Hereford Community Choir

About

Established in January 2014, Hereford Community Choir creates a positive environment and an opportunity for people to gather and sing together. It is the highlight of many people’s week, giving them a much-needed lift or enabling them to switch off from the stresses of life for a couple of hours.

Singing helps people calm down physically. The body produces endorphins - the happy hormone that affects every cell in the body – which lift the spirits and boosts the immune system.

Firm and lasting friendships are formed. People look out for each other, support each other, laugh with each other and feel fantastic when they hear the wonderful harmonies they make together.

Singing in a choir is not only about communality, social cohesion and harmony; for many it is an essential source of emotional wellbeing and positive mental health. It is a powerful expression of our culture and humanity!

Singing together has great health benefits for breathing, for your heart and for emotional well-being.

According to the NHS, the five steps to wellbeing are: connect, be active, keep learning, give to others, be mindful. All of these can be applied to group singing:

1. CONNECT: singing brings us together as a community and helps forge strong social bonds.
2. BE ACTIVE: singing is an aerobic activity that regulates breathing while also relaxing and energising the body.
3. KEEP LEARNING: singing uses different parts of the brain as you process new words, melodies, rhythms,
4. GIVE TO OTHERS: you are giving in a musical sense when people hear you perform; also, most choirs are socially conscious and are active fundraisers.
5. BE MINDFUL: singing is a multi-sensory experience that encourages you to be fully present (mindful) and may result in a state of flow.

We sing arrangements of popular music spanning the decades under the leadership of Tom Hughes (Music Practitioner/Director).

FAQ

Who is the choir for?

Anyone interested in singing. Those who are looking to learn something new and perform with others in a fairly informal setting.

What level is the music?

The majority of songs are arranged in 2-part harmony. If you aren't confident at reading music, don't worry as you can learn by ear. There is also online support for rehearsing at home between meetings. Over time you will develop musical skills and most importantly, we want the meetings to be enjoyable, non-competitive and stress-free!

Where and when does the community choir meet?

We meet at Hampton Bishop Village Hall, Hereford HR1 4JY between 7:30-8:30pm on the 2nd & 4th Thursday during term-time.  Please arrive in time for a prompt start.

What is the fee/subs?

The non-refundable fee/subs is £5 per meeting (£5 per couple if attending with a spouse/partner). This can be paid termly in advance, monthly or pay per meeting. Cash payments can be made in person at meetings, or you can pay online via this website using PayPal or BACS prior to attending.

Do I have to attend every meeting?

No, but we recommend you attend when possible. Each meeting will consist of a warm-up/starter, learning and developing a couple of songs from our repertoire and gradually introducing new music. Online learning resources are available for support between meetings/practicing at home or if you miss a meeting.  We also Zoom our sessions for those who cannot attend in person but want to join in at home!

How do I join and what do I need to bring?

Please complete the online registration form prior to joining. Please bring your music folders and a pencil with you and try and arrive 15-minutes prior to the start time. We will do our best to notify you of music we will be working on in advance of each meeting.

Please get in contact if you have any further queries.