We would love to welcome new members! We have two rehearsal periods in the course of each year: from January to May for a performance in May, and from September to December for a performance in December. Our next concert will be on Saturday 14th December 2024.
All rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings from 7.30pm until 9.30pm, in the Hall at Shipston Primary School in Station Road, Shipston-on-Stour. See below for directions on how to find us.
During warm-ups at the start of each rehearsal, we use the booklet Vocal Exercises (by J. Michael Diack). Our librarians will let you know where these can be obtained at a 10% discount for choir members. Work goes on at a lively pace, with help for the less experienced, but plenty to stretch the seasoned singers. There are also interesting nuggets of background information from the Musical Director.
Audio files of the individual parts are made available so that less experienced singers can get to know the music at their own pace. They are presented in their musical context, giving an idea how the parts relate to the work as a whole. Most singers find these recordings useful, but the main benefits are that some people are able to enjoy singing music not otherwise accessible to them; and in addition, rehearsals can proceed at a brisk pace since many members have already learned the notes. People have learned to sight-sing from scratch with Stour Singers.
Directions on how to find us:
The postcode is CV36 4BT.
From the north:
On the A3400, c. ½ mile after entering Shipston-on-Stour, on the left-hand bend, turn sharp right into Station Road. The entrance to the school is 150 yards on the left (just before the Black Horse pub).
From all other directions
(B4035 – Brailes, Moreton, Campden – join the A3400 at the one-way system)
At the one-way system, take the direction of Stratford. After about ¼ mile (where the main road turns right), bear left into Station Road. The entrance to the school is 150 yards on the left (just before the Black Horse pub).
Parking is available in the school carpark.