Choir Looks For Extra Singers To Take Part in 2015 European Games

Published on: 31 Jul, 2014
Updated on: 31 Jul, 2014

Surrey Hills Chamber Choir is delighted to have qualified for the champions category of the European Choir Games 2015, to be held in Madgeburg, Germany next July.

Now it is looking for some new vocal talent as it embarks on an exciting journey to the games.

Surrey Hills Chamber Choir in full song.

Having scooped four trophies including the Festival Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Performing Arts Festival on May 17 and wowed audiences at its recent Beyond the Chamber summer concert on July 12, the choir is now enjoying a well deserved rest, before the new season starts in September.

The 2014-15 season promises to be its most exciting yet, as the choir will be competing in the North Wales Choir Festival on November 9 to 9, performing a 10th anniversary concert on Saturday, May 16, and preparing repertoire for its biggest challenge yet: the European Choir Games 2015.

As part of those preparations, the choir is now looking to swell its numbers up to 32 singers with a new second bass, tenor, alto and second soprano to join them on an unforgettable journey to the games next summer.

Hosted in Magdeburg, the capital of Saxony-Anhalt and a flourishing major city in the centre of Germany, the 2nd European Choir Games will provide an opportunity for “the peaceful encounters of choirs of all nations and bestow unforgettable and emotional experiences to the participants from all over the world”.

Despite their remarkable success, Surrey Hills Chamber Choir singers are amateurs who all combine their singing with a wide range of other professional and personal commitments. Singers come from all walks of life, including people in full- time jobs and at home with families, but all share a love of music and of singing as part of a community, together with a willingness to work hard to achieve the highest performance standards.

The choir rehearses on Wednesday nights from 7.30pm 10pm at the United Reformed Church in Guildford, in a fun but focused environment in which every voice counts. The singers use both written music and recordings to learn their parts, though sight-reading is very helpful, as is a willingness to deliver a great performance and a robust sense of humour!

Part of the choir’s real charm is that it sings in mixed formation rather than in formal parts, without music and often even without a conductor, so that it can genuinely communicate with its audiences. This means that previous choral experience and the ability to hold a harmony are important for its singers. For less experienced singers, other choirs within the Surrey Hills Singing School may be of interest.

If you’d love to have a go at rehearsing and auditioning with the choir in September, visit www.surreyhills-choirs.co.uk or call musical director Debbie Walton on 01483 276281.