Gippeswyk Singers
Choristers
Contact Information
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Follow us on Facebook | |
| Musical Director | Janette Ruocco |
| Chairman | Adrian Farthing (07949 803594) |
Dates for Your Diary, 2026
See the home page for details of open sing sessions and concerts.
Details of future concert dates, to reserve in your diary:
- December 5th 2026 at 4.00 pm
- March 20th 2027 at 7.30 pm
- June 5th 2027 at 7.30 pm
- December 4th 2027 at 4.00 pm
Concert Manager
Your existing committee would very much appreciate a little extra help particularly on concert days… could YOU offer?
Rehearsal Dates, Spring & Summer 2026
Regular rehearsals are on Monday night, 7.30 - 9.30 pm. at St. Michael & All Angels Church (aka St Michael’s Church), Martlesham Heath, IP5 3PL.
| Date | Location |
|---|---|
| Feb 2nd | Church |
| Feb 9th | Church |
| Feb 16th | Church |
| Feb 23rd | Pavilion |
| Mar 2nd | Church |
| Mar 9th | Church |
| Mar 16th | Church |
| Mar 21st | Church - afternoon of concert |
| Mar 23rd | Pavilion |
| Mar 30th | Church |
| Apr 13th | Church |
| Apr 20th | Church |
| Apr 27th | Pavilion |
| May 4th | Church |
| May 11th | Church |
| May 18th | Church |
| May 25th | Pavilion |
| Jun 1st | Church |
| Jun 6th | Church - afternoon of concert |
Subscriptions
Can be paid via bank transfer or by cheque. Contact the treasurer (Michael Dawe) for further details.
Email Group
The choir uses a Google Group email address so that we can easily send information to all choir members. Graeme Ludwig looks after the administration of the Google Group.
On joining the choir, please give your email address to Kaye Dawe. If you have a Gmail email address (i.e. one ending @gmail.com) then please give us that email address to use if you can, as it makes our lives a bit easier.
Graeme will then add your email address to the group. If possible he will add your email address directly to the group, and you should then start to receive emails sent to all choir members. Otherwise you will be sent an invitation to join the group. The email will be sent from noreply@groups.google.com. An example of the email invitation is below:
If you cannot find the above email after Graeme has sent you an invite you may need to check your spam folder, and/or search for the email directly; I’d suggest searching on the email address noreply@groups.google.com. If you still cannot find the email please speak to Graeme, and he’ll do what he can to help you out.
Once you find the email click on the Accept this invitation button. Your Internet browser (Chrome, Safari etc.) should then open up and display this page:
You should then start to receive emails sent to all choir members. If you have any questions on the above please speak to Graeme.
Voice Reps
If you are unable to attend a rehearsal, please contact your voice rep as listed below. If a rehearsal is to be cancelled the voice reps will ring you. For the voice rep contact details please consult the choir newsletter.
| Section | Voice Rep |
|---|---|
| Soprano | Kaye Dawe |
| Alto | Catherine Topham |
| Tenor | Phil Speirs |
| Bass | Michael Dawe |
Committee Members
| Member | Role |
|---|---|
| Adrian Farthing | Chairman |
| Kaye Dawe | Secretary |
| Michael Dawe | Treasurer |
| Bridget Stefanowski | Librarian |
| Sue Farthing | Publicity |
| Gwynneth Johnson | |
| Janette Ruocco | Musical Director |
FOGIES
Do you know anyone who would like to be in “Fogies” (Friends of Ipswich Singers)? For an annual fee of £30 (£50 for a couple), they will receive:
- a ticket for each concert
- a complimentary glass of wine at the Chairman’s table
- email alerts to up coming events
Rehearsal Space
The piano has now been fitted with new castors and can be readily moved providing greater flexibility and will be positioned by the emergency exit doors. This provides the maximum ventilation for the conductor being the most vulnerable, facing the whole choir. This allows us to enter the hall via the usual entrance.
The layout of the chairs maximises the space between singers. At the first rehearsal the seating will be labelled to indicate the voices.
For the break during the rehearsal, please bring your own refreshments as the use of the kitchen facilities is restricted.
Please note that whilst the committee has made every effort to provide a safe environment for those returning to singing, it is the individual’s choice and responsibility as to whether they attend. See our COVID policy for more details.
Concert Dress
- Men - black trousers and black shirt
- Ladies - Red top and black trousers or long black skirt
- No jewellery please!
Safeguarding Policy
The following policy was agreed at the committee meeting held on 17th October 2025.
Gippeswyk Singers is committed to:
- Promoting a safe environment and culture.
- Safely supporting all those with any responsibility related to young people and vulnerable adults within the choir.
- Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
- Caring for disabled members or victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons.
- Caring for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons.
- Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others.
The Choir will:
- Create a safe and caring place for all
- Have a named Safeguarding Officer to work with the committee to implement policy and procedures.
- Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities undertaken by the choir.
- Listen to and take seriously all those who disclose abuse.
- Offer support to disabled members and victims/survivors of abuse as required regardless of the type of abuse, when or where it occurred.
- Review the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Health and Safety Procedures and Practices annually at the next committee meeting after the Annual General Meeting.
All committee members will agree to abide by this policy.
This committee appoints Kaye Dawe to be the Choir Safeguarding Officer
Chairman: Adrian Farthing Committee: Kaye Dawe, Michael Dawe, Sue Farthing, Bridget Stefanowski, Gwynneth Johnson, Janette Ruocco.
Date: 17th October 2025
COVID Policy
Having followed government guidance scrupulously during the COVID pandemic, we are pleased to have returned to normal singing.
We continue to monitor the situation and will follow best practice and government advice should it be necessary in the future.
Gippeswyk Singers Committee
27th January 2023
GDPR Data Management Policy
- Gippeswyk Singers holds the personal data of the membership.
- Gippeswyk Singers respects the privacy of all its members and will ensure the data stored is current, accurate and secure.
- Gippeswyk Singers will use the data to communicate with the membership and to administer activities and events.
- Gippeswyk singers will delete or modify data only at the request of the member.
- Gippeswyk Singers advises that photographs of events may be kept as records and possibly used in promotional material.
Policy dated 23rd May 2018