President Deborah Fern OBE
Sonara is the new name for Alfreton Ladies Choir, an all female, non-audition choir now rehearsing in South Normanton.
News
- Friday 22nd March 2013Event Postponement
The Sonara Singers and Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland Air Ambulance regret to inform guests of the cancellation of the Sonara Concert this evening due to hazardous driving conditions in the Chatsworth area. Arrangements are being made to hold the event at a later date, and all guests will be informed via email next week. Full refunds will be available should the event not go ahead later in the year. We thank you for your patience and understanding.
- Thursday 21st March 2013Snow!
We have just received notification of very heavy snow forecasted for Derbyshire, especially Chatsworth Hall, tomorrow and into Saturday.We are aware of many of our guests travelling from some distance, so a decision will be made tomorrow in conjunction with Chatsworth Hall, the Air Ambulance Service and ourselves.We will do our utmost to notify all our guests as soon as a decision is made at lunchtime, 22nd March.
- Tuesday 19th February 2013Charity Concert
We are delighted to invite you to a charity concert at Chatsworth on the 22nd March 2013 in aid of the East Midlands Air Ambulance. The event will be held in the Painted Hall and tickets are available at £20 from http:/sonara.eventbrite.co.uk/ The price includes a wine reception.The guest soloist will be the flautist James Wilson.
- Monday 21st January 2013 Cancelled Rehearsal
Due to the poor weather driving conditions that have been widely circulated on the news, we have once again taken the decision to cancel this evening's rehearsal. We look forward to seeing everyone next week, the 28th January.
- Monday 14th January 2013 Rehearsal 14th January
Due to the weather forecast for further snow and ice this evening, the decision has been taken to cancel tonight's rehearsal. Rehearsals will continue as normal next week, 21stJanuary.
- Monday 7th January 2013Welcome to 2013
Welcome to 2013 and a Happy New Year to all choir members, their families and friends of the choir. 2012 finished with a 'sell out' Christmas Concert leaving us all raring to start on our new programme ready for the first concert in February 2013.
Our first meeting is on the 7th January at 7.15 p.m.when we will particularly extend a warm welcome to any new members. We are a non-auditioning choir but we do ensure that new singers are given the support and encouragement to use their voices confidently and participate in all aspects of the choir's busy programme of events.These include a concert in the prestigious Painted Hall at Chatsworth House in March as well as concerts with the Shrewsbury Male Voice Choir and Rolls Royce Ladies. For a detailed account of the 2013 programme, please check our web site which is regularly up dated.
- Monday 10th December 2012Christmas Concert
Come and join the ladies in a very special evening of carols and fun on Saturday 15th December at the Postmill Centre, South Normanton. The concert starts at 7.00 p.m.so arrive early to miss the crush in the car park!
After the concert, which mixes the old with the new, enjoy a mince pie and glass of wine to help you recover from all the little, and some not so little, surprises. You can be sure of a very warm welcome and some tickets will be available at the door. Please get in touch with any choir member if you wish to reserve a ticket at the door.
- Monday 24th September 2012T.V. Appearance
As part of our 75th Birthday Celebration, the choir were delighted to be shown performing on Central News. The choir sang throughout as the Chairman, Lorna Brookes, talked about the history of the choir and its changing role whilst M.D. Liz Moulder, highlighted the desire of the choir to perform to their best at all times, and how she tried to help them attain their goal.
The choir, although understandably nervous, thoroughly enjoyed the recording session. We are delighted to announce that you can now see the news item by scrolling down to the 75th Birthday item and then click on 'Play' for a full screening of the recording. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did!
- Friday 24th August 2012Welcome back
M.D Liz Moulder looks forward to welcoming all members of the choir to the first rehearsal of the 2012-2013 season, on Monday, September 3rd at the Post Mill Centre South Normanton, 7.15 p.m.
With many exciting projects already booked such as the weekend away in Bristol performing with the Bristol Male Voice Choir during October; the fast approaching Christmas concerts which are always well attended and ofcourse, another concert in the Painted Hall, Chatsworth, the choir look towards experiencing another busy year.
