Based in Market Harborough, the Harborough Singers is one of the East Midland’s foremost amateur choirs. Unique in their practice arrangements, the choir meets for a weekend of intensive singing just once a month and includes members living as far afield as Shropshire, Oxford and London. The singers are of all ages and represent many interests, musical backgrounds and walks of life, and they have performed extensively both in the UK and abroad, alongside notable professionals such as Dames Felicity Lott and Patricia Routledge, baking celebrity Mary Berry, and actors Sam West and Martin Jarvis.

Particular highlights for the choir include singing the weekend services at St Paul’s Cathedral, the 250th anniversary concert at Church Langton commemorating the first recital of Handel’s Messiah there, and singing in a Salt Mine in Poland! The choir’s repertoire includes sacred music representing the core of the choral tradition, along with new works, madrigals, spirituals and folk songs.

At its core, the choir is a group of individuals who come together, bringing only their voices, to take part in that most human of activities: making music together. In the words of Finnish composer, Sibelius, ‘music begins where the possibilities of language ends.’ The singers rehearse on a Friday night then continue all day Saturday, usually at Church Langton Community Hall, where the coffee and cake break is just as important as the singing. New members tend to have some choral experience and a blending voice, and there are free places for those aged under 23.

So, if you love to sing, fancy airing your vocal chords but can’t commit to weekly rehearsals, check out the choir on their website to see if this might be the group for you. If you’d like to hear them live, the choir is currently rehearsing for a performance of Brahms Requiem in Lyddington in Rutland on Saturday 5th November. Tickets are £15 and available through the website, where you can also join the mailing list or ask about membership, or from Julia on 07761 729558. The choir would love to hear from you!

www.harboroughsingers.com

 Meet the Harborough Singers