“Joining a choir near where you live or work is not only convenient, but also a great way to make new friends.”
hearing the harmonies between the different voice sections, and rehearsing with the professional soloists and orchestras on concert days”.
Special interest choirs
Perhaps you like to sing but also like spending your time with people who share your demography? Pink Singers and She Choir London are two groups that might meet your criteria:
n Pink Singers is Europe’s longest- running LGBT choir. It was formed more than 30 years ago for London Pride, and has been singing together ever since. Musical director Murray Hipkin leads rehearsals on Sunday afternoons in the Euston/King’s Cross area, and auditions are required.
n She Choir London is a dynamic, all-female pop choir based in London. It has 60 members and rehearses in the King’s Cross area. It is unique because the choir is collaborative and encourages active participation from all
www.focus-info.org Genres
Have you dreamt of being a Gospel singer, love to belt out show tunes or know all the words to the top pop hits? Try London Community Gospel Choir, SOUND or West End Musical Choir.
n London Community Gospel Choir is Europe’s leading Gospel choir, founded and led by Bazil Meade, and one of the most in-demand choirs on the continent. Auditions are required, and the choir regularly performs on TV, in films, and graces many of the UK’s greatest stages such as Wembley Stadium (FA Cup Final), the Royal Albert Hall and is a regular at the Glastonbury Festival.
members. Included in this is leading the physical and vocal warm ups, to conducting and arranging songs or organising gigs. No auditions are required, and there are also She Choirs in Manchester, Newcastle and abroad.
n If you want to sing all of the latest pop, funk and soul hits, then SOUND is for you. Artistic director Liz Swain leads this choir for performances at great venues, such as The Roundhouse. Auditions are required.
n West End Musical Choir is a performance and social events choir, which rehearses and performs all of the hits from the West End and Broadway. There are six choirs in various London neighbourhoods, with no auditions, but membership fees are required.
These are just a few of the choirs to be found in London and beyond, which you can join or simply watch. If you are feeling even braver and more confident in your abilities, you may want to audition for bigger, more famous ones such as: The Bach Choir, the London Oriana Choir, or the London Philharmonic Choir. Now, go sing your heart out!
Zena Martin is an American/British dual-citizen, who has lived in London for 19 years, and Paris for a year. Connect with her on:
uk.linkedin.com/in/zenamartin
FOCUS The Magazine 19
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