FARINGDON
COMMUNITY
CHOIR
About the Choir
Faringdon Community Choir was begun by Rachel Williams in November 2021. We now have over 50 members who love to sing together. Some members have been in choirs before; some have joined us for their first ever choral experience. We welcome everyone who wants to join us. We sing in 3 or 4 part harmony; covering an eclectic mix of pop music, folk, classical and songs from musicals. Having done a few informal concerts in 2022, we performed our first ‘proper concert’ in December raising over £500 for a local Faringdon charity
Benefits
Is singing in a choir for me?
The choir offers all singers the opportunity to sing as part of a group, regardless of previous experience. The goal of the choir is to enjoy making music, improve our vocal skills and develop our musicality. However, extra benefits are the camaraderie we feel as a group, making new friends and the mental health benefits of singing and making beautiful music!
What we Sing
Is it my kind of music?
We work on a variety of repertoire including pop, songs from musicals and folk songs. Rachel is always keen to take suggestions for songs. Some of the songs we sing are unaccompanied some have a piano accompaniment. We normally sing in either 3 or 4 part harmony.
How we Work
Do I have to be able to read music?
There is no necessity to be able to read music, although we do provide ‘the dots’ for everyone along with the lyrics. All the music is taught by ear, with the music there just as a help for anyone who wants it. Once you are a ‘paid-up member’ you get access to the members area of the website which provides you with audio tracks of each part for your to practise at home
About Rachel
Rachel has been involved in making music from childhood, firstly in the school orchestra, then at university, and later as a music teacher, both in the Indian Himalayan foothills and in schools in the Midlands and Oxfordshire. Whilst class teaching was a mainstay of her work in schools, extra-curricular was always her passion, running choirs, orchestras, folk groups and putting on fabulous school musicals. Many of her students have now gone on to pursue careers in music and the arts, or at least are continuing their musical exploits beyond their other jobs.
When Rachel finished full time school teaching three years ago, after a 25-year career, her efforts were put into instrumental teaching, playing and community music. She is a talented percussionist, but also plays piano, clarinet, saxophone, whistle, bass guitar and melodeon! She also works as Creative Producer of Folk Weekend: Oxford, a role she’s recently taken on, having worked for Folk Arts Oxford for nearly three years. In her minimal spare time, Rachel plays in Boogie Me (a local dance band), morris dances with Armaleggan Border Morris, and runs a pub folk session at The Swan in Faringdon.
Upcoming Performances
Faringdon Christmas Light Switch on 30th November
As well as stalls, fairground rides, craft market, a Christmas tree and lights – there will be music, including Faringdon Community Choir who will be singing at 3pm, followed by music from lots of other Faringdon music groups and both primary schools.
Our next concert
with our friends, the Brass Follies we will be sharing music both Christmas and non- festive on 14th December
Previous Performances
We had a fabulous time at our Christmas Concert last December. Here are a couple of items from the show
