Addenbrooke's Hospital Choir

Addenbrooke’s Hospital Choiris a community choir based at Addenbrooke's Hospital. The choir consists of staff, past and present, from departments throughout Addenbrooke’s Hospital and Papworth Hospital. Their performance help raise money for a number worthy causes.

Cambridge Music Education Outreach

Cambridge Music Education Outreach is supported by grants from HEFCE’s Higher Education Innovation Fund (HEIF) and the University’s Active Community Fund. Outreach Officer, Joe Shaw, has developed a portfolio of activities for secondary schools and colleges and primary schools alongside community projects and public events. One aspect of this portfolio is the Choral Outreach scheme. There are several choirs in Cambridge specifically for or which involve children, these include Jesus College Choir, King’s College Choir, St John’s College, St Catharine’s Girls’ Choir, King’s Junior Voices, Phoenix Chorale, Great St Mary’s Church and Little St Mary’s Church junior choir.

For more details visit their website at http://outreach.mus.cam.ac.uk/choral-outreach

Cambridge Revelation Rock-Gospel Choir

Cambridge Revelation Rock-Gospel Choir are a Cambridge University Society, formed in 1999 as part of a National group of Rock-Gospel Choirs. They have no auditions and interested singers don't need to be able to read music. They encourage people of all races, religions, and abilities to join them and take part. They have a varied repertoire and members are welcome to try conducting, arranging, soloing, organising, planning, and playing in the band. The emphasis is “very much on having fun, making friends, and enjoying the music together.”

National Rev website - www.rev.org.uk
Facebook group www.facebook.com/groups/2202104647/
Bandcamp page www.cambridgerev.bandcamp.com/album/cambridge-rev-2013-easter-concert

To see photos taken at the recording of the piece 'Freedom' with Sing! Community Choir and Revelation Rock-Gospel Choir view the slideshow below:

Cambridge Ten Sing

Cambridge Ten Sing is an informal performing arts group FOR and BY young people, with adult co-ordinators. Main activities are singing, music, dance and drama, but also technical stuff. The group is for secondary school students and there is no audition - the important thing is to take part and attend regularly. The young people choose the material they want to work on and have the opportunity to try out new things - conduct, sing solos, play instruments, choreograph dance etc - in a fun, safe and team building environment.

The group has 30+ members and welcomes more :) New people are encouraged to come to a 'normal' rehearsal and see if the group is for them before committing.

Cambridge Ten Sing is affiliated to the YMCA and is one of hundreds of Ten Sing groups across Europe. Most activities are local, but the group also has the opportunity to take part in various national and international events as well as host other groups. (To keep costs down they apply for grants and fundraise.)

Annual subs are £40 (ca £1 per evening) and there is sibling discount.

For more details visit their website at
http://www.cambridgetensing.co.uk

For more information please contact co-ordinator Iréne Butlin at irene@thebutlins.net

To view a slideshow of pictures taken of Ten Sing during the Cycle of Songs project please click below:

Chela, the Cambridge Georgian Choir

Chela, the Cambridge Georgian Choir is a choral ensemble based in Cambridge, dedicated to the learning of the unique choral tradition of Georgia. Using the sheet music of an ethnomusicologist named Edisher Garaqanidze, they give voice to polyphonic songs have been passed down from one generation to the next for thousands of years in Georgia. The choir started as a group of friends sharing an enthusiasm for these songs around 11 years ago. Chela is an open choir and learns songs mostly by ear so the ability to read sheet music is not compulsory. Tamta Turmanidze, the leader of the London Georgian Choir, Maspindzeli, currently teaches the choir once a month. Eight of the members of Chela are already part of Maspindzeli choir. Chela also assists in organising concerts and workshops in Cambridge when Georgian choirs visit England. They occasionally perform in churches and halls in Cambridge to raise money for Georgian causes and to support the choir.

For more details visit their website at http://georgianchoircambridge.wordpress.com/

To view pictures of Chela's invovlement with Cycle of Songs click on the slideshow below:

The Dowsing Sound Collective

The Dowsing Sound Collective were founded in Cambridge, UK, and are comprised of 120 singers and 20 acoustic musicians. They describe themselves as “Not a choir and not a band, but something somewhere in between.” Their performances are eclectic with a variety of set lists spanning Scandinavian soundscapes, club anthems, indie hits to plainsong and early polyphony. We're undaunted by written notes, yet many of us can't read music. They are open to all and welcome singers of all experiences and backgrounds that can hold a tune, as well as instrumentalists, composers, and musical directors.

