I was so pleased to be invited to perform by the Bowdon Music Festival at their Christmas Spectacular held at St Mary’s Church in Bowdon on the 30th November. It was the first opportunity that I have had to perform with a brass band and I was excited about what to expect. I knew that I needed to learn my cues and understand how the piece was to be performed with the band but due to the distance between Milnrow, where the band are from and Glasgow, where I study, there was no opportunity to rehearse together.

I arrived at 4pm on the Saturday to run through my songs and try and grab some time with the Milnrow Brass Band, at the beginning of this year the band qualified for the 2013 National Finals for the first time in its long history you can read more on their website here. They set up their playing positions in the space available and along with the Tideswell Male Voice Choir, very dapper in their lovely gold suits, worked through the evenings running order.

Kevin Gibbs, the Resident Conductor of the Milnrow Brass Band put me at ease and sensed that this was to be a new experience for me. We had about 15 to 20 minutes together, there were some timing issues to overcome as I got to grips with the new score. I have sung ‘Rusalka’s Song To The Moon’ and ‘O Mio Babbino Caro’ before with piano accompaniment but never with a brass band.
Feeling the excitement grow as the time of the performance approached I went to get changed and focus on what was to come. I sat in the little changing room and went through new timing in my head. Just before the start I went through to the Church and sat next to Madeline Osborne who was to sing “Castle On a Cloud” from the role of young Cosette in Les Miserables.

Edwina Currie who was hosting the event introduced the programme and was wonderful at setting the mood for the evening.
The moment approached, I rose to my feet walked over to the side of Kevin; he smiled at me and I relaxed and he signalled to the band, the music started …
This is the recording of my first attempt and I hope that you enjoy it 🙂 I know I did, my parents said it was my best rendition of their favourite song and they loved the atmosphere that the band added to the song
The evening ended with a duet of “O Holy Night” that I performed with my first singing teacher, Miss Jayne Wilson.

