Singers
ADMS welcomes new singers! We don’t audition but ask you to just come along and see how you fit in. Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings between September and June, except half terms and the Thursday following a concert.
Each year, the society performs two concerts with mixed choral and orchestral works, a purely orchestral concert, a choral concert (sometimes with a smaller orchestra) and a light-hearted charity Christmas concert. In previous years, the Christmas concert has alternated between using the full orchestra and a chamber group.
Currently we particularly welcome tenor voices.
If you are interested in joining the choir please contact:
>> Victoria Adams.
For other enquiries, please contact the Vice Chair of the choir:
>> Pen Gresford.
For details about subscriptions, see membership information section below.
Rehearsal venue
The Manor Preparatory School, Faringdon Road, Abingdon OX13 6LN
Rehearsals – Thursdays 19.30 to 21.30
The choir usually meets every Thursday from the beginning of September to the June concert, with the exception of the Christmas / new year break and Maundy Thursday.
Health precautions:
– Please do not attend if ill (Covid or any other illness).
– If you have symptoms that could be Covid then please test and, if positive, stay away until you receive a negative test.
– Masks remain at members’ discretion.
– Ensuring good ventilation remains an important part of our precautions.
| Date | Venue | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Sat 8 Jun | St Helens Church | 19.30 Combined choir and orchestra OPERA GALA – Verdi, Puccini, Leoncavello, Bellini |
| Thu 5 Sep | Manor Prep | First rehearsal of autumn term. Welcome to new accompanist Michiyo Machida |
| Mon 9 Sep | Manor Prep | AGM |
| Thu 12 Sep | Trinity Church | Conduit Road, Abingdon |
| Thu 19 Sep | Manor Prep | |
| … | ||
| Sat 16 Nov | St Helens Church | 14.30 rehearsal, 19.30 concert |
| … | ||
| Sun 15 Dec | St Helens Church | ## rehearsal, 16.00 concert |
The choir ladies are wearing coloured tops and the gents are wearing coloured bowties, white shirts and DJs.
Xmas concert dress (men and women): black bottom and single colour top (not black or white)
Other concert dress: Ladies: All black, 3/4 or long sleeves, skirt or trousers. Gentlemen: DJs, white shirt and black bow tie.
Future programmes
>> Proposed future programmes (home + concerts page)
Membership information
Subscriptions 2023-24
Prospective new members are welcome to attend for a trial period of up to one month before subscriptions are due. Subscriptions can be paid annually or termly. The subscription rate for the whole year is £170 or £160 if paid in full before the November concert. For those who prefer to pay in instalments the rates are as follows:
| Term | Term start date | Term end date | Subscription |
| Autumn | First rehearsal in September | Christmas concert | £65 |
| Spring | First rehearsal in January | March concert | £55 |
| Summer | First rehearsal after March concert | June concert | £50 |
Concessions:
- New members (i.e. those who have never in the past been ADMS members) receive a £20 reduction on their first payment
- Student rate is £5 per term
- Under 30s receive a 50% discount
- In cases of financial hardship, members are invited to discuss their situation in confidence with the treasurer.
Constitution
Members are entitled to take part in all of the Society’s activities and are expected to abide by the Society’s Constitution.
>> Constitution (May 2022)
Prospective new members are asked to complete the combined application / Gift aid form and return to choir membership secretary Victoria Adams (soprano).
>> Membership application and Gift Aid form (September 2022)
Method of payment
The preferred method of payment is by direct credit transfer to the ADMS bank account. Please contact Victoria Adams for the account number and sort code. Please email Treasurer Tim Budd () to advise him of this transaction. He will send an acknowledgement to verify the payment.
Alternatively payment may be made by cheque payable to “Abingdon & District Musical Society” and handed to to Victoria Adams during an evening rehearsal, or by post to Tim Budd, 12 Kingfisher Close, Abingdon OX14 5NP.
Data protection
New members please note that the Society needs to keep records and for this reason it maintains computer spreadsheets of members’ details, and a Google Groups emailing list. The Society regards this information as confidential and for its own administration purposes only. If your application for membership is accepted, your details will be added to these spreadsheets but not used or distributed externally. If this is not acceptable to you, please discuss with an officer of the Society.