2020 AGM and Awards

Fascinating Rhythm has started the new year by celebrating the best of 2020 and looking forward to a better 2021.

On Thursday 21 January, we held our AGM and awards night. Under normal circumstances, we’d have combined this with a dinner and social evening, but not even a lockdown could stop us from having fun. Dressed in our finest ‘evening pyjamas’ and ‘cocktail nighties’ we gathered on Zoom with a glass of wine or cup of tea to reflect on the past year and celebrate everyone who makes our chorus so great. 

 Chorus Awards

Sharon gave the Chair’s Award to Erica for her tireless work on our social media channels over the past year, playing a key role in refreshing the Fascinating Rhythm website, and for supporting the Bass section throughout lockdown. Thank you, Erica, for all your hard work behind the scenes and your amazing commitment to promoting our activities on Facebook and Twitter.

Jo followed with the Director’s Award, which this year was jointly awarded to two ladies who have worked so hard to make our transition to virtual rehearsals enjoyable and inspirational. Wendy H and Karen L have supported Jo every week Zoom with amazingly creative and energetic warm-ups, challenging scale exercises and informative education slots. Thank you, Wendy and Karen, for your inexhaustible drive and determination to keep rehearsals going and for encouraging us all to give our best to our craft despite being unable to sing together in person.

Jo gave an honourable mention to every member of the chorus for sticking with it, zooming in each week and looking after each other, throughout the challenges of 2020 and lockdown. More than any other, 2020 has been a year of friendship and support across the Fascinating Rhythm family.

Finally, our vice-Chair Amy had the honour of announcing the Chorus Members’ Award, which was voted on by the whole chorus and recognised someone who has gone ‘above and beyond’ in supporting Fascinating Rhythm. The winner was Karen L for her enthusiasm and for coming up with so many interesting and creative ways to keep us involved in Zoom rehearsals. Thank you, Karen, for being there every Thursday evening to motivate and challenge us.

Amy also reflected the amazing contribution and commitment our wonderful Director Jo has made over the past year, keeping us engaged and steering Fascinating Rhythm through tricky times with an infectious smile, good humour and insatiable enthusiasm for our singing hobby.  

The last award was a long-service award for Ali, who has been a member of LABBS for 35 years! Ali is the founding member of Fascinating Rhythm, and we are all hugely grateful to her for starting the chorus 25 years ago. Congratulations Ali!

Committee Election

After reports from our Director, Chair, Treasurer and PR Officer, we thanked the outgoing committee for all their hard work to keeping Fascinating Rhythm going over the past year, in extraordinarily challenging circumstances. Particular thanks went to Sharon, Susie and Hannah, who were stepping down from committee roles after several years of service. Thank you, ladies, for your fantastic work and commitment to our chorus.

Susie steered us through the official business of the night – the election of our new committee. We were delighted to welcome Iris as our new Chair, with Amy staying on as vice-Chair and Joan remaining in the post as Treasurer. Vikki has taken up the role of Secretary and Di has returned to lead the Wardrobe Team. Kate T has taken on the PR Officer role, and Kitty continues as Membership Secretary. We also thanked all those in non-committee positions, which are vital to the running of our chorus. Well done ladies, we look forward to working with you throughout 2021.

The final order of business was to announce our charity of the year. And we are pleased to say that we have decided to continue with the Jessie May Trust as our chosen charity for 2021.

Forward Look

All that was left at the end of the evening was to look forward to when we can get back on the risers and sing together again. We feel optimistic that there is light at the end of the tunnel and that it won’t be long before we’re back at rehearsals together, making harmony and working on our Convention package!