Singing is a wonderful way to increase your happiness and wellbeing. Singing in a choir gives people a chance to get together with others, to take a break from other pressures in their life and most importantly the chance to sing their hearts out. Find out how singing in a choir can boost health by visiting the BBC website.
During the August we offer various singing workshops online. Please visit the Surrey Music Hub to find out more and how to book.
Surrey Youth Choir
Surrey Youth Choir (SYC) is one of the leading youth choirs in the country. It is a full SATB (soprano, alto, tenor and bass) choir comprising of singers between the ages of 12 and 21 from all parts of Surrey.
The SYC perform an eclectic repertoire, both sacred and secular, ranging from early to contemporary, from baroque to romantic, including the major 'standard' choral works of Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert etc. They also commission pieces for specific performances.
How to join
Find out more about the Surrey Youth Choir and how to become a member.
Surrey Arts Young Singers (SAYS)
Surrey Arts Young Singers (formerly Surrey Youth Training Choir) is the county training choir for 9- to 13-year-olds who enjoy singing and is a new singing experience where young people learn to sing from Bach to Beyonce. Combined with movement and song students will sing all the music they love but bigger.
Regular performances develop the confidence of the choir and give exciting experiences throughout each year - these include guest choir at the Surrey Arts Primary School Festivals, engagements with local adult community choirs, and informal concerts for friends and family.
There are currently Surrey Arts Young Singers ensembles in Woking on Wednesday evenings and Oxted on Saturday mornings.
How to join
There is no audition necessary and no previous musical or singing experienced needed.
The first session is free, then £81 per a term.
Find out more about Surrey Arts Young Singers and how to join, start dates and further information.
Primary Music Festivals
Primary Music Festivals are an annual event with a series of concerts for primary schools across the county, with close to 100 schools taking part.
Each school choir learns and rehearses a collection of songs to perform with other schools. They then to sing as one large choir to packed auditoriums in some of the county's largest venues such as Dorking Halls.
Find out more about Primary Music Festivals and how your school can join.
Singing Picnics
Singing Picnics is opportunity for primary school children and teachers to come together with other schools to play singing games and enjoy a picnic lunch at parks and inspirational spaces across Surrey.
These are a low-cost, low-pressure way for schools to take part in group music making with an emphasis on enjoyment, well-being and community without the need to prepare for a formal performance.
Schools bring around 30 children each, often one year group at Key stage 2 level. Teachers prepare a simple song to share at the picnic that can easily be sung unaccompanied or with guitar.
Find out more about Singing Picnics and how your school can join.
Just So Singers
Just So Singers is the county's special needs choir for any Surrey student aged 9 to 19 years, who are in full time education at a SEND school or are home educated, or at a referral unit/ sixth form unit.
Just So Singers aim is for children and young people to develop life skills, team work, communication and hopefully a love of singing through the choir. They do this by offering weekly rehearsals and performance opportunities of the highest calibre with professional musicians, to raise expectations and achievements and develop confidence and self-esteem.
They rehearse on Wednesday evenings during term time, at Philip Southcote School, Addlestone, 3.45pm to 4.45pm. The choir requires commitment in terms of attending every week and learning the words at home. Other than that, an enthusiasm for music and being part of team are the only requirements. Students can come on their own, with parental support/school support or as a school group in a minibus with teaching support. The choir sing a variety of songs from musicals, folk songs, ballads and pop songs, which extends knowledge and understanding of different musical genres.
The choir has performed in a wide variety of venues including: The Houses of Parliament, Camberley Theatre, Guildford Cathedral, the O2 and Farnham Maltings.
How to join
Membership is free and open to students aged 9 to19 and educated in Surrey and specifically for students with SEND.
Please contact Surrey Arts to find out about how to join, start dates and further information.
Adult singing lessons
You can enrol for September for the following singing groups, please see our webpage: Adult music lessons, for more information.
I Wish I Could Sing - beginners
This course is aimed at complete beginners. Come and join this friendly group where you will have fun singing a wide selection of songs including songs from the shows, old and new favourites and a few classical pieces. You will be given exercises and taught a vocal technique that will help you with breathing and pitching so that you can sing with confidence. All are welcome. Just bring your enthusiasm and a love of singing.
I Wish I Could Sing - improvers
Following from the 'I Wish I Could Sing - beginners' course you will continue to develop your vocal technique so that you can sing more challenging, complex material. As with the beginner's course, this is a friendly group singing a wide selection of songs including songs from the shows, old and new favourites and a few classical pieces. Just bring your enthusiasm and a love of singing.
Learn to Sing - beginners
Ever wondered if you 'had a voice' and never had the opportunity to find out? Or already enjoying singing and keen to gain some skills to improve and boost your confidence? This session will include great warm- ups, exercises to learn technique and, of course, singing some wonderful songs from a range of styles. No experience is necessary, and you don't need to be able to read music to take part.
