- Andover Museum Loft Singers (left - dir Paul Sartin with Anna Tabbush and Sarah Morgan deputising on occasion). Contact Sheena Smith tel 01264 860294 (email address sheena.smith2@virgin.net).
- Alton Community Choir (dir Carolyn Robson)
tel: 01252 722938
- Broughton Village Choir. Contact is Lynda Boulton: tel: 01794 301212
- Winchester (dirs Sarah Morgan and Freya Tabbush). Sarah Morgan (right) tel: 01264 738629
- Spotlight Singers (Andover)
Spotlight Singers meet at the Lights, Andover, on Monday afternoons, 1.30 - 3pm. Singing is led by Sarah Morgan. No auditions, no experience needed, no pressure - just drop by and join in the fun to learn songs and harmonies from all over the world. "This is the best afternoon of the week!" Lynne Mayo (the Lights). New members always welcome, contact Sarah for more information. - Petersfield Community Choir
This choir was started in the Autumn of 2007. It meets at the Studio, Petersfield School on Wednesdays during the school term from 8-9.30pm. The emphasis is on singing for fun, with the occasional performance. All material is taught by ear, and new members are welcome to come and join us. Contact Carolyn Robson or The Studio for more information. - Brighton Vox began life in October 2009. We sing at St Michaels Community Hall on Powis Rd, Brighton, Wednesdays at 7.30 – 9pm. Directed by singer and conductor Katie Roberts.
We sing contemporary and traditional folk songs from all over the British Isles and beyond. All the songs are taught by ear, making the our choir accessible to everyone, from the musical novice to the know it all!
- Guildford Vox initiated by Anna Tabbush,
Guildford Vox began in November 2005 at the Guildford Institute.
Already enjoying a sizeable and enthusiastic membership, its repertoire consists of contemporary and traditional song from the British Isles and around the world. Unlike most choirs, all of the material is taught by ear - no dots whatsoever!
New members always very welcome. We meet to rehearse every Monday at 7.00pm from 9th January 2006 onwards. For further details please contact Anna on 07989 556164 or email vox@annatabbush.com. Location THE GUILDFORD INSTITUTE, Ward Street (off North Street), Guildford, Surrey.
2) Other Choirs:
See also Southampton area choirs and choir news with sign-up email service
Fiona Moore teaches Get Vocal Community Choir in Chichester. They meet on Wednesday nights in Orchard Street Church, Chichester. To join, visit their website http://www.getvocal-chichester.org.uk/
Fiona runs day workshops and sets up choirs from scratch running a series of six singing workshops culminating in performances to raise money for charity. To view the latest project please visit her website www.FionaFunnell.co.uk
- Segalula Folk and World Music Choir in Southampton under the general guidance of Maggie O'Connor (see their website for more detail).
- BLUESKY Natural Voice Choir SOUTHAMPTON also run by Maggie O'Connor.
Gospel Phonics
Mavis Sawdy's Basically Gospel ceased to be in 2007, but has now reformed with the new name Gospel Phonics. The musical director is still Gemma Vandome, but we now rehearse on Tuesday evenings from 8pm to 9.30pm. We also have a new venue – Crestwood Community College, Shakespeare Road, Eastleigh. The choir welcomes new members of all standards - you don't need to be able to read music. Joining fee is £30 a term.For further details, please see website or flyer or contact Sue Hammond 02380 695245
- Vox Humana and Gregoriana "Vox Humana", with its companion chant/plainsong group "Gregoriana", is an a capella Choir based in Southern Hampshire in the UK, specialising in chant from the early centuries and sacred music from Mediæval times to the Renaissance and beyond. Within this structure, a variable grouping with a smaller number (2-6) of fine voices is known as "Vox Angelica" and contributes part of most Recitals. Vox Humana rehearses almost every Monday at St Barnabas Church, Rose Road (corner of Lodge Road), Southampton. Note that this choir auditions. Follow the link for more information.
- CODA Music Trust, near Christchurch, Dorset runs several choirs including its Community Choir for informal community-based singing in a wide range of genres.
- More conventional choirs following the more usual major work repertoires as well as many more unusual entries may be found on the Hampshire E-volve database
Come and join one of the existing choirs or think about setting up your own. You can get help with this from Carolyn Robson, Sarah Morgan or Anna Tabbush. Andover, Winchester, Petersfield and Alton all meet every week during school terms, others as part of a series of workshops in preparation for an event rather than a weekly meeting throughout the year. The style of singing suits the abilities and needs of the choir with the emphasis on enjoyment of singing together as a performance. Roger Watson (TAPS) who was involved in setting up several of the choirs, encouraged the use of traditional material from Hampshire and this has been continued in many of the choirs. Some of these choirs include in their repertoires a new approach to an old version of choral music, often known as "West Gallery" style because of its association with church music, as recorded in the novels of Thomas Hardy. However they also include other sorts of music as well, so it is best to contact the choir leader for more information about the repertoire and style.
The Gardiner Appreciation Group
Follow the link for more about the Group. A hundred years ago George Gardiner, a Scot with a longstanding interest in folk song, made his first foray into Hampshire in a quest for singers who could, in his own words "warble a song as old as the Parish church", which eventually gleaned some 1,400 songs. Arrangements of many of these have entered the repertoires of the Community Choirs.
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