I just wanted to say how much I have enjoyed my first term with Kensington Singers and thank you for making me feel so welcome. It’s been quite a learning curve as it’s a long time since I’ve taken on something new but well worth it.

Jane, soprano

Think you would like to sing in our friendly community choir? Come along on a Tuesday to sit in with us.  There are no auditions and you don’t need to have any previous experience to join – you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can start making a brilliant sound.   The choir  launched in September. Please contact us to be added to the mailing list.
Where do you rehearse?

We meet at the Elizabeth House Community Centre,  off Blackstock Road, between Finsbury Park & Highbury, on Tuesdays from 7-8.45pm. =

What are the term dates for 2019?

Our Spring Term starts on Tuesday 8th January and ends in the middle of March. There is no rehearsal on February 19th as it is half term. Our end of term performance will be on the 20th March 2019 – more information coming soon!

Summer Term will begin on 30th April.

Sign up for spring term here – or email pa@hannahbrine.co.uk .

Our conductor, Hannah, is also running two beginner music theory classes on January 26th and Feb 2nd.

How do I get to Elizabeth House Community Centre?

Elizabeth House Community Centre is off Blackstock Road, N5 1ED, well served on the bus routes between Finsbury Park and Highbury and Islington. It is on bus routes 4, 19 and 236.

I’ve never sung before – help!

Everyone aged 18+ is welcome. There are no auditions and you don’t need to have any previous singing experience. You’ll find that you pick things up as you go along and develop skills naturally. If you’re not used to singing regularly you’ll see a huge improvement in your voice after your first month or so. We always spend 15 minutes at the start having a good vocal warm up which will also include things like a bit of sight-reading practice, some rhythm games, vocal techniques and ear training.

If you are an experienced singer – great – I’ll be sure to throw some more challenging things your way and be really encouraging you to sing with good technique!

As well as the musical score you will be provided with rehearsal MP3s and you are expected to practice in your own time with these in between sessions. This is useful for those people who don’t read music. You are also asked to make notes during rehearsals so please bring a pencil.

How much does it cost?
The cost for a term singing with us is £85, which includes rehearsals and performances, all sheet music and rehearsal MP3s.
Fees help to pay for the cost of room hire, concerts, pianist when necessary etc. Membership is paid at the start of each term  – payment cannot be made weekly as valuable rehearsal time will be taken up taking money and giving change. It also encourages higher attendance, effective rehearsals and better ensemble. You can sign up here.
I’m afraid we don’t offer discounts; the full fee is payable at whatever point you join during the term, to make it fair to those who have paid the full amount.
We have a bursary scheme for people on a low income who are unable to afford choir fees. Finsbury Park Singers Choir Bursary is for adults aged 18+ who would like to attend the choir but due to their financial situation are currently unable to do so. We are particularly interested in giving the bursary to people who think that singing would have a positive impact on their physical or mental health. Please email us to receive a form pa@hannahbrine.co.uk
What songs will we be singing?

I aim to offer a really rich variety of music, from folk songs to classical, to pop, to jazz and everything else.

We usually perform without sheet music, meaning you will need to put in a little bit of time (an hour a week, spread over 7 days, is less than 10mins a day) to memorise words etc. There is usually a little bit of homework to revise 1 or 2 songs to ensure we are making progress at each rehearsal. MP3s are supplied to help with learning.

Membership and commitment
There are no refunds on membership fees. Please ensure you can commit to the majority of the weekly rehearsals before signing up. We usually perform without music, which means that you will need to put in a little bit of time (an hour a week, spread over 7 days, is less than 10mins a day) to memorise words etc. There is a bit of  homework each week to revise 1 or 2 songs to ensure we are making progress at each rehearsal. MP3s are supplied to help with learning. You can sign up here.
If you would like to come to a rehearsal and see if the choir is right for you please email hannah@hannahbrine.co.uk so the correct resources are available .