WE ARE CHOIR ON THE HILL
Who we are and what we do
We are a friendly and welcoming community choir run by women, for women.
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We offer a safe, nurturing and creative environment for female* singers of all abilities - where you can enjoy singing with others, explore music, learn singing techniques and how to be better singers.
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Our choir is a volunteer-led not-for-profit community group focused on more than just singing - we aim to be accessible, diverse and inclusive, helping to build social connections and promote health and wellbeing through the therapeutic nature of singing.
Read more about our purpose and aims here.​​​
* As a women’s community choir, we welcome both cis and transgendered women. We also welcome non-binary people who are comfortable being in a womens’ exclusive environment. Choir on the Hill has always aimed to be a space where women can feel safe and empowered to make music and socialise together. We would, therefore, actively encourage men to find choirs that offer the same for them and, where possible, we try to suggest alternative choir groups for men to consider.
​​​​​ When and where we rehearse
We meet on Thursdays from 7.30 - 9.00pm during term time (see calendar for dates). Our home is All Saints Primary School (Upper Beulah Hill, Upper Norwood, London, SE19 3LG).
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More details on how to find us are here.​
​​​​​ What we sing
We sing a mixture of pop music, songs from musicals, folk tunes and sometimes the odd sea shanty! We regularly ask the choir for song recommendations and like to try new things,
​or sing things in new ways (e.g. acapella, harmonies, mixture of solos and ensembles).
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There is no requirement to read music and we provide you with printed lyrics at the rehearsal. Lyrics and recordings are also shared with the choir on our website so you can practice at home if you want to.
What happens at a rehearsal
Our rehearsals are coordinated by our Choir Management Team and led by our Music Director, Elena Carrossa.
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7.30- 7.45pm
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Refreshments and notices - We spend the first 15 minutes of rehearsal having refreshments* and catching up on any announcements and notices.
7.45 - 9.00pm
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Warm-ups - We'll then spend some time warming up. This usually involves a mixture of gentle physical movement and singing exercises. We also look at breathing and singing techniques.
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Singing - Once we're warmed up, we focus on learning a new song or revisiting and practicing something we've worked on before. This includes learning different harmonies or working on parts of a song that need a little more attention.
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Rehearsing for performance - if we have a performance coming up, we will practice the songs in running order to prepare us for singing live.
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*Free cake and refreshments are provided before each rehearsal. If you're a keen baker, there's also a chance to join our baking rota!
Image from performance at Horniman's Museum and Gardens, Summer 2024
Performing
Whilst there is no obligation for members to sing publicly, we perform as a choir in a number of local events every year. Many of our members find the experience of singing live to an audience hugely enjoyable - whether that’s for the public or for friends and family. Why not check out some of our performances in the Gallery.
Community
Although we come together to sing and to enjoy the therapeutic benefits of singing, Choir on the Hill offers so much more.
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You can make friends, be part of a supportive community, enjoy yourself, and have fun.
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There is a thriving social community which operates in and around choir should you wish to take part. This includes socials at the pub, group trips to shows or performances and much more.
JOINING CHOIR ON THE HILL
Come for a FREE Taster Session
You can come for a FREE taster session before joining to see if you like singing with us. No previous experience is required, you don’t need to audition, and you don't need to worry about the strength of your voice or what type of singer you are. If you enjoy singing - even if it's in the car or the shower - you are welcome to come along!​
You can download a Taster Session Info Sheet here.
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Joining and Membership Fees
After the taster session, if you’d like to join Choir on the Hill, you’ll need to complete a registration form. Then you can either Pay as You Go at each rehearsal or pay in advance, per term, via Subscription.
PAYG Membership is £10.00 per rehearsal session (or £5.00 concessionary rate*). You can pay in the room, at rehearsal, using our card reader. We use Stripe, a secure payment processing platform.
Subscription: is at a discounted rate of £9.00 per session (or £4.50 concessionary rate*). The cost of the term will reflect the number of weekly sessions and is payable in advance. The payment will be taken safely and securely through Stripe online payments. To set up a subscription, either email sing@choironthehill.com or speak to a member of the management team.
