All Saints' Chamber Choir

Newcastle upon Tyne

All Saints' Chamber Choir, based in Gosforth, was founded in 1992 by its Artistic Director Edward Marsh.

www.chamber-choir.com

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Jonathan Scott is the visitor for this group from the Making Music: North East Regional Committee.

Alnwick and District Choral Society

Alnwick

Alnwick and District Choral Society was founded in 1933.

www.alnwickchoralsociety.co.uk

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Antiphon

Hexham and the Tyne Valley

Antiphon grew out of a few singers meeting to sing early church music. Repertoire has included the Tallis and White Lamentations, masses by Josquin, Dufay and Palestrina and Victoria's Requiem as well as a wealth of motets and anthems by composers of the English and continental Renaissance.

We are a sociable bunch of around 20 members and although we are not recruiting we are always pleased to hear from good singers who share a love of early music and can sight sing well and hold a part. We practise on a Tuesday night in St John Lee church hall which is about 3 miles outside Hexham and our conductor is John Roper.

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www.antiphonchoir.co.uk

Bailiffgate Singers

Alnwick

The Bailiffgate Singers are fortunate to practice in the beautiful surroundings of The Bailiffgate Museum in Alnwick, Northumberland. We are a SATB choir of mixed abilities, under the directorship of a professional. We have 37 members and are in great need of some more men! Bass particularly.

Rehearsal night is a Wednesday 7.30pm - 9.30pm

Repertoire is very varied, from Schubert to Sting! many works are sung unaccompanied.

For more information contact Jane Dargue, jane_dargue@hotmail.com or Gillian Brown, gillian@cbrown.co.uk or telephone Joan Wilkinson, Membership Secretary, on 01669 620453

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www.bailiffgatesingers.org

Berwick Arts Choir

Berwick upon Tweed

A sixty member, mixed voice choir, based in Berwick-upon-Tweed; performing major works, both familiar and unusual, under the direction of Stewart McCormick MBE.

Rehearsals are held weekly on Thursday evenings from 7.15 - 9.15 pm at the United Reform Church, Spittal.

www.berwickartschoir.org.uk

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Berwick Male Voice Choir

Berwick upon Tweed

Alex Murchie is the visitor for this group from the Making Music: North East Regional Committee.

Billingham Oratorio Choir

Middlesbrough, Stockton

Bishop Auckland Choral Society

Bishop Auckland

The Society was formed in 1956 from Bishop Auckland Youth Choir members, Bishop Auckland Male Voice Choir and Ladies Choir.

www.dreambreed.com/bachoral

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Bishopwearmouth Choral Society

Sunderland

Bishopwearmouth Choral Society is well established, having given its first performance in 1949. Since then it has provided regular concerts in Sunderland with a repertoire which has been mainly classical - sacred and secular - with occasional pieces which are more contemporary. The choir seeks to achieve a very high standard musically in the chosen works and performances are always in conjunction with professional soloists and orchestras of a very high standard.

As well as the adult choir, the group also runs a youth arm, the Bishopwearmouth Young Singers, for young people from year 5 upwards.

www.bishopwearmouth.co.uk

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Cappella Novocastriensis

Newcastle upon Tyne

Cappella Novocastriensis was founded in 1960 by Dr Frederick Hudson to specialise in singing music for worship. It has about 40 members, and often sings unaccompanied.

Cappella sings in churches throughout the North East, as well as giving several major concerts each year. These concerts frequently promote unjustly neglected music: programmes have ranged through works from the Eton Choirbook to specially commissioned works by John Joubert, whose Hymne of the Nativity received its premiere at the concert given in December 2000 in Holy Trinity, Jesmond. The choir also sings unaccompanied works by other modern composers such as Tavener, Gorecki, Whitacre and Lauridsen.

In recent years Cappella has given a number of performances of early music with period instruments provided by Newcastle Baroque, or on occasion by period brass ensembles such as QuintEssential and the English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble. Monteverdi's Vespers of 1610 has been performed on two occasions in Durham Cathedral.

In 1999, with the aid of the Lottery Fund, the City of Newcastle, the Sir James Knott Trust and individual subscriptions, Cappella commissioned a chamber organ from Neil Richerby of
Lammermuir Pipeorgans. This organ, his "Opus 34", has been a valuable asset to the choir's performances, and is available on hire for concerts in the North East by arrangement with the chairman of Cappella (e-mail Kim.Bartlett@tgfl.net).

