Glenlough Community Choir Annual report 2022-23
The committee, Chairperson-Elizabeth Anne Wasson, Secretary, Ann Tyler, Treasurer Jimmy O'Neill, Kate Semple and Rosie O'Neill and the Music Director, Anne Mc Cambridge have met on 9 occasions on Zoom over the last year in a very busy and productive year. This is a brief summary of activities which the Music Director will describe in more detail in her report.
Representatives of the committee attended a North Antrim Community Network event at Tullyglass Hotel. A stall was set up with fliers about the choir and also advertising the forthcoming Christmas concert and pick me up choirs. Plans are being made to attend a similar event in November 2023
General housekeeping
3 committee members attended a course on Safeguarding Children and Adults at risk at the Larne community cluster group. Policies on the safe handling, storage retention and disposal of disclosure information and on the recruitment of ex-offenders were adopted and Access NI was obtained through 'Volunteer now' obtained for the Music director.
Events
Plans were made to hold a Christmas concert in Glenarm Church of Ireland in 2022. The event was well received by members of the community and resulted in more members joining the choir in January2023. More details are available from the Music Director's report.
Preparations were made for the choir to perform in Ballyeaston in February2023 and another concert to be used as a fund raiser in the Glenlough Community Centre on 10[th] June. The latter also included a raffle and tombola with donations from individuals and local businesses. The success of this concert also resulted in more members joining the choir and also receiving invites for the choir to perform elsewhere in the future.
Funding was obtained from the Arts Council/Lottery fund to run the Christmas concert, pick me up choirs and the singing day in Larne in April 2023
Taster sessions for the pick me up choirs were run and pick me up choirs commenced in Carnlough, Glenarm, Broughshane and Ballygally. A singing day was held in the Market yard in Larne. (Further details from the Music director's
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report). On the back of the success of this project, another grant request was submitted to the Arts Council by Anne Mc Cambridge for a similar project in early 2024 culminating with a singing day in the Braid centre in April 2024. This grant has been approved. Plans are already underway to book venues.
Plans were made to attend and perform at Every Voice Festival in Londonderry on 17[th] June 2023. An enjoyable day of workshops, singing and performing was had by all.
End of term social evening was held on 22nd June at the Twilight.
Future plans
The choir has been invited to perform at a concert in Craigyhill, Larne on the 14th October2023 and in Killead near Crumlin in November 2023 The Community Carol service is to be held in Carnlough on the 10[th] December at the Church of Ireland. A Christmas concert is planned for the 16[th] December 2023 in Glenarm. A Summer Concert is in the early stages of planning for June 2024 in Carnlough.
Membership
Choir Membership has increased as a result of this year's varied and successful activities, the concerts and pick me up choirs. The numbers are now more than in pre -covid times although the choir at that stage was very much in its infancy. This is very promising for the development of the choir in the future and for planning other events and collaborating with other music groups.
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