Events Archives
Trip to Prague 2004
In December 2004, the choir went on a weekend trip to Prague. We were expecting to sing in a church and in the town square, but little did we know how splendid a setting it was to be!
We sang in The Church of St. Nicholas within the Old Town Square which was surrounded by the stalls of the Christmas Market and the atmosphere was electric - a real sense of the Christmas spirit.
The Church of St. Nicholas is one of the oldest churches in the old town and is mentioned in sources as early as 1273. Within the church are numerous ornate statues and frescos, and the main chandelier is in the shape of the Czar’s crown and weighs 1400 kg!
I think the majority of the choir members were overcome with emotion on entering the church, and found it hard to believe we were to sing here. If you ever visit Prague, please make sure you visit this church and admire its splendour.
The concert was much appreciated by our choir supporters from England, the regular congregation as well as many tourists who happened to enter the church during the concert and found it hard to leave.
Following the organised concert in the church, we also had a chance to sing within the Old Town Square for the market shoppers. This again was an emotional experience as the locals and tourists were very appreciative.
During the weekend, we went on an organised tour of Prague as well as many opportunities for what ladies do best – shopping! The choir hopes to organise regular trips like this but perhaps somewhere a little warmer next time!
The Church of St. Nicholas, Old Town Square, Prague.
The Fountain within the Castle Walls –
apparently wine used to flow through this fountain!
The Clock in Old Town Square.
The Church Window within the Castle Walls.
The Choir in Concert in The Church of St. Nicholas.
The Choir preparing to sing in the Old Town Square.
The Choir still preparing to sing in the Old Town Square!
The Church of St. Nicholas within the Market Square
which is surrounded by Christmas Stalls.
Concert Archives
Saturday, 5 July 2008 Joint Concert with BMVC and Witzenhausen Venue: St Andrews Methodist Church, Filton. Time: 7.30 pm. Tickets: To be announced. Saturday, 28 June 2008 Annual Concert
Venue: Horfield URC, Bristol.
Time: 7.30 pm.
Tickets: To be announced.
Saturday, 7 June 2008
Chipping Sodbury Concert
Venue: Chipping Sodbury Town Hall.
Time: To be announced.
Tickets: To be announced.
Sunday, 11 May 2007
Warmley Concert
Venue: Warmley Community Centre, Bristol.
Time: To be announced.
Tickets: To be announced.
Saturday, 5 April 2008
National Association of Choirs (NAC) Concert
Venue: Clifton Cathedral.
Time: To be announced.
Tickets: To be announced.
Venue: Brecon Cathedral.
Time: To be announced.
Tickets: To be announced.
23 February 2008
Shrewsbury Concert with One Accord
Venue: To be announced.
Time: To be announced.
Tickets: To be announced.
Friday, 14 December 2007
Christmas Concert with The Tynings School Choir
Venue: Horfield URC, Bristol.
Time: 7.00 pm.
Saturday, 17 November 2007
Concert with Byron Jones
Venue: Eden Grove Methodist Church.
Time: 7.30 pm.
Tickets: £7.
Saturday, 13 October 2007
Charity Concert in support of Bristol MusicSpace
Venue: Horfield URC, Muller Road, Bristol.
Time: 7.30 pm.
Tickets: £6 (children with an adult free).
Saturday, 15 September 2007
Concert with the Oldland Brass Quartet
Venue: United Church, Longwell Green.
Time: 7.30 pm.
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Lunchtime Concert at Temple Quay
Venue: Temple Quay.
Time: 12.30 pm.
Saturday, 21 July 2007
Joint Concert with the Basingstoke Choir
Venue: Basingstoke.
Time: 7.30 pm.
Tickets: Available at the door.
Saturday, 23 June 2007
New Harmony Ladies Choir Annual Concert
Venue: Horfield URC, Bristol.
Time: 7.30 pm.
Tickets: £6 (tickets available at the door).
Saturday, 28 April 2007
North Devon Festival of Choirs
Venue: Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe, Devon.
Time: 7.00 pm.
Tickets: To be announced.
Saturday, 21 April 2007
Joint Concert with the Churchdown Male Voice Choir
Venue: Churchdown Community Centre,
Parton Road, Churchdown, Glos GL3 2JH.
Time: 7.30 pm.
Tickets: £6 from Colin Acton (01452) 714360.
http://www.churchdownmvc.com/index.php
In aid of CMT United Kingdom supporting Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy.
Saturday, 10 March 2007
Joint Concert with the Alfreton Ladies Choir
Venue: Kingswood Congregational Church.
