Surrey Hills Singing School’s Open Rehearsals For All

Published on: 27 Aug, 2015
Updated on: 27 Aug, 2015

If you love to sing, or would love to share a hobby with your child, then don’t be a closet singer.

That’s the message from the Surrey Hills Singing School which is staging open rehearsals starting on Monday, September 7.

Members of Surrey Hills Singing School in performance.

It is a family of choirs centred in Cranleigh and Guildford. This year the choirs celebrated their 10th anniversary with a sell-out concert in May at the new auditorium at St Catherine’s School, Bramley, followed later in July with a fabulous afternoon of games, hog roast and ceilidh.

The school comprises four choirs: a daytime ladies choir (SH Singers); a training choir for six- to seven-year olds; Young Voices for children aged eight upwards; and the national Adult Choir of the Year 2012, the Surrey Hills Chamber Choir.

As well as being entirely separate, the choirs also unite, giving the opportunity for families to perform together.

All choirs sing many styles of songs and perform from memory. The adult choirs have a wider repertoire with songs from the shows, popular songs, spirituals, folk songs, early music, and “classical” music from all eras, while the children like to sing musicals, pop, gospel and songs from Disney films.

Support is given through recordings and part files available by download. Musical director Debbie Walton also instructs all her students in musicianship and vocal technique through the vocal warm-ups and repertoire.

The SH Singers rehearse on Monday mornings from 9.45-am to noon at Ewhurst Baptist Church. t

The Training Choir rehearses from 3.30pm to 4.15pm and Young Voices from 4.15pm to 5.30pm on Mondays at Cranleigh CofE Primary School.

If you are an experienced singer and are looking for a choir that enjoys singing to a high standard and participating in competitions, then contact Debbie regarding visiting a chamber choir rehearsal.

The Chamber Choir will be entering the International Eisteddfod at Llangollen in July next year and is looking to fine tune its numbers to maximum capacity.

It has won classes at a number of UK festivals, was placed second in two classes at its last visit to the Llangollen Eisteddfod, and most successfully won the adult category of the national Choir of the Year in 2012.

As well as all the usual qualities of a good chamber choir, the choir particularly encourages personal development of vocal technique and communication with the audience.

The Chamber Choir rehearses on Wednesdays from 7.30pm to 10.00pm at the Guildford United Reformed Church in Portsmouth Road, commencing on September 16.

Visit the website for more details on each of the choirs.

Email debbie@surreyhills-choirs.co.uk or call her on 01483 276281.