SURREY HILLS SINGING SCHOOL
Open rehearsals during September
“I love singing with my mum, we practise together in the car”
The Surrey Hills Singing School is a family of choirs centred in Cranleigh and Guildford, attracting singers from as far afield as Dorking, Horsham, Woking and Farnham. 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 the year with a fabulous afternoon of games, hog roast and ceilidh in July.
The school comprises four choirs: a daytime ladies choir (SH Singers); a training choir for 6-7 year olds; Young Voices for children aged 8 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. It is wonderful to see the excitement on the younger singers’ faces when practising the joint songs: “I’ve been practising this with mummy” they call out and burst into song before the song is even taught to them!
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, whilst 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.
If you love to sing, or would love to share a hobby with your child, then don’t be a closet singer. Come and try the open rehearsals for the non-auditioned choirs throughout September commencing on Monday 7th September. SH Singers rehearse Monday mornings 9.45-12 noon at Ewhurst Baptist Church; the Training Choir rehearse from 3.30-4.15pm and Young Voices from 4.15-5.30pm on Mondays at the Cranleigh C of E Primary School.
For the experienced singer
If you are an experienced singer and looking for a choir who 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 are looking to fine tune their numbers to maximum capacity. They have already won classes at a number of UK festivals, were placed second in two classes at their 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 rehearse on Wednesdays from 7.30-10.00pm at the Guildford United Reformed Church commencing on 16th September.
You can find more details on each of the choirs elsewhere on this site or don’t hesitate to Contact Us.