We also look forward to new members joining us especially at this time of year, so any ladies who enjoy singing, please come along and you will be sure of a warm welcome from all. You can get in contact with either Liz Moulder or Lorna Brookes using the details on the website or just turn up on the night. The repetoire for the coming year includes songs by Adele, Gershwin, Abba, Michael Neaum and Morley to name just a few! So join us for an hour and three quarters of music making to the highest standard but always with an emphasis on enjoyment.
- Saturday 14th July 2012Ripley Music Festival
Sonara Singers were delighted with the success of their final concert for the 2011-2012 season when they joined with the Arioso Piano Trio, for an evening of music making on Friday 13th July as part of the Ripley Music Festival. Compered by Richard Moulder, the evening provided a range of music that encompassed many genres from madrigals to musicals. Our thanks must go to the organisers of the Ripley Music Festival, in particular, Steve Freeborn, for their continued support and the volunteers of St.Mary's Church for their warm welcome.
The choir will now enjoy a well earned rest before beginning rehearsals for the 2012=2013 season on 3rd September at the Post Mill Centre, South Normanton. Anyone who would like to join this very active and well respected choir should contact Lorna Brookes or Liz Moulder. There is no audition. All that is asked for is a love of singing and a willingness to engage in a progtramme of vocal training as part of the rehearsal schedule.
Finally, our thanks to all our audiences who continue to support us and give us such positive feedback from our concerts. We do appreciate you!
- Sunday 1st April 201275th Birthday Party
Sonara Singers will celebrate their 75th birthday in style with a very special party at the Post Mill Centre, South Normanton on 21 April 2012. Tickets are now available but book soon, as we are expecting a bumper audience!
The evening will begin with a tea party to celebrate the choirs formation back in 1936. There will be cake and goodies as well as a few surprises. The guest artist will be the flautist, James Wilson. James has excited our audiences before with his playing, and we are extremely pleased that he can join us.
Planning our celebration has meant some research from which it appears we are the longest serving ladies choir in the East Midlands. With numbers continually growing, we look forward to welcoming you all so we can yet again demonstrate that this choir continues to entertain audiences with a programme that reflects not only our long tradition but also the 21st century.
Tickets are available from any serving choir member or by contacting the Chairman or Musical Director. We look forward to seeing you all there!
- Monday 27th February 2012Celebration Concert
Sonara Singers will celebrate their seventy-fifth birthday with a special concert held at the Postmill Centre, South Normanton, on April 21st 2012. The choir are looking forward to welcoming guests and choir members past and present to share in this special evening.In particular, they would like to invite anyone who has strong connections with the choir, or whose relatives sung with them when they were formerly Alfreton ladies Choir. Please get in touch with the chairman, secretary or M.D. who would also welcome any stories of past glories that perhaps have been lost in the anals of time. It will be an evening to remember!
- Thursday 5th January 2012Happy New Year
A Happy, Healthy and Peaceful New Year to all our family and friends. 2011 was a very successful year for the choir so we look forward to 2012 with even more renewed energy and vigour.
The choir have visits arranged to Shrewsbury, Litchfield and Bristol as well as a special concert in April when we celebrate our 75th birthday.We are also helping to organise the N.A.C. concert in the Darwin Suite, Derby in mid May when we will be joined by the Eastwood Collieries Male Voice Choir and Rolls Royce Ladies as well as others in this grand choral celebration which will raise money for the Royal Derby Hospital.
Our numbers continue to grow, a reflection of the warm welcome, exciting programme and continuing support to vocal technique that the choir offers all its members. All new members will be made most welcome as the choir learns a new programme for 2012 season so please join us as we begin our rehearsals on Monday 10th January, 7.15 p.m. at the Postmill Centre, South Normanton.
- Tuesday 8th November 2011Selston Concert
Sonara Singers are delighted to be performing at St.Helen's Church, Selston on Saturday 12th November. A delightful selection of songs new and old will form the basis of the concet with soloists and narrators introducing a contrast to the performance of this well known and highly respected choir.
All are welcome and tickets can be purchased at the door on Saturday evening. The concert will begin at 7.30 pm. Bring a friend and enjoy a' warm glow' on autumnal November evening.
- Tuesday 6th September 2011Autumn 2011
Welcome back to all our choir members and supporters after the summer break. Our first rehearsal was on Monday 5th September where we began rehearsing for the new concert season with all our choristers,joined by some new members.
