MUSICIANS and singers from Barnsley have been busy rehearsing for an important date in York.
The u3a’s first-ever three-day National Festival runs until Saturday and Barnsley u3a’s choir and Flutes Galore music group will both be performing in the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall this afternoon.
There are around 1,500 u3a groups across the country and the Barnsley group alone has over 1,300 members.
Derek Bacon, who is a member of both the choir and the flute group, said: “There will be loads of talks, demonstration classes, events, and hats off to the Yorkshire and Humberside u3a team who have put it all together.
‘A logistical nightmare, as far as I’m concerned.
“When I first heard about the festival, my reaction was immediate: we must have Barnsley u3a music there and it’s fantastic that our choir and Flutes Galore are two of the music groups that will be performing in the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall.
“Flutes Galore will open the afternoon at 2pm with a 30-minute programme of music specially arranged for flutes ranging from popular classical pieces such as Saint-Saen’s ‘Danse Macabre’, Fauré’s ‘Pavane’ and Delibes’ ‘Pizzicato Polka’ to jazzier pieces like Gershwin’s ‘Summertime’ and ‘Charleston, Blues and Cakewalk’.
“We’ll play Lennon and McCartney, ABBA and there’ll be our 50s singalong medley that goes down a storm when we play it for community groups in Barnsley and Wakefield.
“Playing piccolos, silver, alto and bass flutes, we hope to surprise and please the audience with the quality and variety from our talented players.
“Barnsley u3a Choir will be singing from 2.50pm until 3.30pm.
“It is a great choir, led for 15 years by brilliant choirmaster, Tony Jermy, it has just got better and better and better.
“It is a big leap of faith to take a choir of 50 singers to this York Festival and we’ve no idea how it will work out as there are no tickets, it’s free entry and people can just come and go but I don’t think there can be many u3a choirs to rival ours and it is an opportunity to show others what can be done.
“With outstanding pianist, Steven Carey, and 50 fully committed singers, the 40-minute programme is stunning in its variety and challenge. From Verdi to ABBA via all-time favourites and classic songs of the musicals, we aim to impress.”
Derek joined the u3a on his retirement and took up the flute.
“Retirement can be a complete disaster if you don’t know what you are going to do with it. When you leave work you lose friendships and you need to make new ones.
“No-one is ever asked what they did in their previous working lives it’s equalising and none of what went before matters.
“The u3a helps you avoid isolation and loneliness and gives people the chance to enjoy and succeed at something unrelated to their previous life.
“There are 125 different groups in the Barnsley u3a and you can choose to do whatever you want. If there isn’t a group doing something that you’re interested in then you can set up a class yourself.
“One person goes to 17 classes a week which is amazing.”
In addition to the music groups, two Barnsley u3a teams will be taking part in the National Festival’s Walking Football Tournament which also takes place on Friday.
Barnsley’s John MacKinnon, who is the national u3a advisor for walking football, has organised the event and will be one of the referees on duty on the day.
