Think you would like to sing in our friendly community choir? You would be more than welcome to come and join us. There are no auditions and you don’t need to have any previous experience to join in – you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can start making a brilliant sound. You can book your place for the next term here.
Everyone is welcome; our youngest member is in their early 20s and our most senior members are in their 70s, so we have a really great mix of experience and energy. Please contact us for more information.
Like most choirs, we are always very excited to hear from lower voices who would like to join the choir.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where do you rehearse?
We rehearse at St Johns Highbury Vale school, Conewood Street, Islington N5 1DL on Tuesdays during term time from 7.30pm to 9pm. For the Spring term, some rehearsals will be extended to 9.30pm.
How do I get to St John’s Highbury Vale School?
Arsenal is the nearest tube and we are also walking distance from Highbury & Islington and Finsbury Park. Buses 4, 19, 236 and N19 stop nearby.
How much does it cost to take part?
The termly cost for Spring 2024 is £120. Fees help to pay for the cost of music scores, venue hire, concerts, pianist when required, mp3s etc.
Membership is paid at the start of each term. Payment cannot be made weekly as valuable rehearsal time will be taken up taking payments and giving change. It also encourages higher attendance, effective rehearsals and better ensemble.
Finsbury Park Singers has been fully booked for the last few terms, so we are not able to offer taster places at present.
Please note – there are no refunds on membership fees. Please ensure you can commit to the majority of the weekly rehearsals before signing up.
Occasionally you may be asked to pay a deposit for certain pieces of sheet music, which is returned at the end of term.
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. To apply, please complete the online bursary application form.
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. As a conductor I am reactive to the size, abilities and tastes of the group — each choir should have its own personality which is a combination of yours and mine.
Is there any practice I need to do outside of rehearsals?
We usually perform without 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 a couple of songs to ensure we are making progress at each rehearsal. MP3s are supplied to help with learning.
Do you have any other singing opportunities?
If you are unable to commit to a weekly choir, I offer various workshops for singers throughout the year, including an annual singing retreat. I also teach 1-2-1 singing lessons. Please contact me to join the mailing list or for more details.
I’ve never sung before – can I still join?
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 an 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 may 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!
Do I need to bring anything to rehearsals?
Your music (given to you at the start of term), a pencil, an eraser – and, if you’d like, a bottle of water. Dogs and babies should be left at home!