I don't normally resort to writing circular type letters, but as we've achieved so much during the last year, and there are services and other events still to do before Christmas so I'd  like to include as many people as possible so you all know what's happening.

First of all, can I thank everybody who has been involved with us over the last 12 months, whether as a singer, supporter, provided information or helped in any other capacity, particularly the clergy & parishioners of the churches where we have sung, and made us feel most welcome.

We've sung in 6 churches (1 Anglican, 5 Catholic) throughout Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire & County Durham. In addition, the Schola Cantorum have sung Chant, both Gregorian and Byzantine mainly with the main choir, but also by ourselves in Allerton Bywater, Barnard Castle, and most notably, with the chanters of the Greek Orthodox Church in Harehills, Leeds!

We have been invited back to every church we've been to. This is great, but the obvious problem is finding mutually convenient dates both for the church and for us so that we get enough singers to do justice to whichever event we've been invited to.

Fr Bill East did suggest a Byrd Mass - complete with Byrd Propers. Other events for 2005 onwards could include a choral Eastern-Rite Liturgy as I'm determined to get the choir involved in one at some stage. What we do have for the remainder of this year are the following events:

2nd October 2004. Solemn Mass [High?] for the Feast of the Guardian Angels - Holy Souls Church, Scunthorpe.
Music to include Byrd 4, the chant Proper for the Feast and appropriate polyphonic motets.

13th November 2004. Solemn Requiem Mass. Church of St John the Evangelist, Allerton Bywater.
This is part of the Parish's Golden Jubilee events, and may take the place of the vigil Mass that day. I don't yet know which setting we shall use - either Morales or Victoria a 4, but I do know that numbers will have to be restricted to at most 2 voices per part, due to the size of the building. If, as expected, it is the Vigil Mass [the day before Remembrance Sunday] it's likely to be quite crowded, hence the need for a smaller group!

27th and/or 28th November 2004 Carol Singing at the National Railway Museum!

I don't know who it was [if it was one of you - thank you!] but someone gave my name as a contact for the choir to the Programmes Manager of the NRM, who then approached me wanting to book us to sing at various times during their Edwardian Weekend at the end of November. I'm meeting him in September, when I shall have further details for those who are available to sing, but the gist of it is Carol Singing in the Main Hall by the Christmas Tree. There is money involved, which will help swell our new bank account!

18th December 2004.
Traditional Service of Lessons and Carols. All Saints' Church, North Street, York.
Our first Carol Service in an Anglican church, which may give us an opportunity to sing one or two different things.

In addition to the above services/events involving the full choir, the Schola Cantorum from September onwards will sing on the third Sunday of each month at Allerton Bywater. New and existing members are always welcome to join us.

If any of you want to sing [it doesn't matter if you haven't sung with us before - there's always a first time!] for any of the above events, please let me know. Bear in mind numbers for the Requiem at Allerton Bywater are strictly limited.....

I hope to hear from you soon.

Mike