On April 23rd 35 of us, 'The Aylesbury Choral Society Chamber Choir', met to begin rehearsals for the summer concert. We were to prepare one hour's worth of unaccompanied music in 15 separate works to a high standard over six separate rehearsals. The other 30 minutes of the concert was to be provided by a very able wind quintet from the Aylesbury Music Centre.

We quickly adjusted to a rigorous rehearsal schedule. All except one of the works were unaccompanied, mainly in four or six parts, and right from the start we rehearsed at concert speed. If we had doubts about the value of vocal exercises these were quickly dispelled. Breath control, tone, tuning, singing long phrases smoothly, togetherness and private practice became the order of the day.

Some weaker souls, myself included, suggested that some of the more difficult works, including Jonathan Willcocks's Drunken Sailor, should go. They didn't and we pressed on regardless.

The concert was held in the Stables courtyard: a beautiful setting with a superb acoustic. The National Trust had lined the courtyard with lemon trees in full fruit and our audience sat at tables under parasols and gazebos sipping wine. The weather of course had been appalling in May and we wondered if we would be able to sing our special open air Golden Jubilee programme at all. However the sun shone and we strode onto the platform in our finest concert gear full of enthusiasm, hopefully smiling and bathed in spotlights.

Our unbiased critics said our performance was excellent and I think we singers had a warm feeling of success as we sipped our free wine and munched the complimentary sandwiches. The repeat performance of the Drunken Sailor had quite a roar. It was a great pleasure to see a number of Society members in the audience and also to have drawn Lord and Lady Rothschild to the first concert of its type at the stables. I am told they were impressed.

If our critics were right it is all down to our conductor Jamie who taught us and inspired us so much. For those of you who don't know, Jamie was simultaneously preparing for a concert with Schola Cantorum in Oxford and rehearsing the Hallé Chorus for a number of concerts this summer. He has recently been appointed as their new chorus master: in the words of André Preview "I too worked with Aylesbury Choral Society". The Schola concert was superb and no doubt the Hallé will soon be in his debt as well. On behalf of all the Chamber Choir singers a very warm thank you Jamie.

Peter Storey

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