FAQs
What is Winchester Community Choir?
We are a group of people who join together to sing for fun. The choir grew out of a series of workshops that ran in 2005 when lots of the participants expressed the desire for a choir in Winchester that would be open to all, without audition. Now we meet weekly during term time at St Lawrence in the Square, Winchester at 8pm on Tuesdays.
Who conducts the choir?
Conducting is shared between Sarah Morgan and Freya Tabbush, who are both professional singers and experienced singing teachers. Sarah is a member of the harmony group Craig : Morgan : Robson and Freya sings with The Tabbush Sisters. Both conductors are very skilled at working with new and experienced singers.
Are you available to sing at community events?
If you are involved in a community group, charity or organisation in Winchester and would like us to sing at an event or activity you are organising, please get in touch for a chat about it. We've sung by invitation at community festivals, charity events and at residential homes.
Who can join the Community Choir?
Anyone from the Winchester area of Hampshire is welcome to join at the beginning of each term – providing we have space. You don’t need to be able to read music and there is absolutely no audition. The choir has, however, grown very rapidly in the last year and just at the moment we don't have any spaces for new members.
So what can I do if I am intersted in joining?
We are currently running a waiting list; please email us at membership@winchestercommunitychoir.co.uk if you'd like us to notify you when a space comes up.
And what sort of people are members of the choir?
All sorts, from teenagers upwards. Some of our members are experienced singers who have been in other choirs, others haven’t sung since school. We particularly welcome members who are new to social singing; don't worry if you can't read music as this isn't necessary to participate in community choir.
What types of songs do you sing?
We learn a range of songs, including folk, international songs, gospel, seasonal songs such as carols, and some classical songs. The focus is on singing for fun. We sing in rounds and unaccompanied harmony arrangements – but we don’t have fixed sections of the choir and members are encouraged to move around and try singing various parts for different songs. You'll find a few sample sound clips and a list of our repertoire on this website.
So how do you learn songs if lots of members can’t read music?
We learn songs by ear. At rehearsals, the music is taught to us line by line by our conductors. Members also get a folder containing the words to the songs and can download mp3s of the song parts from this website for practising at home.
What happens at the sessions?
Weekly Tuesday night sessions run from 8.00-9.45pm with either Freya Tabbush or Sarah Morgan conducting. After a warm up, we practice songs from the current repertoire. There’s a short break at 9pm, which is a chance to chat with other members. At the end of the rehearsal, many of us go on to the Old Vine in the Square, which is a non-smoking pub.
Do you meet every week?
We have 3 terms of approximately ten-weeks each, with breaks to coincide with school half-terms and vacations. Dates are in the Members’ Area of this website and are displayed on the choir noticeboard during rehearsals. We understand that members have other commitments such as work or family that mean missing rehearsals from time to time.
And do you perform?
Yes, we enjoy singing in the community and raising money for local charities through concerts and carol singing. WCC has links with other Hampshire community choirs and we’ve sung at concerts in groups of 100+ with them during the last year. We plan to continue to perform regularly in the community and welcome suggestions from members or others for occasions or places for singouts.
Do I have to perform if I become a member?
Well, it isn’t compulsory, but we do hope you’ll want to join us for performances as they are great fun. Of course, you will need to be confident that you know the songs before performing, which may take a month or two, but even if you haven’t been in a choir before, Sarah and Freya will get you ready to perform.
Why do you rehearse at St Lawrence in the Square?
Because the acoustics are wonderful and we love the sound we make when we sing there! It is also a convenient, city centre venue with lots of nearby parking. We hire the space; the choir isn’t part of the church.
How is the choir run?
We are a non-profit group and are run by a committee of volunteers who contract our conductors, organise and publicise the rehearsals and singouts, arrange details like insurance and administer the membership scheme.
Can I help with running the choir?
Yes please! There are lots of opportunities to get involved with running the choir, so please let us know if there is anything you can help with. If you join the choir, you’ll be invited to take part in the AGM which takes place each May.
I’m interested, so can I try you out before joining?
Yes, we know we are a bit different from other choirs, so when we invite people from the waiting list to come along, you will be able to try us out for free for up to 2 sessions. After that, we ask you to decide whether or not you are going to join the choir.
How much does it cost to be a member?
The cost is £10 per month, and we offer a concessionary fee of £7.50 per month for students, and people who are unemployed or retired. It helps us very much with administering the scheme if you pay by standing order, so we ask you to do this. You can cancel your standing order at any time if you decide you no longer wish to be a member. Please see Sue Elliott, our Membership Secretary, or Jean Forster, our Treasurer, for a form.