The Chamber Choir
The main choir consists of about 50 mixed voices. A comparatively recent innovation has been the formation of a small ‘chamber choir’. The group meets monthly to sing together informally under the direction of the Music Director – usually to prepare for a specific concert, but sometimes for the sheer pleasure of it and with no particular performance in view.
Ethos
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The group is complementary to the Society’s offerings, not a competitor to the main choir, and is for those singers who would like to expand their singing experiences and who are able and willing to meet the more demanding ground-rules that apply to this smaller group.
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Those joining must be able to sing with accuracy and confidence, and to be self-reliant (not relying on neighbours to find their notes and entries).
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They also need to be prepared to work on pieces ahead of, and between, rehearsals so that little time has to be spent in rehearsals on learning notes, and the Music Director can therefore concentrate on the finer points of the music.
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Commitment and reliable attendance are very important. With such a small group, absentees have a noticeable impact, and good attendance is therefore essential.
Practicalities
The Chamber Choir currently meets from 7.30 – 9.30 pm on the first Wednesday evening of most months at The Music Room, Eynsham.
Repertoire
Items selected for the Chamber Choir tend to be more small-scale and intimate pieces than those for the Society’s main choir.
How to apply
The Chamber Choir’s singers are drawn primarily from members of the Society’s main choir. Admission is at the absolute discretion of the Music Director, and any existing Society members who would like to be considered should approach the Chairman. A few singers who are not in the main choir, but are known personally to the Music Director, have also been admitted and this can sometimes help with balancing voice parts.
Costs
Subscriptions for the Chamber Choir vary more than those for the main choir because of the smaller number of singers, and the fee for the 2023-24 season (9 sessions) will be £45. Members who are not also in the main choir pay a small additional affiliation fee. There are sometimes also small sums due for the supply of scores.
The Society has a scheme for offering concessionary subscription rates to members of the main choir in cases of financial hardship (see join us for details). Equivalent arrangements apply to the Chamber Choir, and further particulars may be obtained by contacting the Treasurer lwcs.treasurer@gmail.com in confidence or, for choir-members, see the Finance section of the Members' Area
Past & future concerts
For details of past and future concerts by the Society, including those by the Chamber Choir, click here.