turned out, he wasn’t sure either.

I say this was a slightly less heroic event but that’s not quite true. Denez Prigent is essentially a French folk singer in the Breton tradition and in the UK he would be considered a relatively minor artist. In France, however, he is a megastar. Our cultures are so radically different. You could argue that our Royal National Eisteddfod is ample evidence that Welsh culture is pretty healthy but it doesn’t permeate day to day Welsh life as was clearly evident in Loon Plage. The three day event was paid for by the people of the town. On each day there were two concerts each with its own stars like Denez Prigent who was rumoured to have been paid €20.000 for his concert. Admission was completely free. The cost to the town must have been huge but the six thousand people of Loon Plage were happy to pay it through their rates. I can’t imagine how a typical UK town would respond to such a proposal.

On the day before our concert with Denez Prigent we spent several hours with him and his band of superb musicians. The double bass player and folk violinist were especially active as our supporting parts emerged from trial and error. The choir was patient and tried things out as Huw our M/D, Gareth our pianist, and the band developed new musical ideas. Eventually our four part harmonies evolved into existence and we performed them live the following night to a hugely appreciative audience. Our accompanist, Eirlys, was in the audience and she said that the effect was truly impressive. Sandwiched in between the two pieces with Denez Prigent, we sang Myfanwy and this also went down very well. Eirlys gave the whole thing a complete thumbs up. It was another result for Flint Male Voice choir.

Celtic Festival near Dunkirk

Another spin off from Lorient and Paris. This “The Festival of Traditional Music to be held in Hat Lindeoom in Loon le Plage a few miles from Dunkirk. The French organisers asked our contact at Lorient for a reliable traditional Welsh male voice choir and of course Flint was the premier recommendation.

The Festival runs from Thursday 21st July to Sunday 24th where we will meet up with old friends Carlos Nunoz and Prigent. We have appeared with these before in Lorient and Paris.

These events are extremely popular in France with pop stars, folk dancers and singers appearing in sports stadiums to enormous crowds. One of the best aspects is being hosted, wined and dined with no expense spared in looking after us body and soul. We look forward with great pleasure to another grand weekend away.

1000 Voices at the MEN Arena

March 24th 2012 is the date when men from all over Wales will gather in Manchester at this new venue. This concert has traditionally been at the Albert Hall and many a great weekend was enjoyed by choristers and their families in the London fleshpots. But because of administrative problems , the Albert Hall could not decide and the decision was taken to try the Manchester Evening News Arena.

You can imagine the work involved in such a project. Choosing repertoire, finding the conductor, arranging rehearsals all over Wales, buying the new music, learning it, booking accommodation, tickets, transport. It really is a mammoth operation both for the umbrella organisation and the individual choirs.

But Flint Choir will be there, all prepared, booted and suited, ready to entertain in what is by all accounts a fabulous venue. Would you like to come with us? We have a visitor package, transport on Friday 23rd March from Flint to Manchester, 2 nights B.& B. at the Marriott Hotel (4 star), ticket for the concert, return Sunday 25th after a small diversion via the Trafford Centre. Prices are still being negotiated but rest assured they will be highly competitive and you will be assured of a good time. The usual contacts as found on this site.