In December the choir usually gives a candlelit concert in the church of St Willibrord with All Saints, Newcastle Quayside. This concert has featured in succession Christmas music from Venice, Germany, England and France. In the week before Christmas the choir has regularly sung carols in a Newcastle shopping centre, to raise money for the Children's Foundation. The choir has also appeared on Tyne Tees Television's With Voices Raised, and has produced two CDs of Christmas music, in 2002 and 2005, which have been featured on BBC Radio 3's The Choir, and Classic FM's The Full Works.
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http://cappellanovocastriensis.com

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Cleveland Philharmonic Choir

Middlesbrough, Stockton

Cleveland Philharmonic Choir, the largest choir on Teesside with 120 members, was founded in 1968 by Edwin Raymond. Under the leadership of John Forsyth, the current Musical Director, the choir performs large works from Early Music to Modern and includes some compositions suitable for young singers. Members of Tees Valley Youth Choir regularly sing with us. Rehearsals are on Tuesdays (7.00-9.00) at Acklam Grange School, Middlesbrough for 3 concerts a year.

Contacts:
Trevor Turner, tel/fax: 01642 590923 , email tt16md@btinternet.com
Joan Carter, Secretary, tel: 01642 656273, email: john_joan.carter@ntlworld.com

www.cleveland-philharmonic-choir.org.uk

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Darlington Choral Society

Darlington

The Darlington Choral Society was born out of the Darlington Choral and Orchestral Association and has existed since the early 1900s. In 1970 the choir joined the National Federation of Music Societies, now known as "Making Music", and became the Darlington Choral Society.

www.communigate.co.uk/ne/choralsociety/

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Alex Murchie is the visitor for this group from the Making Music: North East Regional Committee.

Durham Choral Society

Durham

Durham Choral Society is a mixed voice choir with over 100 members. We sing two concerts a year in the prestigious setting of Durham Cathedral. The repertoire of DCS is varied, from traditional choral fare of the Bach B Minor to specially commissioned works by new composers such as Will Todd. We welcome new voices to the choir each year (see website for details) and look forward to welcoming you to Durham Cathedral for one of our upcoming concerts.

www.durhamchoralsociety.org.uk

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Durham Scratch Choir

Durham

Durham Scratch Choir is a community choir that prides itself in drawing members from all backgrounds and walks of life. In common we have an interest in singing and performing songs from many different times and traditions. We have performed gospel, doo-wop, Georgian, Balkan, contemporary English, local folk and African music. Members of the choir may have had some or no previous experience but they all enjoy the tremendous feeling that comes from singing with others in an atmosphere that is warm and friendly. There is an annual residential series of workshops and from time to time, there are concerts around the area.

Everyone has a voice and the choir helps you to find it and express it in different ways. Come along and give it a try!

www.durhamscratchchoir.moonfruit.com

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Durham Singers

Durham

The Durham Singers is a lively and versatile choir of about 50 members: they make a point of their versatility, and the repertoire ranges from medieval to modern.

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www.durham-singers.org

Alex Murchie is the visitor for this group from the Making Music: North East Regional Committee.

Durham University Choral Society

Durham

The Choral Society is one of Durham's most prestigious musical groups. We sing two or more concerts a year, often in the Cathedral, working with professional soloists and accompanied by the University Orchestra.

www.dur.ac.uk/choral.society

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Few Broth

Newcastle/Northumberland

The band have a love of all types of folk with a leaning towards 'Geordie' folk songs.

www.freewebs.com/fewbroth/

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Gainford Singers

Durham

The Gainford Singers rehearse 7.30-9.00pm on Monday evenings during term at Gainford Primary School. The choir currently comprises 35 singers. The choir was established over 30 years ago and gives concerts at Christmas and in the spring at Gainford Parish Church. The Gainford Singers have toured abroad mostly to France and once to the USA. Recently the choir has performed with a chamber ensemble. The conductor is John MacKenzie and the choir's accompanist is Chris Thompson. The choir welcomes new members who ideally will have had some singing experience.

For further information contact John MacKenzie, email: john.mackenzie1@virgin.net, tel: 01325 730280.

www.gainfordsingers.org.uk

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Guisborough Choral Society

Guisborough

Guisborough Choral Society was founded in 1967, we have over 60 members. We perform mainly in Guisborough. Rehearsals are held at Laurence Jackson School, Guisborough on Wednesdays 7.30pm - 9.30pm in term time.

