Membership

2023/24 Season

The new choir year starts on 5th September 2023 at 7.30pm and rehearsals end after our May concert.  We run usually have a half term break. mirroring the academic year.    All rehearsal information is shown on our calendar page. 

Membership Fees

The 2023/24 subscription is £150 for the year.  Subscriptions are due in September, but may be paid over instalments. Please gift aid your subscription if you can: it really helps the choir’s funds (see below).  We have a concessionary rate for students and those in receipt of a means tested benefit of £10 per term.   For those joining the choir part way through the year, the Treasurer will advise on fee level. 

Sing for Steve

All members of the choir are encouraged to have a voice assessment with Steve Kings, our choral director. This is not an audition but is designed for Steve to get to know the voices in the choir and to check that you are in the right voice part. It usually takes place (in private) before a rehearsal and takes around 10 minutes. You bring a song that you are comfortable singing and Steve goes through a number of short exercises with you. Any member of the choir who has not previously 'sung for Steve' can request to do so at any time.  

Concerts

To be able to sing in the concert, it is essential that you attend 70% of the rehearsals. A register is taken each week by the section leader, so if you are unable to attend it is a good idea to let your leader know.

Current section leaders are:

Sopranos: Judy Craven

Altos: Sue Wilderspin

Tenors: Matt Jenkins 

Basses: Colin Brown

There is usually a rehearsal on the Friday evening before a concert, and another on the afternoon of the concert.

The Saturday afternoon is usually held at the concert venue.

Concert dress

Men: black dinner jacket and trousers, white shirt, black bow tie and black shoes.

Ladies: black floor length skirt or trousers, a black top (with sleeves), black tights and shoes. Discreet jewellery only.

Membership forms

Fundraising

You can help us to fundraise for the choir by joining one of our fundraising schemes:

• Gift Aid

• 100 Club

• Give As You Live

Gift Aid

Boost your subscription by 25p of Gift Aid for every £1 paid. Gift Aid is reclaimed by us from the tax you pay for the current tax year. To Gift Aid your subscription, you need to fill in a gift aid form and return it to the Honorary Treasurer.

100 Club

We run a 100 Club, which is a fundraising scheme for the benefit of the choral society. The scheme makes a major contribution towards restraining membership fee increases and helps to maintain the high musical standards we practise. A participating member commits to paying £60 a year (paid at £5 per month). Participants are allocated a unique number which is entered into a prize draw four times during the year. Draws take place on the second Tuesday in December, March, June and September; 40% of 100 Club income is returned in prizes. If you would like to join, please contact the Honorary Treasurer.