UP CLOSE in Oakham: Rutland Choral Society

Rutland Choral Society is rehearsing for its first public performance since before the pandemic.

The group will be putting on a show for Oakham Town Council in Cutts Close on Sunday August 1, their first since December 2019.

Society chair Judy Ford told Nub News Rutland Choral Society registered as a charity in 1971 but had operated many years in Oakham before then.

"We are 50 years old this year and had planned a special celebration, but that has now been put back to May 2022. More details will follow.

"We have approximately 72 registered members, but a core group of about 45,

although currently, because of Covid, we are down to about 30.

"Our music is varied, ranging from choral music, both sacred and secular, whole works as well as light classical and popular numbers.

"Our age group is also varied – any age from 18 to 96 – even younger with a parent member, but we also have a Safeguarding Officer if parents cannot be available."

Over the years, the society has been able to perform at top venues around the country, making its members feel very proud and special.

Judy continued: "We have the fabulous and inspirational Caroline Trutz as our Musical Director and Paul Butler as our accompanist."

Oakham-based Caroline learnt to sing in London and sings soprano. She also

is a tutor at the University of Nottingham, and is a member of the Incorporated Society of Musicians.

Paul Butler has a long and established reputation for playing the organ piano in Rutland.

With such talent, the Rutland Choral Society has sung at the Roundhouse in London and Peterborough Cathedral.

Judy continued: "We have been lucky enough to have had a work especially written for us and we gave a world premier performance!"

This took place at All Saints Church, Oakham, in April 2019.

However, the pandemic and its three lockdowns made life tough for this and other musical groups.

Fortunately, thanks to Caroline, the Rutland Choral Society was able to be one of the only choirs in the area that continued rehearsing via Zoom.

Judy said: "We have had no breaks and although singing on your own in the kitchen is not quite the same as with our choir colleagues, it has enabled us to keep our voices going.

"We had a general number of about 25 each session – every week without fail and it was just great to see the faces, even though we couldn't hear the voices."

When England reached Step 3 of the third lockdown on May 17, the society was able to get back together and meet outside, which it did.

Judy said: "We have had to change our venue in order to accommodate the social distancing requirements and we now rehearse every Monday evening at the Rutland Showground.

"It's brilliant and it only rained one night! But we kept going!! And we are constantly reviewing our risk assessment to take account of all the changes."

Now, Oakham Town Council has requested the society gives its first concert since December 2019 on Sunday August 1.

Judy said: "We cannot wait – it is entitled "Singing Again" which is so appropriate and we have decided on a light-hearted and emotional variety of music and songs from our repertoire including a piece from Les Mis, a South Pacific Medley and some Bob Chilcott pieces."

There will, of course, be other performances to follow, assuming there are no further lockdowns.

Judy said: "Our next concert, all being well, will be at Christmas in All Saints Church on Saturday 11 December, the following one will be Spring with the venue to be decided, and finally a summer concert which will take place at the Showground."

And if this sound like it might be for you, the Rutland Choral Society is always looking for new members.

Judy continued: ""No auditions are required – people just need to enjoy singing – we are all-inclusive and attract members from within the county and beyond.

"We are incredibly friendly and sociable – all our concerts are followed by a party for choir, audience and all concerned.

"New Year is celebrated with a choir dinner to which all non-singing partners are invited and in the summer, we enjoy a wonderful happy social evening, where those members brave enough perform solos, duets, poems, juggling or whatever party piece they may wish to show off to their friends."

Judy added: "Finally, singing helps forge social bonds and acts as an excellent icebreaker. Music making creates a strong sense of well-being, both physically and mentally and the feeling of achievement of collective endeavour after an event, be it rehearsal or performance, is tremendous, given the human need for belonging and union."

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