Contact Jenny James, tel: 01642 711187, email secretary@guisboroughchoralsociety.org.uk

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www.guisboroughchoralsociety.org.uk

Heaton Voices Community Choir

Newcastle upon Tyne

Heaton Voices is a community choir based in Heaton in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

Heaton Voices began in January 2000, set up by Richard Scott in response to the need for a community based singing group.

www.heatonvoices.org.uk

Hexham Orpheus Choir

Hexham

The Hexham Orpheus Choir performs 2 major concerts each season, plus additional smaller works through the year. We operate a no audition policy, providing a platform for people from various musical backgrounds to come together and perform a wide variety of music from Renaissance to contemporary sources.

Many choir members also belong to other choirs in the area, with some performing as soloists in their own right. Our conductor, Glenn Davis also leads the Priory Singers, Tynemouth, enabling us to join forces and perform larger choral works from time to time. The choir has an active social calendar, and new members are always made very welcome. Details on joining the choir and forthcoming concerts can be found on our website.

Rehearsals are every Wednesday, 7.30 - 9.30pm during School Term at St Joseph's School, Highford Lane, Hexham.

Contact: Tony May, tel: 07751 346487, email: info@hexham-orpheus-choir.org.uk

www.hexham-orpheus-choir.org.uk

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Jesmond Choral Group

Newcastle upon Tyne

The Jesmond Choral Group (founded in 1966 as the St James's Choral Group) performs choral music regularly in and around the Newcastle upon Tyne area. The Group currently comprises around 30 members and is based at St Hilda's Church on Thornleigh Road, Jesmond, rehearsing on Tuesday evenings between 7.30pm and 9.30pm.

Contact: Jonathan Scott, Music Director.

www.jesmondchoralgroup.org.uk

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Lanchester Male Voice Choir

Lanchester

Lanchester Male Voice Choir was formed in 1967 and has continued without interruption.
A small, but growing choir meets at 7.30pm each Monday in the main hall of the Community Centre. All men are welcome and auditions are not required.

Contact: lanchestercommunitycentre@yahoo.co.uk

CommuniGate website

Langbaurgh Singers of Redcar

Redcar

Levendale Singers and Music Society

Middlesbrough, Stockton

Locomotion Boys Choir

Darlington

Locomotion Boys Choir is a choir for boys aged 8-14 years, singing a wide repertoire.

www.locomotionchoir.co.uk

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Michelmas Singers

Middlesbrough, Stockton

The Michelmas Singers are a well-renowned mixed choir performing a wide range of music both unaccompanied and with orchestras, specialising in music of the 16th and 20th centuries. There are 25-30 singers giving 4-8 concerts per year.

Favourite composers include Monteverdi, Byrd, Purcell, Poulenc, Parry and Vaughan-Williams, but the choir has a very wide repertoire. They often perform music of the Baroque period with the Cleveland Consort, and are keen to perform for charities. The Musical Director is Harold Reay.

Rehearsals are held weekly on Fridays during school terms at Stockton Parish Church, from 7.30-9.30pm. Prospective members should contact michelmassingers@tiscali.co.uk

CommuniGate website

www.teesmusic.co.uk

Newcastle Choral Society

Newcastle upon Tyne

The Newcastle Choral Society is a choir of over one hundred. We perform a wide variety of works at venues around the North East with Mark Anyan (pictured) as our Musical Director since September 2007. Mark is General Manager of the National Youth Choir, a singing tutor for Durham County Music Service, and joint Musical Director for the newly formed Durham Cathedral Young Singers. We rehearse every Monday 7.30-9.30pm at St James and St Basils' Church Hall, Wingrove Road Fenham.

We are always looking for new voices, especially tenors and basses, so why not come along and join us. Contact geoff.marshall@which.net for further information.

www.communigate.co.uk/ne/ncs/

Dates for your diary

Jonathan Scott is the visitor for this group from the Making Music: North East Regional Committee.

Newcastle upon Tyne Bach Choir

Newcastle upon Tyne


The choir, of some 90 plus members, was founded in 1915. Three concerts are given annually, one of works by J.S.Bach, one of British music, the third a contrasting programme. Throughout its history, the Newcastle upon Bach Choir has been based in the Music Department of Newcastle University. Dr Eric Cross is the musical director. The choir rehearses on Monday evenings during academic terms from 6.30 - 8.30pm, usually in the Kings Hall, Armstrong Building, Newcastle University.

