Gippeswyk Singers

Choristers

Contact Information

Contact	Details
Facebook	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 7.00pm
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, Autumn & Winter 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
Oct 19th	Church
Oct 26th	Pavilion
Nov 2nd	Church
Nov 9th	Church
Nov 16th	Church
Nov 23rd	Pavilion
Nov 30th	Church
Dec 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 now uses a set of Groups.io email addresses so that we can easily send information to all choir members. Graeme Ludwig looks after the administration of the email groups.

On joining the choir, please give your email address to Kaye Dawe. Graeme will then add your email address to the group, and you will be sent an invitation to join the group. Once you have accepted that invitation you should start to receive emails. 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 contact you. To email your voice rep please use the relevant email address below, or see the most recent choir newsletter for other contact details.

Section	Voice Rep	Email Address
Soprano	Kaye Dawe	sopranos.choir.rep@gippeswyksingers.groups.io
Alto	Catherine Topham	altos.choir.rep@gippeswyksingers.groups.io
Tenor	Phil Speirs	tenors.choir.rep@gippeswyksingers.groups.io
Bass	Michael Dawe	basses.choir.rep@gippeswyksingers.groups.io

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

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