Membership
There are about 80 singers who regularly enjoy making music under the watchful eye and baton of our Musical Director.
We are always looking to increase our membership. If you used to sing with a music group or at school or college and would like to reawaken your interest in singing, or perhaps you have been inspired by a television programme, why not come along to a rehearsal and get to know us?
If you are interested in becoming a member or trying us out, or would like more information, contact [email protected].
Why sing?
Over 2.8 million Britons take part in choirs. Research shows that group singing is a powerful antidote to anxiety, depression and loneliness, reducing stress and improving mood and cognitive function. While all of us can reap these benefits, singing with others can be life-changing for people with certain health issues, such as Parkinson’s Disease or dementia.
There are other health benefits too. Choir singers have been found to have higher levels of infection-fighting antibodies. It improves posture and exercises your abdominal muscles. So group singing is excellent medicine, and it is more fun than going to the gym!
Being part of a choir, with regular rehearsals and concerts, creates a great opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. It is a fast track to connecting with people around the common goal of making music.
It is no wonder that studies have shown singing in a group increases positive emotions, decreases negative ones, and leaves participants happier, more alert and relaxed.
You really cannot overstate the importance of being part of a group, and that is something a choir can do.
You can also read experiences from choir members.
Rehearsals
Rehearsals take place on Wednesday evenings from 8pm to 9.50pm at St Edward’s Primary School, Havering Drive, Romford RM1 4BT.
They can sometimes be challenging, for example when learning a new piece of music, but will always be enjoyable. The rehearsals are aimed at ensuring that members of all abilities gain from the evening and feel the buzz of improving their singing skills.
There is much to learn about a piece of music and we want every performance to be of the highest standard, so we do expect members to attend as many rehearsals as possible, particularly those leading up to a concert and the mandatory rehearsal on the afternoon of the concert.
Performances
The choir performs four major concerts each year, and sometimes performs at other special events. The major concerts normally take place on Saturday evenings and there is always an afternoon rehearsal on the day.
We have a dress code for all concert performances.
Repertoire
Our repertoire is broad, diverse and varied. Over the past few years we have performed works by Brahms, Elgar, Handel, Mozart, Haydn, Mendelssohn, Rutter, Vivaldi, Verdi and Vaughan Williams. Added to this is more relaxed music from shows such as Les Misérables, South Pacific, West Side Story and Guys & Dolls, plus popular music from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s and a wide range of Christmas music, both traditional and modern.
Subscriptions
The annual subscriptions for September 2026 to August 2027 are:
- Full: £240. Payable by 31 October. Also payable in two or three instalments.
- Retired: £220. Payable by 31 October. Also payable in two or three instalments.
- Students: £30. Payable by 31 October.
Paying for music
Choir members are expected to pay for the cost of hiring sheet music and vocal scores, unless they have their own copies. This typically costs up to £3 per term.
We ask members to look after hired music as if it were their own, and in the event of damage or loss we expect members to pay the full cost of replacement.