It may seem like only yesterday that @RUDDINGTON_info Tweeted out an invitation to join a brand new village choir – but it was actually way back in February 2012! This month is the tenth anniversary of Ruddington Community Choir‘s very first workshop.
The lovely, musical milestone was celebrated by its current members this week during their usual Tuesday evening rehearsal at Ruddington Methodist Church. Half an hour of singing their current songs was followed by reminiscing, cutting a specially made cake and plenty of tea and coffee. Then they finished up by singing some of the songs they performed a decade ago – and one or two may even have been spotted afterwards at at the pub?!
So how did it all start?
“I was coming to the end of a 30-year career as a secondary school music teacher and looking for a new challenge that would involve my love of music in general and singing in particular” explains Ruddington Community Choir’s founder, Bernie Bracha. “At that time most choirs were choral societies who performed quite serious classical or sacred music – very different to the pop songs I taught to my students. Then along came Gareth Malone who showed us that adult choirs can be fun and rewarding for all, regardless of experience or background. A chance conversation with Cathy Troupe, a work colleague who lived in Ruddington, led to her persuading me that the village was the ideal place to set up a choir so, in March 2012, that’s exactly what I did, with Cathy supporting me all the way!”
They started off with a workshop and an informal concert: “I made it clear right from the start in my marketing – in the Parish Council newsletter and on Sarah Julian’s show on BBC Radio Nottingham – that the choir was open to everyone, regardless of experience, ability or confidence. There are no auditions and members don’t have to be able to read music. I was supported by friends, family and some of my students who came along to join the brave people from Ruddington, making up a choir of around 30 singers. Ten days later we launched officially – and had around 50 people at our first session!”
Bernie attributes the choir’s popularity to a more ‘accessible’ repertoire for both its members and its audience. “We sing a huge variety of songs – pop, folk, gospel and musical theatre and anything else that we like the sound of.” She says there have been plenty of highlights since 2012:
- Our visits to Grenay to perform with Harmonie de Grenay and their visit to us
- Singing the Vivaldi Gloria – our only foray into classical music – in a choir of 1000 singers accompanied by an orchestra at Bolton’s Victoria Hall
- Singing with operatic boy band Blake in the pouring rain in the Best of British Picnic and Concert – our biggest ever audience (not that they were there to see us!)
- Singing at weddings – in fact we’re singing at the wedding of two of our members in just a few weeks
- Singing on the pitch at the Olympic Stadium before an England Rugby League match
- Recording the Ruddington Traders’ Christmas Song
- Concerts galore, including on a singing Christmas Tree!
Not only that, but they have twice hosted ‘The Big Sing’ (slideshow above) a major choirs festival they organised in our village in both 2016 and 2018. Bernie points out: “Most of our performances are in Ruddington and we love being able to support the community.”
Even during the COVID-19 pandemic the Ruddington Community Choir found a way to continue: “Within two weeks of ‘lockdown’ starting we were singing on Zoom, which was different but OK, and a bit of a lifeline and link to normality for all of us.” Being online even meant that one of their original choir members Maria, who now lives in Cumbria, could join in again for a while.
“Towards the end of the restrictions, we held our rehearsals in my garden which was great fun and eventually we got back into the venue last summer, with masks, social distancing etc etc in place to keep us safe” adds Bernie.
She says things are largely back to ‘normal’ now – with 45 current members – albeit not everyone has restarted yet. “We have gained some lovely new members since we returned, though, and I think all of us are really appreciating the many benefits that come from singing with a like-minded group of people.”
There’s certainly plenty for both choir members and the Ruddington public to look forward to in 2022:-
- Ruddington’s ‘Queen’s Platinum Jubilee’ celebrations on June 2nd
- Ruddington ‘Open Gardens’ at the Methodist Church on the 2nd or 3rd of July (to be confirmed shortly)
- A summer concert in Ruddington Methodist Church (date to be confirmed very soon)
But what about another ‘Big Sing’?
“Funny you should ask!” responds Bernie. “We’re hoping ‘The Big Sing’ will return in the autumn this year. We’re just waiting for a couple of our venues to confirm their availability and then it’s all systems go! We have some fabulous workshop leaders lined up.”
Remember you read about this first at RUDDINGTON.info!
In the meantime, Ruddington Community Choir is always on the lookout for new members. Although the proportion of men in the choir is increasing, Bernie says they’re still in need of more male singers – however both men and women are most welcome.
Meetings/rehearsals are held Tuesdays at Ruddington Methodist Church, from 8.00 to 9.30pm. You can check on specific dates >>HERE<<. More information can also be found at https://brachamusic.co.uk/ruddington where prospective new members can also sign up for a free taster session.
Happy tenth birthday to Ruddington Community Choir!
