Choir groups will be allocated an area to leave coats and drinks before being taken straight to the Garden suite for the first part of their rehearsal. Please ask children not to bring bags as space is limited.Schools are asked to provide black plastic sacks to collect all coats* (*if it is necessary to bring them) and drinks into. The black plastic sacks should be clearly labelled with your school name so that they can be easily located if they are moved for any reason.
Please note that in the event of an emergency evacuation the Hall staff would be responsible for the evacuation and give instructions. If the groups are anywhere in the front of the hall at the time they would be evacuated outside the front of the hall near Victoria Park. If the groups are performing on stage they are evacuated to the rear of the hall near University Road. The school group leader would then take the register.
During the morning rehearsal, we will hold a briefing for the lead teacher in your choir. (This meeting will take place at approximately 11.15am so it would be helpful if the lead member of your choir is available at this time and stands just outside the garden suite doors so we can easily locate you.
In case of illness or emergencies, one or two teachers will be required to sit with their group in the choir stalls for the morning rehearsal and during the evening performance, and they must be dressed identically to the choir*. (See note on COSTUME below).
Schools should bring adequate staffing to allow for a teacher to sit in the choir stalls and have one or two other members of staff with them. If a child is ill and needs to be brought off stage, it is important to have another member of your staff available. Please ensure that your school provides one or two additional members of staff (depending on the number of children in your choir) for both the rehearsal and performance, who will sit in allocated seats and watch the morning rehearsal (when on main stage) and the evening concert. These accompanying members of staff (up to 3 maximum – depending on the size of your group) do not need a ticket.
Teachers who are sitting with their choir in the choir stalls may wish to have with them for emergencies, a small bucket with a bottle of water; crystals which dissolve body fluids and tissues.
ALL SCHOOL STAFF NEED TO WEAR THEIR ID BADGES AT ALL TIMES.
EVENING PERFORMANCE DETAILS:
The performance will start at 7.00pm and is expected to finish at approximately 9.20pm.
Choirs need to arrive at the Hall for the evening performance at 6.30pmand in concert dress*. Please can all choirs arrive via the main front entrance. IMPORTANT: If any school is intending to bring their choir by bus for the evening performance, please let me know as soon as possible if you have not done so already. (It is usual for parents to bring their child to the evening performance, watch the concert then take their child home with them). Choirs will need to be in their complete group and registered before entering. Students arriving with their parents will need to wait for their school teacher, so that choirs can be taken to their seats together. Choir groups will leave their coats/drinks in the area allocated to them as for the morning rehearsal and then be taken to seats to watch the first half of the performance. Please talk to your children about performance etiquette and ask them to be as quiet as possible whilst other children perform. It is also very important that children do not take frequent toilet breaks during the performance and if it is absolutely necessary, please try to do this in appropriate changeovers.
*COSTUME
Please wear your T-shirts for rehearsal and performance. The children should also be asked to wear either black trousers or skirt with black tights, and black shoes.
It is usual practice for choir groups to bring a drink to have during the interval. Cartons of juice are very good, as they are small enough to be kept with student’s coats* in a black plastic bag.
RUNNING ORDER
The programme order for the evening is: Castle Rock Music Maestros; WCET Brass; Festival Brass INTERVAL (25 minutes) Massed Choir; Training Orchestra; Crown Hills and Castle Rock Steel Pans.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CHOIR WILL BE PUT ON THE STAGE DURING THE INTERVAL AND WILL REMAIN ON STAGE WHILST THE FINAL TWO GROUPS PERFORM.
Continued ……………………..
END OF PERFORMANCE
When the choir groups come off the stage at the end of the performance, they will return to the designated area listed below:
PART 1 SCHOOLS GO TO THE VICTORIA SUITE
Exiting stage right, down the front steps, and into the Victoria Suite.
Church Langton
Marriott
Granby
PART 2 SCHOOLS GO TO THE AREA UNDER THE TIERED SEATING IN THE AUDITORIUM
Exiting stage left, down the front steps, walking down the side of the tiered seating to the back of the hall and under the tiered seating area.
Brownlow
Fleckney
Dovelands
You will be shown where these areas are in the morning and I will do a “dummy run” with the teachers.
Parents can then be asked to collect their child from this area. N.B. Please ensure that parents know where to collect their child from at the end of the concert.
TICKETS
Tickets for the performance have been on sale since 20May and Parents/Carers family and friends are advised to book as soon as possible if they have not already done so. The De Montfort Hall Box Office Telephone number is: 0116 233 3111 or they can be purchased online at
GUEST SEATSFOR HEADTEACHERS
If you have not already sent in your guest ticket form for your Headteacher, please contact me on receipt of this information. Tickets cannot be guaranteed on the day.
I am sure your children have been working very hard to prepare for the concert and we look forward to seeing you on the day and to an enjoyable performance.
Please do contact me if you have any queries regarding this information.
Yours sincerely
Melanie Cahill
Melanie Cahill
Senior Business Support Officer / Performance Team
0116 3050406 (Direct Line) 0116 3050400 (Main Office number)