The choir sings and says thank you for the folding chairs
Busy times lie ahead for the Gaflar Choir, as Advent has begun. The choir recently sang for the Hafnarfjörður town council. This was in gratitude for five concert grand pianos that the town gave to the choir to mark its 30th anniversary.
The Gaflar Choir sings widely at Christmas
„We sang carols and other songs,“ says Kristín Magnúsdóttir, chairperson of the Gaflar Choir. The choir sang on 20 November for the Hafnarfjörður town council in gratitude for five concert grand pianos that the town gave to the choir to mark its 30th anniversary.
„Many adults are in the choir. Some find it difficult to stand for long. These are higher chairs, people sit higher and so they are very helpful. We wanted to show our gratitude in action and so it was decided to come together and sing for the town councillors just before they sat down for the town council meeting.“
The choir has a good atmosphere. „Yes, a very good atmosphere. We went to Berlin this summer for the 30th anniversary,“ she says. A fun trip.
A letter of thanks from the Gaflarakórsins to the town council.
Not just Gaflars in the Gaflar Choir
Do members need to be Gaflarar to be in the Gaflarar Choir?
„No, you don't have to be a Gaflari to be in the choir, but to be on its committee you have to be a member of the Hafnarfjörður Pensioners“ Association,„ she says cheerfully. “Members of the choir can be Gaflarar, newcomers or outsiders," she says, laughing.
Kristín herself has been in the choir for 7-8 years. „That's not considered long. Some have been there from the very beginning. People have been in for over ninety years. Two are among the founding members and are still with us; Óskar and Ragga. They attend every single rehearsal,“ says Kristín, mentioning a packed schedule ahead. The choir is, in fact, one of three performing at a concert in Langholtskirkja tomorrow, 5th December.
Singing in the nursing homes
„Then we go to the nursing homes in Hafnarfjörður and sing there. We sing at services. It's no mean feat to be in a choir, but it's great fun and very rewarding,“ she says, light-hearted and excited for the choir's Christmas get-together in the middle of the month; Christmas dinner, a Christmas reflection, stories and dancing. „It's great fun being in a choir.“
The Gaflar Choir travels far and wide around the town during Advent, as can be seen on the choir's Facebook page:
- 4 December at 13:30 Singing at Hrafnista in Hafnarfjörður
- 9 December at 11 a.m. Singing at Drafnarhúsið
- 11 December at 11 a.m. Singing at Ísafold in Garðabær
- 11th December at 1 pm. Singing at Sólvang.