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Welcome to our Members' Spring Newsletter 2025
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Welcome to the Spring Term HTC Newsletter – your Committee undertook to keep you all in the picture about what’s happening and what we are planning.
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Charity Support
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Firstly, and hot off the press, we have confirmed that the headline charity for our Summer concert at the Town Hall in Masham on 29 June will be the Mashamshire Community Office. You will know that partnering with local charities in 2024 generated around £1800 for those charities; we think there is advantage to HTC from having these local links and propose to pursue them for future concerts. Some members have suggested regional or national charities (albeit local ‘branches’) should be our beneficiaries but we think that the current approach is proving mutually advantageous – let us know if you disagree, please!
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On the subject of linking with local charities we have now confirmed the Autumn concert for Wetherby on Sunday 26 October – so if anyone is familiar with a charity local to Wetherby which would benefit from being our headline charity then please would you make one of the Committee aware.
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Venue Survey
YOUR VIEWS ARE VITAL!
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Your Committee is keen to explore new venues and audiences, which may be outside the ‘usual’ area. At the same time, it would be helpful to manage your expectations – HTC is a performance Choir and maybe we are ‘underperforming’ in terms of the number of performances. You will have seen on Muzodo that we have inserted some smaller venues - eg Kettlesing - as final rehearsals for our bigger concerts. Should we do more of these and/or more bigger concerts (ie audiences of 100+).
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A previous request to members for potential venues was very successful and a number have been incorporated into our programme, with others under active consideration.
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We invite you to complete a quick survey (just 6 questions!) by following this link:
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This will help inform our deliberations for the 2026 programme – your Committee wants to hear all views so please take part! Thank you.
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Hire HTC
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One of the things we advertise already is that HTC can be hired for events – but we haven’t had a standard set of charges for anyone who might approach us.
Beth is looking at HTC having a ‘rate card’ which would be fair to all and any who might approach us – and will incorporate a modest discount for members who want to book the rest of the choir.
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We’ll let you know when it’s agreed and publish it on our website.
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Music Corner
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The vast majority of members understand that music is lent to you by HTC, and when Mel recalls it (sometimes for sale to recoup the costs) then it needs to be in good repair and free from all and any markings.
Occasionally she is invited to accept copies with ink markings and/or highlighting, or torn, which is clearly unacceptable. You should all be aware that music that is returned which is not in a saleable condition will attract a charge of £3 from the returner.
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Recording Project
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Most of you will be aware that we have a sum set aside to fund a recording project, as a follow-up to the highly successful ‘Binge’ (some final copies of the CD are available!). What we are lacking at the moment is the horsepower to take the project forward alongside our Musical Director – a small working group (2/3) is needed.
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If you are interested in being part of that working group, then please let Catherine know as soon as possible – no technical expertise required! (but if you have it, then…).
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Social
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Thanks to Allison for organising the Ceilidh in January – those who went had a thoroughly good evening and splendid fish and chips!
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You will have spotted that Tim has kindly offered to host a Summer social event on 5 July; arrangements are being finalised and will be sent out in good time. I hope that all HTC members will be looking forward to attending – there may be singing, but there will definitely be food, drink, and good company!
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Looking further forward to a Christmas social event. Allison has had feedback that the ‘mass event’ at the Majestic Hotel in 2023 wasn’t popular with many members (eg ‘too loud’, ‘too many drunks’) – our 2024 event was, of course, the Ceilidh.
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It may be that a communal meal, in one of the many (quiet) restaurants in Harrogate, whilst not exclusive, would be less noisy and more popular. There would be no dancing (a relief for many perhaps?) and more conversation – and, dare I say it, better food than at a hotel venue.
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If you have a view about this, or another idea for a Christmas event, please let Allison know and we can work on possible venues.
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Hoodies!
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I hope that you have all seen that your Committee is wearing the new HTC hoodie and we are all available for ’sizing’ opportunities, should you be unsure which you might need when you order one.
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I have revisited the sizing and can now offer XS to XXL – if you haven’t ordered one yet then I am aiming to send off an order on 10 March. At £31.20 each I think they are ‘competitively priced’ so what’s not to like – let’s help raise awareness of our wonderful Choir, especially if we are going to sing further afield (see above).
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I am grateful to my fellow Committee members for the work which they put in to make sure that HTC runs effectively and efficiently. We are meeting once a term at the moment, with an additional concert-planning meeting occasionally so it’s not a question of meetings after meetings!
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We would welcome an additional Committee member who would manage our Social Media, in the first instance, possibly with a view to allowing Gerry to stand down in due course after her gargantuan efforts since the lockdown. Please let any Committee member know if that’s your strong suit.
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Finally ....
And that’s it, folks – off to practise!!
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