For more details visit their website at http://thedowsingsoundcollective.com/

YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/DowsingSoundCollect

To view pictures of The Dowsing Sound Collective and their involvement with Cycle of Songs click on the slideshow below:

Global Harmony

Global Harmony is part of Talking in Tune’s Musical Director Rowena Whitehead’s weekly drop-in sessions. Held at Ross Street Community Centre on Thursdays between 1.45-3.15pm it offers a friendly singing group for people of all levels of experience. It is designed to develop vocal skills and confidence. Participants sing songs from different vocal traditions which are all learnt by ear with occasional informal performance opportunities available. Each session costs £5.50.

For more details visit their website at http://rowenawhitehead.co.uk/?page_id=15

Great St. Mary’s Church Choir

Great St. Mary’s has a long history and in its dual role as a Parish church and church to the University of Cambridge it has always attracted musicians from within the University and outside. There are opportunities for singers of all ages to join Great St Mary’s Church Choir. The Junior Choir takes children aged between 5 and 7, is conducted by Helen Groves, professional soprano and singing teacher. The main choirs comprise a ‘back row’ of altos, tenors and basses, and three independent soprano lines, of boys, girls and a girls’ chamber choir. 

Places in the younger sections of the choir are open to singers from around the age of eight.  Places in the back row are open to keen singers of any age, who share our passion for choral music.  Throughout their time in the Choir, singers learn about music, and receive singing coaching as a group from the Director of Music, Sam Hayes, and individually from Helen Groves.

Each of the sections of the ‘main’ choirs may be required to sing at any of the three choral services on Sundays – Parish Communion, Choral Mattins and Choral Evensong, plus other services for festivals and special occasions. Great St Mary’s also has ‘The Occasional Choir’ for adults who enjoy singing but cannot commit to the regular rehearsals required by the main choir.

For more details visit their website at http://www.gsm.cam.ac.uk/great-st-marys/music/choirs

To view pictures of Great St Mary's Church Choir's invovlement with Cycle of Songs  click on the slideshow below:

Good Vibrations

Good Vibrations is Cambridge's very own home­grown open access mixed community choir of up to 40 people. Led by Sue Parlby, we enjoy songs from different global traditions and eras, with everything taught by ear and no auditions. We do several fundraising performances each year often in collaboration with other groups and musicians - with the main focus being on energy and fun.

For more information about Good Vibrations visit their website at good-vibes.org.uk

You can also contact Sue Parlby at sueparlby@yahoo.com

To view pictures of Good Vibrations' involvement with Cycle of Songs click on the slideshow below:

King's College Choir

Milton C of E Primary School Choir

The Milton Road C of E Primary School Choir is made up 65 pupils aged between 7 and 11. They are led by the Teacher of Music, Rebecca Moulton, and the variety of songs they sing are learnt by ear although pupils do also read some music.

They have performed at a number of events outside of the school, including performances with King's Junior Voices at King's College Chapel, the Cambridge Big Sing at Great St Mary's Church, Royal Albert Hall in aid of Barnados, and the MFY Regional and National Festival in Birmingham.

Milton Road C of E Primary School choir learnt songs and were part of the wonderful Cycle of Songs Songfest that took place on the 7th July 2014 at the Fitzwilliam Museum.

To find out more about the school you visit their website by clicking here. 

Milton Road Primary School

The Milton Road Primary School Choir is a choir made up of 120 singers aged 7 to 11. They are led by class teacher Anna-Louise Lawrence, and any pupil of the school can join as there are no auditions and everything is learnt by ear with lyrics. The rehearsals take place before school in the autumn and summer so children don't have to miss sports that take place at dinner-time. Then in spring the rehearsals happen on a dinner-time for those pupils who can't attend before-school rehearsals. The choir have a large repetoire of songs that cover folk, world music, gospel, acapella, and Disney.

