December is normally a very busy time for Women of Note, with numerous carol concerts and performances to raise money for our chosen charity. Sadly since March 2020 we have managed just a few socially-distanced rehearsals in a COVID-secure venue, supplemented by regular online Zoom sessions which have been productive and fun but, as any choir will tell you, deeply unsatisfying in terms of actually singing together.
We are most grateful to our MD Cara Barseghian and accompanist Zhanna Kemp for the extra work they have put in to make the Zoom sessions happen, and to Cath OddHayward for sourcing and securing a suitable COVID-secure venue and Max Stoddart for putting in place the necessary risk assessments.
Although we were unable to perform our usual Christmas charity concert, as this season of goodwill draws to a close we would like to invite our friends and supporters to make a donation to the local domestic abuse charity we are supporting: Rise, an independent, Brighton-based registered charity that helps people affected by domestic abuse, offering practical help ranging from direct advice to refuge accommodation for those whose lives are at risk.
If you follow the link below you will find out more about how to donate to this wonderful charity whose vital work is needed now more than ever: https://www.riseuk.org.uk/donate
And for those of you missing us, if it’s not too late to be listening to Christmas carols, below are links to Sunday 20 December’s Methodist Circuit Carol Service which we are delighted to report features two carols sung by Women of Note – Angels Divine and Sing we now of Christmas – from our recording session at Northbrook College in March 2020:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1VWolzMd64
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=154673649360068
Our grateful thanks to Cath OddHayward and the Stanford Avenue Methodist Church for including us in their contribution, and to Rebecca & Dan Ferrari for the recording session