Join us

Join Us - Despite these photos we are very friendly!

We are a simple crowd, we love to sing in our own special way, low and in unison.  

We are "quite unique" in that we are a kind of community choir, as we have our origins in a community, but we are more of a performance group, in that in the last couple of years we have performed almost as much as we have rehearsed.  Not that we are quite practicing in public but sometimes it has been not far off.

We take our silliness very seriously and increasingly try to do so with our singing and overall performance.  We are led by one of THE most amazing Choir Meisters in the whole of the UK and he does the best he can with the material we offer. 

Anyway, we are great fun to sing with and be with and we enjoy trying to improve whilst having a great time going on various adventures.  

Slight Change of Policy
As of Winter 2014 we now operate a policy of opening our ranks for potential recruits to request to become members AFTER BlokeFest, ie midway through the year.  This is primarily because we recognise that "The Magnificent Singing Machine" that we are has now built up quite a head of steam and it is getting harder for blokes to jump on board, what with the decent size back catalog and our relative lack of rehearsal time.  Getting on board after BlokeFest at least means that a bloke will have been involved in learning 3 of our newer pieces so should make it easier.

At that point of the year anyone wanting to join can come along to the first Workshop and if they like things they can be considered for membership.  

From time to time we may also open requests to become members at other times at the discretion of our governing council, The Inner Circle.

We do not hold auditions but do expect people to uphold our ethos and the stipulations of our Membership from our Charter (see below)

If you are interested in learning to sing with the Blokes then email themagnificentak47@gmail.com and we'll see what happens.

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More info about us and our membership
Here are some relevant extract from "The Magnificent Charter" our very own constitution to give you some more background.

2) OBJECTS

     The objects of the Group shall be to provide the blokes of Ashton Keynes and surrounding areas with the opportunity to meet regularly to socialise, attend workshops to learn and sing songs in a relaxed way but with the expectation of giving concerts or recitals.  There shall also be an expectation that blokes will learn the words and spend time outside of the workshops rehearsing their parts to make performances as good as they can to a  standard appropriate to the rest of the group.  There is also an intention to create and exchange memorabilia relating to the activities of the Group.

      The Group shall celebrate blokey company, deep Georgian harmonies, beards and attempts at construction, building and DIY (excluding Ikea). Members without beards have the same rights as those with full or stubble trim beards, the assumption is clear – they could have beards if they want to.  

5) MEMBERSHIP

From time to time The Inner Circle may let it be known that the Group may be open to new members to be invited to join.  Also from time to time, those wishing to join the Group may let a member or members of the Group know that they may wish to be considered to be invited to join.  These potential new members will be invited to attend a meeting, be it workshop, social event, Pow Wow or other type of meeting, to assess whether they would like to be invited to join the Group on a continual basis, and whether the Group would like to invite them to join the Group on a continual basis.

This continued extension of the invitation to be a member will be dependent on the following criteria being achieved:

1.     the member can hold a tune to a level appropriate for the rest of the group

2.    is a decent bloke and fits in with the rest of the Group and does not do anything untoward

3.    pays any subscriptions as may be required, all subscriptions being payable on demand and within a reasonable time frame (even allowing for poor memories and general incompetence).  

Members are expected to demonstrate a commitment to Blokiness and gestures of pointless grandeur.  In addition, wearing of hats commensurate with the subject matter that is being performed is to be encouraged at all times.

. . . . rhubarb, rhubarb . . . then . . .

Attendance at the first workshop will be free of charge, thereafter the subscription will be levied on a pro rata basis for the remainder of the termly period.  There will normally be two terms per year, Term 1 before the summer recess, and Term 2, after the summer recess.

Upon acceptance of an invitation to join, new members will be given a Song Book and access to practise material and membership of any email groups and websites as required.

                                                                                                                         

Page Last updated: Sunday 10th August 2014

Change:  Updated to mention when we have Open Season.