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Holymoorside Village Hall 26th February 2023

Afternoon concert Love is in the Air

 

As part of the Walton and Holymoorside Arts Festival Society

A series of readings and musical pieces on the theme of love

 

Storrs Road Methodist Church - November 2022

 

 

 A thoroughly enjoyable evening, performing with Dronfield Handbell Ringers who performed some beautiful and complex arrangements of a vast range of pieces.  Warmly received by our audience and raising much needed funds for the church.  Our last performance of 2022 was a great success!

 

 

Chesterfield Library - October 2022

 

This picture was taken in the green room just before we went on stage where Minerva Chorus sang for a very appreciative audience in the Library Theatre in Chesterfield.  

 

Holymoorside Village Hall, Chesterfield 18th June 2022.

 Minerva Chorus sang at an event organised by the Walton and Holymoorside arts society on 18th June 2022

A lovely concert themed around Summer and Fathers' Day with readings and a flute duet.

 L to R Lesley, Joan, Sue, Jane, Nicola, Margaret W, Chris Horn, (Musical Director) Viv B, Anne, Jackie, Caroline, Margaret T, Ann

 

Minerva were missing a few members due to illness but those who could make it did us proud.

Click on the links below to listen to recordings of Minerva singing Wonderful World and Over the Rainbow from the concert.

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

Wonderful World

 

Elder Yard Chesterfield 14th May 2022

L to R Lesley, Joan, Nicola, Cynthia, Linda, Margaret W, Viv B, Anne, Caroline, Ann, Viv W, Margaret T directed by Chris Horn.

 

This was our first public performance of the year - a lovely venue, and a very receptive audience.

Our 2 new members Cynthia and Viv performed really well in their concert debut, we also welcomed Joan back to the Minerva fold after a couple of years' break.

Chris provided excellent and clear direction and has really helped the chorus with dynamics and performance.

 

 

Minerva Chorus sang together for the first time this year at St John's Walton at a memorial for our dear friend and much-missed chorus member Lynne Hill.

We sang a specially arranged piece "Skye Boat Song" for our Scottish friend - and songs chosen by her family "May it Be" and "Hallelujah".  Tears of sadness and happiness were shed.  We were honoured to celebrate Lynne's life with music and harmony.

 

 Minerva Chorus singing in our Winter concert November 2021 Holymoorside Village Hall Chesterfield

L to R Sue, Lesley, Linda, Nicola, Caroline, Jackie, Anne, Margaret, Ann - Musical Director Chris Horn

We braved the blizzard conditions to perform at Holymoorside Village Hall for our first post lockdown concert.

Outdoor rehearsal at St Johns Parish Centre Walton Back Lane Chesterfield July 2021

 L to R Gilly, Viv, Helen, Mandy, Margaret T, Bec, Ann, Sue, Margaret W, Lesley, Linda, Jane, Caroline

Minerva Chorus met at our rehearsal venue on 19th July 2021 (freedom day) for the first time since March 2020.

It was an emotional evening, fantastic to see everyone again and, more importantly, to sing together.

 

Lockdown activity

Minerva Chorus have made videos of Somewhere over the Rainbow/Wonderful world  Only You and May it be 

We have just added a new video for Skye Boat Song song to our YouTube channel https://youtu.be/jx-vjlzmqZI

 

Alzheimer's Society Christmas Carol Concert  10th December 2019 Sheffield Cathedral

Minerva sang a selection of Christmas songs for the sell out audience.  Check out our Facebook page to see videos of this event. Minerva Chorus on Facebook

On 3rd December 2019 we performed a medley of winter songs, and a few Christmas carols with family, friends and invited guests at the Staveley Centre.

Concert at Storrs Road Methodist Church 16th November 2019 with Katy Strudwick's young musicians

Successful World Record Attempt for Children in Need 7th November 2019 at Crucible Theatre Sheffield

L to R Caroline, Sue, Linda, Anne, Lynne, Catherine

Concert with Ireland Colliery Band at St John's Church Walton 5th October 2019

Singing in Chesterfield Library 29th June 2019

L to R Nicola, Sue, Lesley, Lynne, Jane, Viv, Mandy, Catherine, Linda, Caroline, Mags, Anne, Anne

Concert 16th June 2019 at Chesterfield Library as part of the Andrew Marples lunchtime concert programme.

