Sing with the Surrey Hills Choirs
“Choir is such a big part of my life, it keeps my mind busy and my heart happy.”(Mia)
Christine Parrot writes:
I have been singing for virtually all my life. It is one of the most important and fulfilling things that I do and I love it! I’ve sung in large choirs attached to the UK’s most prestigious orchestras; small, intimate cabaret groups with a few voices and instrumentalists, church choirs, teenage wannabe poppy groups and just about everything in between, but the absolute highlight has been my time singing with the Surrey Hills Chamber Choir. I can honestly say that as well as being a choir with high musical standards (I was proud to win the national Adult Choir of the year with them), it is one of the friendliest musical groups I’ve been in.
SHCC started out 20 years ago and we’ve just had a very successful anniversary concert celebrating this landmark with so many alumni singers joining us that we doubled in number. A tribute to the strong friendships forged and maintained.
I was attracted to the choir because it was something different from what I had done before. We cover a very wide repertoire – from early polyphonic music to the short but complex choral works by 21st century composers such as Whitaker, Todd and Chilcott. As well as singing in the classical style we also sing gospel and spirituals, popular songs and madrigals, folk and traditional, and everything we sing is geared towards a memorable experience for our audiences.
We perform from memory and often unconducted. This requires a certain amount of dedication and extra effort, but it is all worth it as our audiences love the stories we paint and the connections we make with them. Every voice is valued and as a result the totality of the choir is greater than its individuals.
We perform two concerts a year in Guildford and our much-loved Christmas concert is frequently a sell-out, but the highlights are usually the away performances. This is often in competition where we meet other similar choirs from around the world. We’ve taken part in the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen, the Amateur Choral Competition in Manchester and have travelled to many places, including Cardiff, Vienna and Barcelona for festivals and competition. We have been able to win classes in most of the competitions we’ve entered and that gives us a real buzz!
Although our singers have different backgrounds and experiences and cover a wide age range, we love singing together and enjoy the opportunity to socialise that our travels bring. So, not just a choir, but a group of friends, sharing, supportive and showcasing our love of singing.
We’re a small group of about 27 singers and welcome enquiries from all voices, but are particularly looking for altos to re-balance the choir. Sight-reading is not essential, resources are available, but experience and ability to hold a harmony part is required. We rehearse in Guildford on Wednesdays, 7.30pm at the United Reformed Church, Guildford. Rehearsals recommence Wednesday 3rd September with a special rehearsal for altos, ‘Meet the altos,’ on Wednesday 17th September.
Our sister choir, the Surrey Hills Singers, is a female choir who sings the same range of repertoire. This relaxed, unauditioned choir meet on a Monday morning at Ewhurst Baptist Church. Enquiries are welcome at all times, but they will be holding open rehearsals on Monday 22nd and 29th September 10.30am-12 noon, a great time to drop by for a sing.
If you would like to come along to either of our choirs to try us out please email Debbie Walton debbie@surreyhills-choirs.co.uk to let us know you are coming so we have resources ready for you. See our website, singsurreyhills.com for details and sample performances. We look forward to welcoming you to a Surrey Hills rehearsal this Autumn.