I used to sing a bit. I learned to read music at school but haven’t done much for years. I don’t think I’d be good enough now to cope.
There is a lot of camaraderie within the sections of the choir and you will find your fellow singers very kind and supportive. You are part of a team, after all.
There is always a short period that includes some “note bashing” at the beginning of a new piece as many people are singing it for the first time. However, we don’t devote much time to this, and very quickly move on to singing technique, interpretation and dynamics. However you’ll be amazed at how quickly a tune becomes fixed in your head.
Tuition tapes are available for many of the more difficult pieces and lots of people use them and find them invaluable.
If you don’t feel confident with reading music, we often offer extra support in the form of free workshops which are run over a number of weeks. Workshops are at our usual rehearsal venue, King Edward V11 Upper School in Broomhill and run from 6:30pm – 6.55pm, following which you join the main rehearsal with the support of an existing Chorus member.
For details of forthcoming workshops, contact Sally Turnbull, our New Members Officer, on 0143 363 0970 or 07771 578233 or email .
I’m an experienced singer and musician. I think I’d find all the learning stages boring, and being part of a large choir unrewarding.
We have a number of people in the same position, and they are drawn by the high standard of the choir and the beautiful music we perform. Also, without the Phil, they wouldn’t have the opportunity to sing with orchestras such as the Hallé and the BBC Philharmonic, or work under the direction of great conductors like Mark Elder. It is hard not to feel privileged whilst under the leadership of such wonderful musicians, and every concert is unique and unforgettable.
We perform a lot of concerts during the season, both in Sheffield and elsewhere and are usually rehearsing more than one piece at a time. This makes rehearsals far from dull — there is always something new to learn in a piece of music. We don’t spend much time note-bashing – we very quickly move on to technique and interpretation. This means that some members need to work at home to learn the notes and the words, especially if they’re not in English. But it’s worth the effort. Even those who know a work well have lots to learn as we focus on how the conductor wants the work to sound. We also have to work quite hard with technique as the City Hall’s extremely dry acoustic means that the work can’t be sung in the same way as you may have previously used, eg in concert halls where projection and clarity are less crucial.
If you have ever attended a concert at a venue such as the Bridgewater Hall or Sheffield City Hall when a large chorus is performing, you will understand the power created by 150 voices. With every missing voice the magic is reduced.
Many of our members sing with other choirs and are equally loyal to both. A few have soloist roles elsewhere.
I’d like to join, but I just don’t have the time. What is the commitment?
The expectation is that everyone will do their best to attend every rehearsal where possible, to make sure the Chorus sings at the very highest standard we can muster. We also expect members to give their support to the entire season, ie, to commit to every concert wherever possible. In this way, members can support their fellow singers rather than relying on a central core of voices, and ensure that all our audiences see and hear us at our finest no matter what our tastes in choral music might be!
However, not everyone is able to attend absolutely every rehearsal – though we do have members with 100% attendance records! The majority of members have families or work or caring responsibilities, and anyone can fall ill. In general, we try to be flexible, and people who’ve missed rehearsals can appeal to our Music Director via their Voice Rep; he exercises some discretion in this respect.
However, people whose attendance rates have fallen to unacceptable levels (eg 75%) or who miss the conductor’s piano rehearsal are very rarely allowed to perform in the upcoming concert.
The season runs from September to June, so members aren’t required over the summer months, unless we’ve undertaken a mini tour to other parts of the UK or over to Europe.
Can I come along and give it a try?
Yes, come to any rehearsal you like. You may prefer to wait until we are beginning a new piece so that you hear us all struggling together! Coming for the first time to a rehearsal where we are very familiar with something can sometimes be a bit off-putting!
Tell me more about the rehearsals.
Rehearsals are held between 7.00pm and 9.00pm each Tuesday at King Edward VII Upper School, Glossop Road, Sheffield, S10 2P. On street parking is available and details of public transport links are on our New Members page. You can read more about rehearsals at Rehearsals
Is there an audition?
Whilst we all appreciate that you might be a bit nervous, an audition is the normal way for a Music Director to assess the standard of your singing and to see if our Chorus is right for you. We try to make the audition fairly short and as relaxed as possible.
Sight singing is not tested during the audition – you’ll be asked to sing some scales and a short accompanied piece of your choice. Prior to the audition you are welcome to attend a number of rehearsals giving a perfect opportunity for you to learn more about the music, the members and the fun we share.
All members of the chorus have been through the audition and we want to support and encourage new members. Rest assured it is not as bad as it sounds. Our Music Director, Darius Battiwalla has put together a few notes on what you can expect on the Auditions page.
Is there a cost?
Chorus members are required to pay an annual subscription, and concessions for students and others are available. If you join the chorus partway through a season (after December) there will be a reduction on the full amount.
The subscription was reduced to £66 for 2020-21, due to the restrictions posed by the pandemic. It was £150 for the 2022-23 season; this level of fee is comparable to other choirs in our region.
Please talk to our Finance Officer if you would struggle to pay the subscription, as we can come to special arrangements for people on benefits or low incomes.