CONCESSIONARY RATES At Choir on the Hill, we're committed to removing barriers when it comes to understanding, enjoying, and participating in music. We've calculated our weekly fee to be as low as possible, however, if you find this unaffordable, you may be eligible for our concessionary rate(PAYG £5.00 pw or Subscription £4.50 x no of weeks in a term, which is half the standard rate). The concession membership may be helpful for those who are unwaged, on low income or receiving governmental support through benefits. We don't ask for any 'proof', however, we do ask you to let us know if your circumstances change and you become able to pay the full rate. For every person who is happy to pay the full membership rate, it means that more can go towards growing and running our amazing choir. If you need more information on this, please email us at sing@choironthehill.com
What's included in your membership
As a small, volunteer-led, not-for-profit community group, we rely heavily on membership payments so that we can provide engaging, high-quality rehearsals in a comfortable, spacious venue. In order to run, promote and grow this community group, we encourage as many members as possible to sign up for a subscription and commit to attending each week, if they can.
Membership includes weekly term-time rehearsals where you will learn singing techniques as well as a varied repertoire of songs. You will also have access to our library of lyrics, musical accompaniment, and recordings of the songs we are learning, as well as a back catalogue of songs we've worked on in the past. There will be also be a number of performance opportunities each term.
ANY QUESTIONS?
OUR PURPOSE AND AIMS
Be a women's community choir​.​​
We are a women's choir run by women, for women. We welcome both cis and transgendered women. We also welcome non-binary people who are comfortable being in a women’s exclusive environment. Choir on the Hill aims to be a space where women can feel safe and empowered to make music and socialise together.
​​Promote health and wellbeing​
We are dedicated to the physical and mental wellbeing of our members.
We do this through:
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Teaching breathing techniques related to singing which can help you increase lung capacity and improve oxygen intake.
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Singing releases mood boosting chemicals which make you feel good about yourself, feel positive, uplifted and motivated.
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Singing helps you relax and release anxiety - giving you time away from the stress and worry of daily life.
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It can help with memory and concentration as you focus on lyrics, harmonies and music. Singing together promotes a sense of bonding, togetherness and unity.
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You can express yourself and be creative in a safe and supportive environment.
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Trying new things, performing and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone can build confidence and self belief.
Be accessible
All abilities, skills and levels of experience are welcome. No formal singing training, or the ability to read music, is required.
Combat social isolation
Post pandemic more people are working from home so the lack of human interaction and social isolation can be a big problem. In Greater London it can be difficult meeting people and making friends. COTH helps build connections, lasting friendships, and a supportive community which endures inside and outside of the choir.
Stay local
We regularly check the demographics of our members and have located ourselves centrally, close to transport links and to where the majority can easily travel after general working hours.
Be diverse and inclusive
Our choir is open to all ages, ethnicities, social backgrounds, sexual preference and to those with disabilities.
Be affordable
We have calculated our weekly fee to be as low as possible and, those who are unwaged, on low income or receiving governmental support through benefits, will be eligible for a concessionary rate.
We will operate under a not-for-profit basis - any surplus money and profit raised through membership, subscription etc., will be reinvested into the running, promotion and activity of the choir.
HOW WE OPERATE
Management Team
We have a management committee of women who steer and run COTH but are also members/participants in the choir. The Management team includes:
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Chairperson - Erin Trembley
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Secretary - Naomi Rocha
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Treasurer - Angela Russell​​
Musical Director
We work with a Musical Director, Elena Carossa who teaches singing, conducts, provides accompanying music and works with the management committee to grow and develop the choir.
Choir Network
We are a network of around 50 women with a core of between 15-25 regular members, based in South East London.
OUR GOVERNANCE
Management Team
The management team is responsible for:
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Seeking sufficient funds through membership payments, donations and fund raising to meet the purpose and aims of the choir.
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Hiring a Musical Director and rehearsal space, organising rehearsals and performances, promoting and growing the choir, looking after and managing our members.
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Having good governance, being transparent in what we do and how we do it, and communicating regularly with members.
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Maintaining accurate and transparent financial records, overseen by our Treasurer.
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Compliance with GDPR, Health and Safety regulations and any other essential or best practice procedures required.
Meetings
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The Management Team will meet monthly as a minimum, with meeting summaries and minutes held centrally.
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A summary of management activity will be shared with the wider choir during our pre rehearsal briefings (known as coffee notices).
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An Annual General Meeting (AGM) involving the wider choir will be held in December.
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A Special General Meeting may be called by the Management Team as required.