Meetings
For details of the 2007 Carol concerts at Bower click here
Club meetings are aimed at enjoying the art of singing. We try for some singing at every meeting, even those which feature guest speakers or choirs. Canta Cathenesia members choose what they will sing at future meetings and arrange between them which members want to form the group that will sing the piece. In all cases, the aim is for tonal and harmonic perfection which is near-impossible but a fine objective! For most singing, all members, whether full or associate are welcome to attend, but if it is intended to perform the piece publicly, only full members will be invited to perform, even though associate members can attend the rehearsals. However, just occasionally, we might decide to admit associate members to public performances, it depends on the piece, the performance and providing the public expectation.
Caithness, however, is a big county with a small population and singers we have so far spoken to tell us that travelling to a central meeting point is not practical for everyone. Therefore, Canta Cathenesia will have a number of singing 'groups' - local meetings that may have a handful of members. Every member, whether a Full Member or an Associate Member can attend any group meeting but should let the Group Coordinator (see below) know beforehand in case the local group has organised refreshments or - regrettably - has to cancel a meeting for whatever reason.
When a major work is to be undertaken (e.g. something by Verdi or Handel that demands a large chorus), local Groups might want to learn the various pieces in their Groups and we will all come together on a future date to sing the piece as an ensemble. Imagine the sound made by eighty or hundred voices from around the county!
Group meetings will be held in the following locations (Group Coordinator and telephone number/email address in brackets - where Vacancy, please contact the Secretary on 0845 241 8780 or secretary@cantacathenesia.org)
Bower (Mr Tony Hagon 0845 241 8780/tony.hagon@cantacathenesia.org)
Canisbay (Vacancy)
Castletown (Vacancy)
Halkirk (Vacancy)
Keiss (Vacancy)
Lybster (Vacancy)
Thurso (Vacancy)
Watten (Vacancy)
Wick (Vacancy)
If you are interested in coordinating a group please contact the Secretary.
Scratch singing meetings are regularly held to learn to sing a piece from scratch and may end with a public performance. Usually, these meetings will be all day affairs, normally in Thurso or Wick, taking a piece of music and learning the whole thing in one day! Regular breaks for refreshments aim to prevent straining the voice, and recitals of other choirs singing the piece concerned enable Canta Cathenesia members to judge how the piece is sung.
Members can elect to meet together regularly to rehearse a piece for a forthcoming public performance, and every assistance is given by the club to facilitate their meetings and publish details of the concert.