Our 2010 -2011 concert season finished with two very succesful concerts. The first was on the 9th July with the Bristol Male Voice Choir at the Postmill Centre, South Normanton. Performing to a packed house, the audience enjoyed a variety of pieces reflecting choral music of all genres. The last concert was on the 15th July for the Ripley Music Festival. This featured the world premiere of a new piece commisioned by the festival for Sonara by the composer, Alex Patterson. 'An Irish Blessing' allows the choir to show its technique of beautiful legato singing for which it is renowned and is the fourth such specially commisioned piece that has been written for the choir.
The new season begins with a very special concert at St.Mary's Church,The Lacemarket, Nottingham on 1st October. The choir will be joined by Eastwood Male Voice Choir and a mixed choir form Worthing. We are looking forward to this new venture and hope to see this unique church filled with an audience who will enjoy a very special concert. Tickets are available from any choir member.
Finally, we are still accepting new members and everyone is welcome to join us. Details of the rehearsal venue and times are posted on the website.
- Wednesday 5th January 2011New Members
A Happy New Year to all our members and supporters. The choir is looking forward to an exciting year which will include many concerts performed with old friends and some exciting new events. Do please check our website regularly for an update.
If you have always wanted to sing in a choir now is the time to join Sonara Singers as we return to rehearsals on Monday, 10th January. You will receive a warm welcome with no formal audition and vocal training incorporated into all rehearsals. All voices are welcome and if you are not sure of your range, you will be encouraged by our conductor Liz to take time and settle into the part most suitable for your voice.
We will be rehearsing our new programme which will include a piece written especially for the ladies. This will have it's premiere at the Ripley Music Festival in July 2011. We are also hosting the Group 10 NAC Concert and performing back at Chatsworth House as well as many performances with both local and nationally renowned male voice choirs.
If you cannot make the first rehearsal, do make contact with any of the officials named on the website. They will be pleased to hear from you, and will make an arrangement best suited to your own requirements. We look forward to hearing from you. Make 2011 the year you started to sing!!
- Tuesday 7th December 2010Renishaw Hall
Due to the continuing adverse road and weather conditions, a decision has been taken to cancel the concert on December 9th at Renishaw Hall. We do hope that we can perform there early in 2011.
We would like to also take this opportunity to wish all our friends and concert goers a Very Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year. Our first concert of 2011 will be on March 12th at Ripley.
- Saturday 4th December 2010All members - Rehearsal Dec 6th
A decision has been taken to cancel the rehearsal on Monday 6th December due to the artic weather conditions. Please wait a further update on the concert at Renishaw Hall which, as we speak,is still due to run. All members will be contacted about rehearsals the following week.
- Saturday 4th December 2010Urgent Concert Update
Due to the extreme weather conditions, a decision has been taken to cancel the Christmas Carol Concert on Friday 10th December at the Post Mill Centre, South Normanton. We appreciate that many of our audience travel a fair distance to attend our concerts, and feel that since the long term weather forecast is not good for the coming week it is better to make an early cancellation rather than a last minute panic decision.
We will hope to have an early Spring Concert instead - a celebration without the carols!!
- Wednesday 1st December 2010Sonara Singers CD
The new CD is finally available and will be on sale priced £10 at all concerts featuring the choir. During the Christmas break there is a special deal offering two CD's for £18, or a special pack including the earlier CD's. These will all make excellent presents for the festive season! Please contact any choir member or the website if you require your own copies and are unable to attend the next few concerts.
- Wednesday 1st December 2010Christmas Concerts
Sonara Singers have a very full Christmas programme which this year begun in November. Concerts for December are as follows.
Storrs Methodist Church, Chesterfield December 3rd. Cancelled due to bad weather conditions.
Renishaw Hall December 9th. An evening of music and carols arranged by the hall in a beautiful setting. A glass of mulled wine greets you on your arrival. Definitely a night to remember! Please book all tickets through the Renishaw Hall website.
Christmas Soiree. December 10th. Post Mill Centre South Normanton. This annual event is always packed to capacity. Join the choir members and their friends for an evening of carols, readings, fun and friendship. All welcome.