 

L to R Lesley, Sue, Margaret T, Nicola, Ann, Viv, Margaret W1, Helen, Nigel Williams (Musical Director), Jane, Lynne, Margaret W2, Linda, Vanessa, Catherine, Mags, Shelly, Caroline

Saturday 23rd March 2019- Concert with Minerva Chorus and Katy Strudwick Flute Ensemble.

Saturday 9th March 2019 at Elder Yard Unitarian Chapel as part of the Andrew Marples lunchtime concert programme.

 

L to R Lesley, Margaret W1, Jane, Helen, Nicola, Linda, Lynne, Margaret W2, Viv, Margaret T, Anne, Catherine, Mags, Caroline, Shelly, Ann, Nigel Williams (Musical Director)

Minerva performed some of their new repertoire items - Danny Boy, 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy) and Scarborough Fair to a very appreciative audience.

Saturday 8th December 2018- Rose Hill URC Chesterfield - with Phoenix Concert Band

 

Saturday  November 17th 2018 Chesterfield Library with Finest Hour and 4 on Demand

 Saturday October 20th– Staveley Speedwell Rooms – 7.30pm   Concert with Ireland Colliery Chesterfield Brass Band and Bella Siempre - listen to our ensemble performance of Danny Boy click here

 

photo Helen Rowan

16th June 2018 Spring Concert at St John's Church, Walton Back Lane along with students of Katie Strudwick to raise funds for the Friends of Somersall Park

 

L to R Nigel, Janeen, Mags, Catherine, Margaret T, Anne, Helen, Ann, Nicola, Margaret W, Claire, Shelly, Viv, Vanessa, Jane, Lynne, Lesley

Photo Helen Rowan

24th March 2018  at Holymoorside URC Church

 

L to R Ann, Margaret T, Lesley, Nicola, Sue, Jane, Margaret W1, Lynne, Viv, Margaret W2 Linda, Helen, Anne, Claire, Vanessa, Catherine, Shelly, Nigel Williams (Musical Director)

17 March 2018  at Elder Yard Unitarian Chapel in Chesterfield

 On 3rd December 2017 we performed a medley of winter songs, and a few Christmas carols with family, friends and invited guests at the Staveley Centre.

 

photo Andrew Allport

11th November 2017 concert at St Peter's Church, Holymoorside 'A Time to Remember', an evening of reflections and remembrance celebrated in word and song.

 2nd July 2017 we sang for family, friends and invited guests at Holymoorside Village Hall

26th November 2016  Winter Mixture, a concert of seasonal songs and readings, as part of Holymoorside Arts Festival.

photo Andrew Allport

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Chorus News

October 2023

Minerva Chorus will be holding a singing workshop on 7th October 2:00 - 5:30pm at Holymoorside Village Hall

See our upcoming events page for more details

August 2023

Minerva Chorus is delighted to have appointed Adam Parrish as our new Musical Director to join us in September 2023.

 

 

 January 2021

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of chorus member Lynne Hill on 3rd January 2021.  Lynne was a much loved, talented and dedicated member of our Chorus, and past committee member.  We will miss her beautiful singing voice, her smile, and her enthusiasm for everything Minerva.  Last year Lynne requested that Anne made a new arrangement of Skye Boat Song for the chorus.  We have now recorded this song and created a video of Skye Boat Song in honour of Lynne.  A donation in her memory has been made to Ashgate Hospice on behalf of Minerva.

December 2020

Congratulations to Jane Ide - our founding member and the first Chair of Minerva who has been awarded an OBE for services to volunteering and charity  in the New Year Honours List 2021

The honour recognises Jane’s work in the voluntary sector as CEO of NAVCA (the National Association for Voluntary and Community Action).  Minerva Chorus would like to offer our congratulations to Jane for this well-deserved recognition of her work with the voluntary sector, in particular co-ordinating the charity sector's response following the Grenfell disaster and more recently the Covid-19 pandemic.  Forming Minerva Chorus wasn't mentioned in the award but if they had known about it she would have got an honour for that too!

