Dear all

Please note that there is no rehearsal next Monday, 16 February (half term week).  If you can rehearse on your own, please use these rehearsal websites here: https://www.thornburychoralsociety.org.uk/dbpage.php?pg=view&dbase=rep&id=86.

Jos has asked me to give you the following information about the Big Sing Workshop:

"There will be a bus available to take singers to the April 11th Workshop at The Crypt School, Gloucester, This will be run by Mike's Travel and will leave from the Aldi bus stop at 08.45 and leave Gloucester at 16.15 on  the return. The cost will be £16 and a booking list will be on the check-in desk at TCS rehearsals.

The works to be studied at the Workshop are the Bruckner Te Deum and Mahler's Das klagende Lied and Workshop places can be booked from Jos Gregson or online at www.bigsing.org. Adrian Partington will be conducting and Steven Kings accompanying."

Further to the petition mentioned in my email last week, perhaps I can clarify the context.  

In Autumn 2025, the UK Government launched a call for submissions to the UK’s first-ever national inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). Also known as Living Heritage, the resulting inventory will help to celebrate cultural traditions and highlight their contribution to communities and the economy. It is the first major step following UK ratification of the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Heritage Minister Baroness Twycross said “Many activities form the rich tapestry of UK culture and identity. These crafts, customs and celebrations are often what makes people feel proud of who they are, where they come from and where they live. They also boost local economies and businesses. Whatever living heritage communities value, we want to hear about it. I encourage people to get together and share their traditions through this national conversation.”

Making Music will be making a submission and their thoughts at the moment are to highlight choral societies, chamber music societies and orchestral societies as three distinct submissions but discussions are ongoing with member groups.  The Cathedral Music Trust's petition which I mentioned last week is advocating that English Sacred Choral Music should be on the UNESCO list and safeguarded as well.  The link to their petition is here: https://www.cathedralmusictrust.org.uk/unesco-living-heritage/, which I encourage you to sign if you can.

Best wishes,
Mike Elcock
Thornbury Choral Society