Gallery from Groby Sings At the Opera
Groby Sings was shortlisted for a Community Award in the 2023 annual BBC Radio Leicester Local Awards. We were honoured to receive a trophy in September. Listen at:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0g1kl1k
Groby Sings has also been the recipient of a Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council 'Make a Difference Award' 2023.
The new season is announced as Groby Comes of Age. This season will end with a performance weekend in November 2024. Details will be on the 'Next Concert' page.
The choir restarts on September 4th. Please note we sing on Wednesdays in school term time.
Singers are welcome to join in with this season at whatever point they wish to and don't need to come every single week. Performance is optional.
Who conducts the choir?
The new Musical Director is Simon Lubkowski.
Please visit https://youtu.be/9ATB5cgCl14 to view Simon's introduction to the choir.
Guidelines For This Season
Health: You are requested to NOT ATTEND if you are feeling unwell at all or have any symptoms of any illness. This is out of respect for the health of your fellow singers, volunteers, musical director and yourself. Many of our singers are vulnerable to infection.
Venue and travel: The Groby Club, Leicester Rd, Groby, Leicester LE6 0DJ There is limited parking. Please consider walking. Do not park at the Library or Village Hall. Beware of parking restrictions in the local roads.
Adult arrival times: 1.15pm for the afternoon and 7.15pm for the evening. Please do not arrive early.
Rehearsal times: 1.30 to 3.00pm and 7.30 to 9.00pm.
Registration: All attendees will need to register as they enter the rehearsal room.
Children aged 7 and above are welcome to arrive from 3.15pm. They will be signed in in the rehearsal room. Parents and carers are welcome to stay in the rehearsal room or to leave their child when they have been fully registered.
Donations: It will cost about £3 per adult and £1.50 per child per week for us to run Groby Sings. There will be the opportunity for you to make a donation on arrival. You are welcome to attend without making a donation - we are a registered charity open to all to attend regardless of payments received. There are options for Gift Aiding a lump sum donation for the season - please ask for details.
Words Booklets: These are provided free of charge and may be used for the duration of the season but must be returned in November.
Seating and Numbers: Chairs will be set out by volunteers in advance. Please do not move them. We can accommodate everyone who wishes to sing.
Breaks and refreshments: There will be a short cake break of about 15 minutes in the middle of each rehearsal to allow for purchase of drinks and toilet use. And to give time for chat!
The urn will be set up for tea and coffee which is £1 a cup.
Cake is supplied thanks to kind offers by our singers.
You can buy drinks and food items from the bar.
You may bring a bottle of water from home for your own use.
There is a ‘creche area’ where young children are welcome to play or nap at our afternoon rehearsals in the care of their accompanying responsible adult. They are also welcome in the evenings.
Groby Sings Management Team
From our first Musical Director
Singing in a community choir like Groby Sings is life transforming and it has been a gift to have been able to stand in front of you all and conduct you every week.
Groby Sings became a hit, such a glorious success, not because of any one of us but because of ALL OF US, everyone who turned up week in, week out and sang our hearts out. Because of all YOU wonderful people listening to your rehearsal CD's and driving your families mad and dressing up in your crazy costumes and arranging all the bears in your house to sing to when we couldn't gather to sing together.
Thank you so much for letting me be part of that. It has been so very special.
My prayer is that Groby Sings will continue long into the future.
That what we started 7 years ago will grow from strength to strength, continuing to touch people’s lives who need some hope and joy. But for that to happen, all you amazing people have got to hold tight until this pandemic is over and Groby Sings resumes. Then you've got to come back so you can finish off what was started last February and perform Groby Sings On The Road and many many more concerts after that.
As I skip off into the sunset of retirement, I need to have something to look forward to and returning to hear Groby Sings perform songs from Calamity Jane is top of my list.
Keep singing everyone. Keep laughing. Most importantly….you know what’s coming…keep eating that delicious cake!
Helen Hayes
Last Performance: We performed in June 2024 to 300 of our family, friends and neighbours.
Groby Sings European Tour
Concerts were performed on June 22nd and 23rd 2024
Simon says:
Well what a weekend that was!
I am so proud of every single one of you for creating such a memorable and magical performance, both on Saturday and Sunday. The quality of your singing and performance was excellent, and even when some notes weren't quite what the score said it didn't matter one bit - you smiled and made sure the audience was none the wiser!
The harmonies this season were a step up for sure, but the way songs like "Men Of Harlech", "The Bells Of Notre Dame" and "Flying Without Wings" sounded shows that you are more than up to the task - WELL DONE!