Contact: Rose Haslam (Choir Secretary) on 0191 285 3975 email: vrhaslam@btinternet.com

www.newcastlebachchoir.org.uk

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North East Gospel Choir

Newcastle upon Tyne

Leader: Sharon Durant
Sessions: Monthly, Sunday 4.30 - 6.30pm
Venue: Trinity Christian Community Centre, Freeman Road, Newcastle, NE3 1SS
For more information contact: 01670 517191, richards222@btinternet.com

North East of England Barbershop Harmony Club

Newcastle upon Tyne

North Tyne and Redewater Choral Society

Bellingham

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Northern Praeclassica

Newcastle upon Tyne

The Northern Praeclassica is a chamber choir, nominally of about twenty-five members, based in Newcastle upon Tyne. It was formed in 1973 to perform music of the 16th Century, but the repertoire has since been extended to embrace music of all periods. Sacred and secular, accompanied and unaccompanied, large and small scale works all appear on the Choir's programmes. In a typical year the Choir stages three concerts, of which one per year is on a larger scale, given in aid of a charity, often attracting local external sponsorship. Northern Praeclassica is itself a registered Charity (Reg. 503478), and is a member of Making Music.

The choir meets every Monday during school term-times under its Musical Director, Simon Fidler, in Jesmond. It welcomes applications from appropriately experienced singers to join.

For further information, or for advance notice of our programme of concerts, please contact the Secretary, Les Brunton: Tel: 0191 281 2936, Email: les.brunton@yahoo.co.uk

northernpraeclassica.homecall.co.uk

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Jonathan Scott is the visitor for this group from the Making Music: North East Regional Committee.

Opera Nova with Cleveland Youth Opera

Middlesbrough, Stockton

Opera Nova aims to provide entertainment of a professional quality in the North East of England and to develop the talents of local singers of all ages. Since our merger with Cleveland Youth Opera we particularly welcome young members.

Our most recent productions include 'Carmen', 'The Tales of Hoffmann', 'The Magic Flute' and 'Die Fledermaus', all of which were cast from local soloists and choristers from the North East.

We also present concerts and other musical events to promote opera and to support local enterprises and charities. Opera Nova has performed at venues throughout the region including The Gala Theatre Durham, Richmond's Georgian Theatre and Middlesbrough Theatre.

We are always seeking new members. You do not need to be able to sight read to sing with us and you will not have to audition, but regular attendance and enthusiasm are essential!

If you don't want to sing you can support the group as a non-performing member - to help behind the scenes (e.g. with costumes, scenery, stage management, lighting, administration etc.) and to assist with front of house duties at all events.

We rehearse every Tuesday from 7.30pm - 9.30pm at Holy Trinity Church, Hartburn,
Stockton and we often meet socially on a regular basis.

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Pongos Youth Choir

Ponteland

Pongos welcomes singers aged 10-18 and currently has around 16 members. They meet to rehearse in Ponteland Middle School each Wednesday of term-time between 7pm and 9pm.

The music they sing encompasses a huge variety: lively African songs, folk music from Finland and Hungary, gospel anthems, sixteenth century Italian music, contemporary British songs, songs from musicals, Tyneside folk songs and Gaelic lullabies to name but a few. Singing with (and listening to) Pongos is never dull!

For more information about joining Pongos, buying a CD or arranging a concert, please contact Tessa Sayers (Pongos Youth Choir Association chairperson) on 01670 518853.

http://pongos.choir.googlepages.com

Prudhoe Community Choir

Prudhoe

The choir benefits the local community by providing an organisation which encourages participation and interest in music across all sections of that community.

Northumberland Life website

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The Priory Singers

Tynemouth

www.priorysingers.org.uk/

Dates for your diary

Alex Murchie is the visitor for this group from the Making Music: North East Regional Committee.

Ryton Choral Society

Ryton

RCS is a mixed voice choir of about 60 members. We have a mixed repertoire, mainly classical (secular and sacred) with occasional forays into the world of Gershwin and Sondheim and the like. We are led by David Murray and Eileen Bown. We rehearse on a Tuesday night (6.50-9.00pm) at Ryton Comprehensive School and usually perform 3 main concerts a year.

