The Blackbird Leys Choir

25/01/2026

31/07/2025

We are now half way through our summer break, so here is the July newsletter.

Blackbird Leys Choir
6th Monthly newsletter July 2025

Hello Everyone,
I hope you are all having a wonderful summer break! The weather has certainly been in full summer mode, if not a bit challenging at times. Long may it continue just a little cooler!
Our final session of last term was on 7th July when we had some really great singing and said a fond farewell to Malcolm as choir leader. We should say ‘adieu’ really as I am sure we will always be in touch and we send him every good wish for the future.
At this point the choir’s own future is changing again and a new choirmaster must be sought. The committee will hold a meeting soon (TBC) to discuss the arrangements. It is thought that we can continue on our own until Christmas, giving time to advertise and hold the usual auditions to find a replacement. This will also give
us a chance to boost our bank balance a little and we can then start the New Year afresh in enthusiastic anticipation!
It is our custom to hold a summer social for the choir and you may have seen this mentioned on the Whatsapp group. If the weather holds as it appears it may, the suggestion was The Kings Arms at Sandford where we could sit and enjoy an evening
by the river. Any other suggestions gratefully received. Dates of Wednesday 13th or 23rd have been mentioned to kick us off. If you are interested please join a discussion on Whatsapp.
As we are always reaching out to find new voices I noticed that the Macmillan Coffee Morning is coming up on 26th September. I took a look at the site to see if there was anything we might be able to do to engage the community. They do provide packs
for community events and state that although the official date is Friday 26th any day around that time can be used to suit local needs. I would like to suggest that if people are interested we pick Saturday 27th September and do “Choral Coffee”. A coffee
morning sing along with “Open mic.” system for people to sing solo if they want to. We could bake to sell with coffee or tea or soft drink. So a fair bit of work but may be worth a thought. We certainly have a large repertoire which would suit this type of event and would have four weeks to rehearse. We could do a short singing walk about the area to invite people in and ask local shops to donate things like tea, coffee, milk, soft drinks and cakes. This is always assuming the church hall is available (Communi-tea café
closed on Saturday) and members want to commit to such an event. I leave it for consideration.
Finally, we hope those who have been unable to be with us last term for whatever reason, will be returning soon, refreshed and healthy. We miss you all and look forward to seeing your happy faces again.
Next rehearsal will be Monday 1st September - usual time and place.
Best wishes to All – Keep singing!!
Lynn (For BBL Choir)

07/06/2025

The story of the Yew by Sue Feltham, read by Ciaran as the start of Our Stories

11/04/2025

There will be no choir rehearsal this week or next as the choir take their Easter break. Normal meetings will resume on Monday 28th April, so watch this space!
Happy Easter holiday to everyone! See you in two weeks.

23/03/2025

BLACKBIRD LEYS COMMUNITY CHOIR
Monthly newsletter March 2025

Hello Everyone,
It has been quiet since Christmas while we all get back into the swing of the New Year. Membership appears to be a little down probably due to the season and the many viruses about.
On 11th February we sang at a Black History event at Brookes University in Headington. Sadly, we didn’t have time to sing all the songs intended, but those performed were well received and we had some good feedback. All in all, this was a successful exercise.
Our next outing was last Monday (St. Patricks Day) at Isis care home. This was very enjoyable and all residents engaged and were happy despite Ciaran being unable to attend due to illness. We wish him a speedy recovery. The morning event was followed by an Open House Sing-along in the evening instead of usual rehearsal. We had a few visitors and had a very enjoyable evening singing some lovely Irish songs. It has been suggested that we might do this maybe bi-monthly using a new theme each time as a way of engaging the community and hopefully increasing membership. If you have any ideas for this type of evening please make them known either on the choir WhatsApp or at rehearsal.
Don’t forget we are due at Longlands Care Home Balfour Road at 2pm (for 2.30pm) on Thursday. We will do final rehearsal for this on Monday. List of songs will appear on Choir WhatsApp. Looks like there will be about 8 of us which is very good for a weekday afternoon! If you are coming on Thursday please try and make rehearsal on Monday. If you are not signed up to come and now find you are free please come and join us. The residents really love the singing and it is a joy to take part.
We are looking to sing at Cowley Centre on the afternoon of Saturday 10th May as a fundraiser for the Jungle Project. This will feature popular songs, some as choir performance and some join in sing-along for audience participation. Not finalised yet but a potential date for the diary.
Finally, we hope those who have been unable to be with us recently for whatever reason will be returning soon refreshed and healthy. We miss you all and look forward to seeing your happy faces again.
Best wishes to All – Keep singing!!
Lynn
(For BBL Choir)

21/12/2024

BLACKBIRD LEYS CHOIR MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
21st DECEMBER 2024
Hello Everyone,
First of all apologies for being a day late. Yesterday proved to be much busier than expected.
We have had a really busy December with the three performances of Still no room at the Inn at the beginning moving on to the Dialogue Society event and the carol evening at Littlemore church and ending with a really joyful afternoon at Isis care home. All events were successful and very well received by audiences of various sizes and there was a lot of very positive feedback.
The three “No Room” performances were very moving and the atmosphere at each one was amazing. We were all shocked to learn that Lizzie had lost her beloved Mum on the morning of the last performance day and still went on to give her beautiful voice to the event. We are all in empathy Lizzie and I for one will raise a glass to our departed loved ones over Christmas.
The dialogue society event fell right in the middle of storm Darragh and some of us arrived rather damp! It proved to be a lovely evening though with very good feedback and exceptional hospitality.
Littlemore church carol evening was also a joy to attend. We sang two carols and joined in with all the great communal singing. My own abiding memory will be the Glockenspielists of the Air Cadets playing Carol of the Bells which was mesmerising.
Only five of us managed to get to the Isis care home on Thursday, but despite a hic up involving a virus outbreak at sister home Longlands which meant that Nikky could not attend (Safety regulations) it was a joyful afternoon enjoyed by residents and choir alike. Macolm manfully took on the entire piano playing which everyone appreciated.
Thank you to everyone who has attended these events this is what keeps the choir going and brings us to the attention of potential new members. Huge thanks also to Malcolm who has worked so hard to carry us through everything successfully.
So, we move on to a New Year. The Chair of your Committee (Janice) wants me to announce our Annual General Meeting which will be held at 7pm on Monday 13th January 2025 in the usual rehearsal room. Please, please do try to attend as this is how the choir functions and your views are very much needed and extremely important. An agenda will be sent out in advance, so everyone knows what is happening. Janice has expressed her intention to stand down so a new Chair will be elected. Historically the meeting doesn’t take too long so I’m sure we shall manage to do some singing as well.
All that remains is to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - keep singing!

Lynn
For BBL Choir.