I was so pleased that my Nan brought this gorgeous shrug to wear as it kept me lovely and warm all night.
Sounds like an interesting experience, and I admire your determination to broaden your experience at every turn.
And the unveiling of the new hair-style: very fetching.
Hi Martin, I must admit after the first run through I thought Uh-Oh what have I let myself in for here but thanks to the fantastic conductor and band I ended up having a great time.
I’ve been toying with having a fringe cut in for a while and I can still just about clip it up if I need to 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wow… just Wow. What a great performance. And what a picture. Enough to make both the Gods and Men weep.
That’s so kind of you thank you, I laughed when I saw I still had my hair bobble on my wrist 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Congratulations , Charlotte. It sounds like such an exciting, beautiful event! Glad you experienced it and shared it with us.
Thanks Deanie, St Mary’s Church in Bowdon is a beautiful church, very large inside; a grade II listed building with gothic architecture. I’ve never been inside the church before. They were raising money in the raffle for the Bowdon music festival in January which was great to hear as just last week I got a letter to say that one of my favourite music festival competitions in Blackpool was closing and last year was their final year which I was sad to hear.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Amazing
Thank you Cristian 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
What great fun! You had a wonderful experience.
All of these experiences whilst I’m still training are especially helpful. I have a long way to go on these magnificent arias but if I can share them as I go along I can get my family and friends used to them 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
You look gorgeous. Congratulations.
Thanks Don, I was so happy Nan had brought along the shrug as it was a bit chilly and I always feel a bit odd in church in off the shoulder dresses 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Congrats on your performance! You look beautiful, I love your hairdo too!
Hi Janice, thanks so much I appreciate your lovely message. I haven’t had a fringe since I was about five so it is quite a different look for me.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Beautiful performance! I love your gown.
Thank you very much, I love the dress too especially the trail, it helped to get me into character as a water nymph in the Rusalka 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte.
Bravo.
Thanks Cheryl 🙂 I had a great night.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Your gown is gorgeous! What a great experience.
I was very happy that my first singing teacher offered me the opportunity to sing at the event and it was great as always to meet up with the TMVC.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Brava… and you rock the gown marvellously too!
The gown is lovely when it catches the light. Thank you 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Very nice!
Glad you liked my post, I’ve got a busy two weeks now so haven’t as much time for blog visiting but I’ll catch up again over the Christmas break.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Fantastic as ever, Charlotte! Thanks for the video!
Cheers Dylan, really glad you enjoyed it, Dad took the video, he was just sorry he couldn’t get the whole band on.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Very Nice.
Thanks Mario 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Quelle plaisir de vous voir aussi rayonnante et votre voix est magique.
It’ a pleasure to see you . You’re like a lovely sun and when you sing it’s a balm for the soul. Thank you Charlotte
Bonjour Pascal, Talking about the sun this dress would look great in gold sequins wouldn’t it 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Yes, it would be really great 🙂
Beautiful voice. Bravo!
Hi Arti, I’m really happy you enjoyed it thanks for taking a listen.
Best wishes
Charlotte
I’m pretty amazed at how little prep time you had here. Wonderful job!
Yeah that was a bit nail biting but they were such good musicians they just followed along and the conductor was a real help to me, lovely man. Thank you.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Hey wait – did you get fringe/bangs or are those clip-ins? Too cute!
I never thought of getting a clip-in fringe, if I re-grow it I’ll remember you can buy clip in fringes. My Dad says it makes my eyes look massive like they did when I was little.
Best wishes
Charlotte
It looks great!
So cute! A fabulous outfit, and a celestial performance.
Thank you very much 🙂
Best wishes
Charlotte
Hi Charlotte. You look lovely in your photo.
I remember in the summer you posted pictures of some of the art work you were doing with flowers and collage ect. I am really keen to experiment with this. Could you send me the link to the page and do you have any technique guides and ideas by any chance? I am starting up a visual art journal and just loved the art you were creating.
May thanks
Sam
Hi Sam, I must photograph the finished pictures and create a post thanks for the reminder. The paper roses are here http://charlottehoatherblog.com/2013/09/06/paper-roses/ and the collages here http://charlottehoatherblog.com/category/comments/page/2/
Best wishes
Charlotte
Brilliant Charlotte…What a joy to hear you sing. Thank you for your wonderful gift and sharing with us all.
Thank you, I love singing this song and it’s definitely a work in progress but it’s nice to see it recorded now as a first marker. It sounds very different to me with a band. I thoroughly enjoyed myself 😉
Best wishes
Charlotte
Congratulations, Charlotte! Your shrug is beautiful! 🙂
Thanks Cate, I hope your doing well. It was a great idea of my Nana to buy it and a lovely surprise. She’d come to watch me in the church in Grindleford where it was a little chilly and she thought I could do with a shrug and she wanted me to have it before Christmas so I could wear it to my Christmas performances 😉
Best wishes
Charlotte
Stellar performance. Simply and purely talent on all levels –from your vocals to the dress to the excellence of the musicians.
I’m again astounded.
Hi Jim, what a lovely compliment thank you 😉 . This song grows on you the more you hear it. One day I have a vision of recording it near a lake in the moonlight.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Lovely rendition of ‘Rusalka’s Song To The Moon’. Another new experience! Well done Charlotte. 🙂
Thank you ;).
My Dads trying to sort me out a booking system because I can’t resist saying yes to every opportunity even when the logistics and transport get really difficult, like no trains back to Glasgow to get me back before 13:15 and a booking for 2pm!
I love living on the edge he he, adds to the excitement.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Amazing voice!
Hi Michael, Thank you I appreciate you taking time to comment.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Amazing performance! Look great too. Very elegant! I enjoyed the video.
Cheers 🙂
Veronica
Hi Veronica I’m happy that you enjoyed the video, thank you.
Best wishes
Charlotte
🙂 Best wishes as well! Enjoy your week!
Charlotte, your voice is beautiful, as is your blog. Thanks for following me at Triggershorse. – Fawn
Hello Fawn, thank you I loved your post about your daughter too 😉
Best wishes
Charlotte
Good gracious! How do you fit all of that voice inside of you? I’m sorry. It’s like I’m looking at a little girl standing up there, then WHAM! Like I said, “good gracious!” 😀 There was a band! Did they have a French Horn?
Hi Eric, it must be like Dr Who’s tardis lol.
It was a big band such a shame you couldn’t see them all on the video, there were tenor horns instead of French horns but pitched in Eb and look like mini tubas.
Best wishes
Charlotte
You perform the songs and bring the music to life. Images immediately pop into my head of the magical place you create.
That’s a beautiful compliment thank you so much 😉
Best wishes
Charlotte
Wow, this was cool, you’re good! 😀
Thank you for your lovely message.
Best wishes
Charlotte
You look lovely and I died when I heard that huge beautiful voice come from that little body : ). You ARE good.
Hi Shirlena, thank you for visiting and taking the time to leave your lovely message.
Best wishes
Charlotte
Ur so welcomed.
Loved your performance, its commendable that you performed so well during your first attempt with the band, you totally deserve the applause that you got in the end 🙂 , I think after hearing your song I was applauding here as well 🙂
Thank you Gaurab 😉 and thanks again for the inspiration you gave me for my karate post tonight. I must start thinking about my New Years resolution for 2014!
Best wishes
Charlotte
SUPER!
Your dress is stunning!
That is a gorgeous dress. Beautiful!
Hello,
I wish this year is already over. Everything is getting into tension, in my next life I want to be a singer, not a IT guy. So, I finally made it to check the pronunciation:)
( I have found explanation of czech alphabet and its pronunciation – in English http://www.omniglot.com/writing/czech.htm ) its not exactly how these letters are used in words, but it can give basic understanding.
In first part “Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém,” I believe i hear you sing ” M N I S I Č K U ” – basically its pronounced as [ mňe ], there is oversoft accent on N instead of E, open recording on page on word “mě” it has same pronunciation as beggining of word “měsíčku”. http://www.omniglot.com/soundfiles/czech/writing/mne.mp3
Same thing in “světlo” tvé daleko vidí, i hear ” S V I T L O ” but the rest of the sentence is absolutely correct!
As above po “světě” bloudíš širokém, I hear ” S V I T Ě ” , rest of the sentence is corrrect! ( I love your precious ŠIROKÉM, oh my god, that was native Czech)
“díváš se v příbytky lidí.” I am not even certan what I hear in word “díváš” it seems like you accidentaly put here R instead of š. Some people even say that Czech “š” is more like soft “sch”
In “Měsíčku, postůj chvíli,” I believe i hear “k” in “chvíli” its incorrect, its more like “ch”
In “řekni mi, kde je můj milý” I hear “ržekni” its very difficult to say Ř, kids have to learn it and it takes them a period of time. So http://antonin-dvorak.cz/rusalka Roll down, on page, there is a record of “Měsíčku na nebi hlubokém” You can hear very clear pronunciation of Ř Š Ě etc.
Repetion as above.
Btw, You sing word ” Milý” so correctly and softly that even feel love from that word (meaning is “lover” or in modern language “boyfriend”)
Oh its so long, I can only hope it will help!
Thanks so much Lukas I really appreciate the time you spent on this. That’s sad you want this year to hurry to end :/
I wish I could help with your IT but I’m not good enough 😉
Hope you have a fabulous New Year, sending you some energy 🙂
Best wishes and thanks again
Charlotte