Join – en Choir

23 Questions about joining en Choir

Please contact Emily if you have any questions not covered below.

1. Who can join en Choir?
en Choir is open to all aged 14 and over. We currently have 60 male and female members who are aged 14-83 years old. There is no audition, you don’t need experience or musical training and you don’t even need to think you can sing. To the top.

2. Who leads en Choir?
en Choir is led by composer, sound artist and choir leader Emily Peasgood. To find out why Emily established en Choir, click here.
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3. When and where do en Choir meet?
en Choir meet on Wednesday evenings from 7.30-9.30pm at St Andrews Church Hall in Whitstable. Our rehearsal dates follow standard Kent school term times. Click here for information about where and when we rehearse and parking. To the top.

4. When can I join?
We welcome new members all year round. A full list of rehearsal dates is available here. Attending at the start of each ‘term’ is a good call if you would like to learn new songs with other members. However, you can also catch up with our online rehearsal parts [link to question]. Please contact Emily if you would like to join, or simply show up! To the top.

5. Do I have to audition?
There is no audition and you don’t need any experience of singing. All you need is willingness to give singing a go. Our members have a variety of singing experience and at least 50% of en Choir members had no experience prior to joining. To the top.

6. Do I need to be able to read sheet music?
No – although some members read sheet music we offer a variety of resources to help you learn songs including: lyric sheets, cue cards, rehearsal CDs, online parts and sheet music. Members are provided with all and can choose whichever they prefer. To the top.

7. Do I have to sing in front of people on my own?
No. Some songs have solo parts that members can nominate themselves to sing. There are no auditions to sing a solo and soloists are matched to a song that best suits their voice. To the top.

8. What songs do en Choir sing?
We sing a wide variety of contemporary music including pop, soul, blues, rock, jazz, swing, latin, world music and occasionally contemporary classical pieces. Some of the songs we will learn in 2017 include:

Ain’t No Sunshine (Bill Withers)
Earth Song (Frank Ticheli)
Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)
I Want You Back (Jackson 5)
Life On Mars (David Bowie)
Sweet Child Of Mine (Guns and Roses)
The Lamb (John Tavener)
When Doves Cry (Prince)

Previous songs en Choir have performed include:

Africa (Toto)
Back to Life (Soul 2 Soul)
Chain of Fools (Aretha Franklin)
Cry Me A River (Justin Timberlake)
Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac)
Halo (Beyonce)
I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking for (U2)
Man in the Mirror (Michael Jackson)
Mas Que Nada, sung in Portugese (Sergio Mendes)
One Love (Bob Marley)
Sunset ~ Nitin Sawhney
Walk Like an Egyptian ~The Bangles
We Found Love ~ Calvin Harris and Rhianna

Members also have the opportunity to perform contemporary compositions and sound installations by en Choir leader, composer and sound artist Emily Peasgood and at comedy events under our alter ego The Seasalter Singers. To the top.

9. Do en Choir sing harmonies?
Yes. We sing in anywhere from 2 – 8 harmony parts, dependant on the song. Members are assigned to a voice group, which is flexible. To the top.

10. Which voice group should I sing in?
There are 4 voice groups:

Soprano: high female voice
Alto: medium-low female voice
Tenor: low female voice or high male voice
Bass: low male voice or high male voice

However, en Choir do not always follow these groups and singers are invited to sing where they feel most comfortable, even if this varies from song to song. To the top.

11. How do en Choir learn songs?
Songs are primarily taught by call and response: Emily sings a section and you repeat it back. As there are many people in each voice group there is strength in numbers. Once a song is learned we sing it in different ways to build confidence and learn singing technique. To the top.

12. Where are the online rehearsal parts?
Our online rehearsal parts are available here. On joining en Choir you will receive an email with the password. To the top.

13. Can I try before I join/is there a taster session?
Yes. Your first session is a free of charge taster session. It is common for several new members to attend each week, so you won’t be alone!

On arrival you will meet choir assistants Elli Rudd and Liz Crudgington to sign in. Choir leader Emily Peasgood will discuss which voice group to try and any questions you might have. en Choir is very friendly and a choir member will sit with you and discuss any questions you have. Following your first session you will receive an email or telephone call from Elli to discuss how you found the session and if you would like to join en Choir. To the top.

14. What happens during a typical rehearsal?
en Choir members tend to arrive from 7.10pm to sign in and socialise before we start singing. The evening starts at 7.45pm with a fun 5-10 minute warm up. We aim to sing one or two songs each week and introduce a new song every fortnight. We break halfway through for hot and cold drinks. To the top.

15. Is there anything I need to bring with me?
en Choir members take lyric sheets and music home with them and are expected to bring them each week. A pencil is also handy if you like to make notes on your lyrics or sheet music. To the top.

16. What does it cost to join?
en Choir are committed to promoting inclusion and provide a variety of fees to suit all. People with disabilities can attend en Choir free of charge, and discounts are offered to people in full time education. We have a number of free attendance bursaries available for people who would like to join but cannot currently afford to. Paying members are offered a discount when paying for 6 or 12 sessions up front and members can pay weekly. Click here for our full details of our membership fees. Please contact us if you have any questions. To the top.

17. Do the choir perform?
en Choir perform an annual ticketed concert in July each year at a Whitstable based venue and hold an informal Christmas performance for family and friends. Members also have the opportunity to perform compositions and sound installations created by Emily at arts venues across the UK. To the top.

18. Is there a uniform?
There is no uniform. If we have a performance we sometimes select a colour to wear. Our dress code is laid back as it is important choir members feel happy and comfortable. Lyrics and sheet music are filed in a black folder for performances. To the top.

19. What if I can’t come to a rehearsal?
Please contact us if you cannot attend more than one consecutive rehearsal. Pre-paid missed sessions are non-refundable. To the top.

20. Why are we called en Choir?
Our name was a happy accident. When en Choir was formed, our poster campaign stated: “want to join a choir? en Choir within!” The name ‘en Choir’ stuck. To the top.

21. Is en Choir a religious choir?
No. While en Choir rehearse in a church (the acoustic is great!) we do not affiliate ourselves with a particular religion as we wish to remain inclusive for all. We primarily sing contemporary pop songs. To the top.

22. Is the rehearsal venue accessible for disabled people?
St Andrews Church Hall is fully wheelchair accessible. There is a gentle ramp from the street, no stairs within the building and a wheelchair accessible bathroom. On street parking is free of charge, subject to availability. Members with a visual impairment can request large print documents. Members with hearing impairments can discuss seating arrangements with Emily. To the top.

23. Feedback
A choir only works if the members enjoy themselves and feel able to express themselves. If you have any concerns, suggestions or comments please speak with Emily, Elli or Liz. To the top.