Joining the choir
We are a vibrant mixture of adults, of all ages, from many different walks of life, with a shared love of making good-quality music together. Voice training is a regular feature of our weekly meetings: voice workshop rehearsals have been lead by guests including Robert Hollingworth (I Fagiolini) and Deborah Miles-Johnson (vocal coach to the BBC Symphony Chorus and the Philharmonic Chorus). We operate a policy of admission by audition because we want to maintain and improve on the high standards we have reached so far.
Whilst we welcome all voices to audition, we are now actively seeking a bass.
Although we work hard at our music, we are also a friendly and sociable group! Most weeks, after rehearsal, a number of choir members will be found taking well-earned refreshment in The Six Bells before heading home, and there are usually one or two social get-togethers in the course of a year.
While Thame Chamber Choir works with leading professional vocal and instrumental soloists, there are also frequent solo opportunities during the year for regular members with appropriate voices.
We rehearse every Wednesday evening from 8pm till 10pm in St.Joseph's church, Brook Lane, Thame. If you are interested in joining us, please get in touch, initially with Sue Griffiths, for an informal chat. Even if we have a ‘full complement’, we keep a list of reserves to call on, as and when the occasion arises.
To contact Sue, call: 01844 215680 (evenings) or email her at:
Auditioning
Normally, an audition would take place at the end of your first rehearsal, giving you the chance to meet and sing with the choir. If you wished to proceed, you would then sing privately to the Musical Director. The process is relaxed and friendly; Duncan is as interested in finding out what you might be able to do in the future as what you can do now.
You should bring a short piece to sing (either a solo or a choral extract is fine), and then Duncan will take you through a few exercises to test your vocal range and assess your sight-reading and ear.