Time: 7.30 pm.
Tickets: £5 (children with adults free).
http://www.alfreton-ladies-choir.co.uk/
Saturday, 3 February 2007
Pensford Concert
Venue: Publow Church, Pensford.
Time: 7.30 for 8.00 pm.
Tickets: £6.
Saturday, 16 December 2006
Christmas Concert with Children from Tynings School
Venue: Horfield United Reformed Church, Bristol.
Time: 7.00 pm.
Tickets: £2.00 (children with an adult FREE).
Saturday, 2 December 2006
SS Great Britain Victorian Fair/Banquet Concert
Venue: SS Great Britain, Bristol.
Time: 1.00 and 2.30 pm.
http://www.ssgreatbritain.org/
Saturday, 25 November 2006
Joint Concert with the Merthyr Ladies Choir
Venue: St Mary's Church, Thornbury, Bristol.
Time: 7.30 pm.
Saturday, 14 October 2006
Kingswood Concert
Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Kingswood, Bristol.
Time: 7.30 pm.
Tickets: Donations to the Holy Trinity Church Restoration Fund.
Saturday, 30 September 2006
Hammer Out Charity Concert
Venue: Thornbury URC.
Time: 7.30 pm.
Tickets: £5 (Children with an adult - free).
Friday, 18 August 2006
Joint Concert with the Kidderminster Valentines Ladies Choir
Venue: St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Embleton Road, Southmead, Bristol BS10 6DS.
Time: 7.30 pm.
Tickets: £4.
Saturday, 24 June 2006
New Harmony Ladies Choir Annual Concert
with Guest Soloist, Richard Harris, Trumpet
Venue: Horfield URC, Bristol.
Time: 7.30 pm.
Tickets: £5 (children with an adult - free).
Saturday, 17 June 2006
Gala Concert with Aled Jones and the Llanelli and Bristol Male Voice Choirs in aid of BRACE Alzheimer's Research
Venue: Colston Hall, Bristol.
Time: 7.30 pm.
Tickets: £15 (Group discounts available).
Contact the BRACE Appeal Office (0117 9754831) or The Colston Hall (0117 9223683).
Saturday, 20 May 2006
Trinity-Henleaze URC Spring Concert
Venue: Trinity-Henleaze URC, Waterford Road,
Henleaze, Bristol.
Time: 7.30 pm.
Tickets: £6 at the door or contact Julie 9620218 or Anna 9402577.
Notes: All monies raised for the 'Church Building Improvement Fund'.
Saturday, 29 April 2006
Singing at the North Devon Festival of Choirs
Venue: Queen's Theatre, Barnstaple, Devon.
Time: 7.00 pm.
Tickets: Contact Queen's Theatre
01271 324242 (enquiries)
01271 324242 (box office)
http://www.northdevontheatres.org.uk/index.html
Previous Musical Directors
2000-2006 Elaine Smith 1994-2000 Morris Pearson
Previous Accompanists
2000-2004 Fiona Seath
1994-2000 Elaine Smith
Elaine Smith, Musical Director
Elaine was born in Taunton and began learning to play piano when she was seven, later taking up the violin at the ripe old age of eleven. Her family moved to Cornwall where she quickly became involved with the local music scene - joining the St. Austell Orchestra, the Cornwall Symphony Orchestra, and accompanying local choirs and music students.
Her piano teaching career began whilst still a student at the Trinity College of Music, London, where she studied piano with Rucky van Mill and violin with Vera Cantor. Graduating with teaching qualifications in both piano and violin, she was awarded the Maud Seaton Prize for piano playing. Whilst in London, she was in great demand as an accompanist for choirs and soloists.
In 1967, she moved to Bristol where she taught music at a comprehensive school for a short time before taking up private piano tuition followed by twelve years teaching music at St. Christopher’s School, Westbury Park and three years at Bristol Waldorf School.
A move to Chipping Sodbury prompted an interest in local music, and she joined the Sodbury Vale Operatic Society and Parnall’s Male Voice Choir as accompanist. Later, she filled the same role with various choirs and operatic societies such as Northavon Singers, Western Opera Players, and Avon & Somerset Constabulary Choir. As an accompanist, Elaine has travelled to many countries including Canada, Germany, Holland, Poland and New Zealand.
EIaine first joined the New Harmony Ladies Choir as accompanist in the early 1990s. In 1998, she was appointed Deputy Musical Director and served the choir well during the illness of our late Musical Director, Morris Pearson. She was appointed Musical Director in 2000.