 

September 2020

We have made four videos during this time of COVID restrictions and are working on our fifth

May it be by Enya https://youtu.be/yg6lcYKr66Q

Only You https://youtu.be/ro8zAphBwOY

Somewhere over the rainbow/Wonderful world  https://youtu.be/b0iofY5EUXk

Wintertime https://youtu.be/GWxBg0s1rCA

August 2020

Minerva Chorus celebrated their 5th Birthday with a fun evening of Singing, sharing memories, quizzing and other games - all via Zoom.

Here's to another five successful years.

 

 

 

 

September 2019

We are looking for a new musical director.    Sadly Nigel Williams our much loved Musical Director has left us recently.  We are now on the search to find someone to fill his shoes.

If you or anyone you know is passionate about a capella, with experience of directing a chorus and looking for a new challenge please get in touch via our website or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you are interested in finding out more about the role please read the Role Description  If you would like to apply for the position please complete this Application Form

 

 

Support the appeal for a new piano for Chesterfield Library

Donate to the JustGiving page here

Celebration and renewal - a letter from Andrew Marples

Since 1990 anyone has been able to come along and listen to a high-quality Saturday lunchtime concert in Chesterfield Library Theatre. I co-founded them to provide musical performances that were free of charge and at a time of day when transport wouldn't be an issue. All the concerts are organised voluntarily and they run solely on audience donations. No funding of any sort is received. They are well-supported with an average of 100 people coming along each week. I organise 16 concerts a year and have done this for 30 years. To celebrate this, and to ensure the series can continue well into the future, I am raising £9,000 to buy a replacement for the worn-out grand piano in the Theatre.

The piano is used in 80% all of the lunchtime concerts and is a vital community resource - many other groups use it for their events too. Over the years I estimate almost 450 Saturday lunchtime concerts have been performed of every style (classical recitals, choir concerts, jazz sessions, folk groups, orchestras, young performers platforms, etc) using over 5,000 musicians and listened to by close to 50,000 people. They are truly community events and a cultural lifeline for so many people and especially the older generation. Most of the performers are local (within 50 miles) and many have been several times, as they enjoy the experience so much. I have personally performed as pianist, singer or conductor in at least 120 concerts as well as dealing with all the administration and attending physically running every concert. The piano is the centre-piece of the concerts and we can only continue if we have a new instrument. The funds have to be raised by public donations. Please donate to this appeal and secure free music for the future - come to a concert if you are in the area and see what it's all about. Find details of the concerts in Chesterfield library or online at: www.visitchesterfield.info

October 2019 - We are officially Guinness World Record holders!

Caroline, Sue, Linda, Anne, Lynne and Catherine took part in the Guinness World record attempt at relay singing, on 7th November at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield.

Along with 384 Sheffield schoolchildren and other local choirs we successfully set the world record for  the number of people in a singing relay (one word each person, singing four songs).

All in aid of Children in Need.

October 2019 £1,070 raised for Derbyshire Stroke Centre

 Some members of Minerva Chorus and Ireland Colliery Chesterfield Brass Band  presenting a cheque for £1,070 to the Derbyshire Stroke Centre.

  

We have added some new audio clips of our reportoire onto the About Us page here's a taster -

Somewhere over the rainbow

 

We are currently welcoming applications from potential new members, however successful applicants may be placed on a waiting list if we have enough people already singing in that voice part.

Please complete the form on the Contact Us page if you would like to join, or ask us anything about our chorus.

History

The inaugural rehearsal of Minerva Chorus took place at Wadshelf Village Hall in September 2015.

See our calendar pages for details of our forthcoming concerts in 2020

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Upcoming Events

 Come and Join Minerva at our Singing Workshop on Saturday 7th October 2023 from 2 - 5pm

View the virtual performances we created during lockdown on our YouTube Channel

 https://youtu.be/jx-vjlzmqZI

 

Minerva Chorus performs in Spring, Summer, Autumn and at Christmas.  See our calendar page for venue information, timings and how to buy tickets for future performances.

We also take part in fundraising concerts for local charities, and go along to sing for local organisations such as the Dementia Centre in Staveley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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