- Monday 19th April 2010Chatsworth 2010
Friday the 16th April proved to be an evening to remember for a long time. Members of the Sonara Singers, ably supported by flautist James Wilson, performed an evening of music that reflected the beautiful, balmy spring evening which welcomed the choir and their guests.
Performing in the Painted Hall to a very appreciative audience, the choir sung a variety of pieces which showed the continuing development of their vocal expertise in a programme that went from the haunting music of Kerri Porterfield's 'Kyrie', to the exciting arrangement of a Shaker folk song. Music from the more popular musicals and late 20th century pop scene ensured there was something for everyone.
James Wilson is a young flautist currently on a gap year before studying at a leading music college. He played four contrasting pieces that showed his technical expertise accompanied by Teresa Mills, the choirs excellent accompanist who again showed her musicality and pianistic skills.
The compere for the evening was Mr. Richard Moulder who kept the evening going smoothly with his wit and repartee. The choir raised a total of £2000 for their chosen charity, the Diabetes Centre at the Derby Royal Hospital. Unfortunately, due to staff illness no-one from the unit was able to attend but there will be a formal presentation at the hospital in early May. The cheque was received on the night by Claire Clarke, daughter of the choir's MD and compere, who has received support and care from the centre in the last few years.
Finally,thanks must be given to all sponsers for their generous support. Also, the team of helpers both from the choir and staff of Chatsworth who helped to make the evening such a success.
- Monday 1st March 2010Forthcoming Concert
Sonara are delighted to announce a joint concert with the Bristol New Harmony Ladies Choir on March 20th, 7.15 p.m. at the Post Mill Centre, South Normanton. Tickets are now available from any choir member or by using the detailed contacts on the website.
This is the third such concert and we are delighted that the choir are once again joining us in an evening of music making. If the last two are anything to go by, it will be indeed be a very enjoyable evening for both the audience and choir members. The compere for the evening will be Mr.Richard Moulder.
- Monday 1st March 2010Recording Session February 2010
Yesterday, forty-seven members of Sonara gathered together with the team from Meadow Farm Recording Studio to record their new CD. Fourteen tracks were successfully recorded through the hard work of Stewart Field, choir members, Teresa Mills our accompanist and the Musical Director, Liz Moulder.
The day long session was helped by the professionalism of choir members and the recording team punctuated by a supply of witty comments and jokes when the going got tough! We look forward to the release of the new CD which incorporates many new numbers from the choirs increasing repetoire.
- Thursday 26th November 2009Carol Concert
Tickets for the choir's annual Carol Concert are now on sale from any of the contacts on the website. The concert is on Friday 11th December, 7.15 p.m. at the Post Mill Centre, South Normanton. The evening of carols, readings and audience participation hopes to also have a special visitor for the young at heart as well as refreshments for all.
- Thursday 26th November 2009Carol Singing at Chatsworth
Choir members are delighted to hear that they have been invited to sing carols at Chatsworth on Sunday 29th November between 11.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m.. Over forty ladies, under the baton of their musical director Liz Moulder, will perform a variety of new and old carols. The christmas festivities at Chatsworth are now world famous with many visitors travelling from far and wide to admire the decorations. The choir hope that their performances throughout late morning and the afternoon will add further enjoyment to creating a christmas atmosphere for all visitors.
- Thursday 15th October 2009Recording
Final arrangments are in hand for a new CD to be released in 2010. As always the choir will be supported by Stewart Field at Meadow Farm Recording Studio, Ripley.
- Wednesday 30th September 2009 Open Evening
Monday 21st September saw the choir enjoy its very first 'Open Evening'at the Post Mill Centre, South Normanton. Extensive advertising was rewarded when twelve ladies joined us for a fun evening of music making.
The Musical Director, Liz, introduced all members to a variety of vocal numbers which could be enjoyed by all. The evening was completed with a cup of tea and a chat where newcomers had the opportunity to speak to longstanding members who answered any questions.
The evening proved a great success with all new participants joining the choir. We wish them a long and happy association with Sonora.
- Tuesday 22nd September 2009Chatsworth 2010
We have finally had confirmation of our date for the charity concert in the Painted Hall at Chatsworth on Friday April 16 2010. Watch this space for further news.
Our chosen charity for this, our third concert at Chatsworth, is the Jenny O'Neil Diabetic Clinic at Derby.