The quiet moments of songs like "Send In The Clowns" and "God Help The Outcasts" were perfectly balanced with the fun of "Save Your Love" and "That's Amore" - the audience got to laugh and to cry in equal measure, and for all the right reasons!
What a show we put on from start to finish... Stunning xxx
My thanks to the Trustees, Management Team and other volunteers for making Groby Sings work as smoothly and efficiently as it does - these events take so much planning and organising, and no stone is left unturned to ensure that you all have the best experience possible - an AMAZING team effort!
I can't wait to start next season as Groby Sings "Comes Of Age" in September and will look forward to seeing you at the party in a couple of weeks time too, as well as at the Library when I can make it across.
Well done again, and here's to many more seasons of fun, friendship and SINGING!
Simon x
Cliff says:
This was my first full season singing in the choir - which I can do now that Paul is available to play in most rehearsals - and it was almost the first time I’ve sung in a concert. (I did actually sing in our first ever concert, but I shouldn’t have done. I’d spent most rehearsals that season playing the piano, and when Paul took over in the concerts, I switched to singing in the choir without ever really learning the words! I felt completely out of my depth.)
I’ve enjoyed this season's rehearsals. But my enjoyment of the concerts was on a different level. Two things struck me.
I loved being part of a bigger sound, being surrounded by so many voices all performing together. In fact, the first time the full choir came together, in the rehearsal on the Saturday afternoon, it was such a powerful feeling that I almost had to stop singing several times.
The other thing that was new was my realisation of what an effective conductor Simon is. Obviously, when I’ve accompanied the choir in rehearsals, I’ve seen his conducting from the side. But I hadn’t realised how much he inspires good singing by what he does - his clear hand gestures and the way he mouths the words and has a permanent smile on his face. It's hard not to give your all when he’s working so hard in front of you.
As for how well the choir did, I was lucky enough to be positioned in the middle of the stage, with men next to me and altos and sopranos either side and behind me. So I was in a really good position to hear how good the singing was - especially the balance between the different sections. It was wonderful to listen to. But not, I’ve now discovered, as wonderful as being part of it!
Cliff
Some of the other comments received:
Massive thanks to you for your musical talents and organisation.
What a fantastic weekend we’ve had; the audience’s faces and participation were a wonderful sight and sound.
It was fan-dabby-dozy. I also had to hold back some tears on some of the songs they were so powerful xxx Thank you all for allowing a real poor singer to enjoy this experience and learn to hit some notes. The funny sounds of the guitar on standing and Simon’s manic smile 😃 always remind me to smile and share the fun.
The whole weekend was amazing the energy & buzz was something else!! The enthusiasm from the audiences was great.
I just want to take this opportunity to tell you how much I have enjoyed being a new member of Groby Sings.
It has been a difficult year for myself and my family so far, but each Wednesday I have gone home feeling uplifted.
I am so glad that my friend persuaded me to join.
The group is such an asset to everyone that attends, their friends and families.
I felt very proud to be a part of it over the weekend.
Well done everyone! A fantastic Sunday concert. Simon pulled it off brilliantly. The audience participation was great fun. I liked the images projected behind the singers.
The concert itself I thought was a triumph. The audience were very appreciative and the seven members of my family who came to support us (including two teenage boys!) loved it all.
Another super weekend. You and your team do a fantastic job. Simon was on 'form’ and the band were great. Big thanks to all.
Thanks again to you and the team, Simon and all the volunteers for making last weekend run so smoothly and making it so enjoyable.
Acknowledges with gratitude the generous support of singers:
What’s Next?
The ‘Bezzies’ on the Back Row
Loopy Lu
Rambling Rector
Happy Face and the Geeky Scientist
M J H
Fair Cuppa Coffee Morning
Keep Practicing
Dancing Duet
The Free Women
Il Basso
A Not So Newby
Amazing Altos
Waltzing Matilda
A Happy Singer
Anonymous Benefactor
An Alto
And local businesses:
-
Classic Cuts
Ladies’, gentlemen’s and children’s hair design
0116 287 8804
11 Lawnwood Road, Groby LE6 0BH
2. Glenfield Electrical
0116 298 3804
Mill Lane Industrial Estate, The Mill Lane, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8DX
which enabled our words booklets to be provided for free to all singers.
Groby Sings could not happen without the generosity of:
The Club, Groby
English Martyrs School
St Philip and St James' Church, Groby
The Thomas Herbert Smith Trust Fund
Groby Library and Time Out Cafe
Making Music
The Dementia Programme Board of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
The Worshipful Company Weavers
Registered Charity 1180490