Contacts:

Neil Pont (Chairman), email:neil@pontart.plus.com, tel: 0191 2774498 (work), 01661 843783 (home), 07786 823637 (mobile);

Caroline Warburton (Secretary), email: warburtonsuk@hotmail.com, tel: 01661 833614

www.rytonchoralsociety.co.uk

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Sans Pareil Singers

Hurworth

The Sans Pareil Singers are a mixed voice choir based in Hurworth, Darlington. Established to provide a light hearted choir with a serious love of music, singing both traditional & modern pieces including Scottish folk tunes, songs from the shows, sacred anthems and glees.

www.sanspareilsingers.org.uk

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Tees Valley Barbershop Harmony Club

Middlesbrough, Stockton



About five years ago a group of men who travelled to Yorkshire for their barbershop 'fix' decided to form their own group based in the Tees Valley, thus the Tees Valley Barbershop Harmony Club came to be formed.

In autumn 2004 the club was officially accepted as full members of our parent body, the British Association of Barbershop Singers.

Since our foundation we have been busily building up our repertoire, improving our singing and attracting members until at present we have about 25 singers in the group, many of who had never experienced choral singing before.

This May we are taking 22 members to Cheltenham to compete at Convention, the national celebration of all things barbershop.

We are continually striving to introduce men to the joys of choral singing and to this end have organised a 'Learn to Sing' course starting September 23, lasting for 5 weeks based at Teesside University.

Feel free to drop in to any rehearsal, you will be made most welcome.
We rehearse every Tuesday at 7.30pm at The Hexagon Theatre, Hall Garth Community College, Hall Drive, Acklam, Middlesbrough, TS5 7JX.

Contacts:
Dave Tyson (chairman) - tel: 01429 263943 email: david.tyson2@ntlworld.com
Les McGhee(chorus director) - tel: 01642 554405 email: darlington5@btconnect.com

www.northernacchord.co.uk

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Tees Valley Voices

Stockton

Tees Valley Voices is a choir open to boys and girls aged seven to fourteen. Two enthusiastic and skilled Music Directors ensure that there is plenty of fun, and a wide variety of music to learn and enjoy.

The choir takes part in concerts, festivals and music theatre productions. Rehearsals take place during term time in Stockton.

www.teesvalleyvoices.org.uk

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The Singers

Newcastle upon Tyne

The Singers is a chamber choir of some 20+ singers. The choir is based in Newcastle upon Tyne, rehearsing one weekend in each month, the choir aims to maintain a sweetness and clarity of tone which is particularly appropriate for the earlier choral repertoire which is one of its specialties. The choir will be performing in St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, St George's Chapel, Windsor and Southwark Cathedral during 2007.

Contact: Rose Haslam (Choir Secretary) on 0191 285 3975: email: vrhaslam@btinternet.com

www.singers.org.uk

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Tynemouth Choral Society

Tynemouth

This friendly Society was formed in 1967 and meets on Monday evenings during term from 7pm to 9pm in the King's School Chapel, Tynemouth. In our two major concerts each year we perform well-loved baroque, classical and romantic music, as well as contemporary works. We also have a repertoire of lighter music including English and local Northumbrian folk Songs. There are regular social events throughout the year. New members are welcomed.

Contact: Margaret Stephenson, tel: 0191 257 3979, email: geofmgt@talktalk.net

www.tynemouthchoral.co.uk

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Alex Murchie is the visitor for this group from the Making Music: North East Regional Committee.

Voicemale Men's Choir

Morpeth

We are a men's folk choir founded in February 2001 and have a current membership of 21 drawn from a wide area of Northumberland. We rehearse every Wednesday at 7.30pm at the Morpeth Methodist Church. We perform at a variety of venues and our repertoire includes a wide range of material from around the world but with particular emphasis on the British tradition and the North East.

Contact: Graham Stacy (Musical Director), email: graham.stacy@virgin.net, tel: 01669 640 382

www.voicemale.ik.com

Whitley Women

Whitley Bay

Led by Gilly Love, we meet each Wednesday from 7.30-9.30 in term-time in the main hall, Whitley Bay High School, Deneholm, Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, NE25 9AS. The autumn term starts on 9th September 2009 and we will start at 7pm that week and the following, to manage registrations.

Women over 16 are welcome, there are no auditions and no previous experience is necessary.

More information about the choir is available from whitleywomen@googlemail.com and from Meg on 07989 485659.