The choir perform at numerous school and public events. These performances include visitor events at the school, a concert every term, the East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) Carol Service, and the annual Sing and Swim charity event, amongst many others. The choir has been involved with a number of the Cycle of Songs events including the fantastic 7th July Songfest that took place at the Fitzwilliam Museum, and they can be heard singing 'Hooray For Hobson' and 'Build This House' on the Cycle of Songs App. 

Anna-Louise Lawrence, Teacher and Choir Leader: 
"Learning a specially commissioned piece with the music written by Karen Wimhurst was quite a challenge, but won they rose to brilliantly. The whole process of the project has been remarkable - singing in King's Chapel alongside the Choristers for the piece by Michael Berkeley, recording in Great St Mary's and picnicing in their gardens, and of course, serenading the cyclists from the steps of the Fitzwilliam Museum at the Tour de France event. The app leaves a lasting legacy, one where you can walk around the spaces of our city in Cambridge, and hear all these wonderful songs, an adventure in sound."

Graham McArthur, Headteacher of Milton Road Primary:
"The Cycle of Songs Project has provided our large school choir with marvellous opportunities to engage creatively and musically with like-minded pupils and adults; it has extended our musical repertoire and enabled us to perform in spectacular settings and in front of a world-wide audience. A truly memorable event!"

To view photos of Milton Road Primary School's involvement with Cycle of Songs click on the slideshow below:

ReSound

ReSound is a 30 voice cappella choir for experienced singers. The choir was set up by Rowena Whitehead in September 2010 and they perform regularly around Cambridge, singing an range of contemporary and traditional cappella songs from different cultures, rich in harmony and rhythm. 

For more details visit their website at http://rowenawhitehead.co.uk/?page_id=14

To view pictures of ReSound's involvement with Cycle of Songs click on the slideshow below:

Shout Aloud!

Shout Aloud! is made up of two children's choirs and is a partner project with Church Schools of Cambridge Trust, Romsey Mill and The Church of the Good Shepherd. One choir is based in Arbury and one in Mill Road, both are free and perform a variety of music including pop, jazz, gospel and world music. The choir is open to all children aged between 7 and 11 and the children learn music by ear so the ability to read sheet music is not required.  

For more details visit their website at http://www.shoutaloud.org.uk/gallery/

Sing!

Sing! is a community choir based in central Cambridge. It welcomes adults of all ages to come and join them. The emphasis is on “building community and enjoying singing together”. There is no single leader of the choir and anyone who would like to get involved with selecting songs, teaching, conducting, or other aspects of choir practice is supported and encouraged to do so. They aim to create an inclusive environment where members can have as large or small a part as they like. Sing! is free to try and £5 a term if you would like to become a member.

For more details visit their website at http://www.singcommunitychoir.co.uk/

YouTube account https://www.youtube.com/user/singcommunitychoir

Soundcloud account: https://soundcloud.com/singcommunitychoir

To view pictures of Sing!'s involvement with Cycle of Songs click on the slideshow below:

Spinney Singers from Spinney Primary School

The Spinney Singers are a choir made up of any child who would like to take part who is at The Spinney School in Cherry Hinton. Singing is taken very seriously at the school and parents and staff are invited to join in with the choir. Children are not auditioned, the choir is open to all.

For more information about the choir at this primary school, please contact Arlette or Rachel at the Spinney School on 01223 568836 and do pleaase use the website to find out more about The Spinney School:

http://www.spinney.cambs.sch.uk/

The team at Cycle of Songs was enormously impressed with the musicianship and eagerness of the Spinney Singers, who learnt the Hobson's Rounds, and Why We Ride.  Indeed the entire school not only learnt the songs, but also the story and web resources were used for history classes for 'Hobson's Horses' and geography classes for 'Why We Ride'.  The School were very creative in embedding the project in a fun way into the curriculum, giving the children a visceral experience of singing history and geography.

In the Cycle of Songs project the singers from Spinney were very active - performing at the Fitzwilliam Museum for "Museums at Night" on 16th May; serenading outside the Cambridge Junction with their ukeles and voices on 11th June; singing with the popup choir at the Guildhall on 21st June; and finally joining in the wonderful pageant on the steps of the Fitzwilliam Museum to sing to the Tour de France cyclists and crowds on 7th July.  You can see the group performing outside Cambridge Junction on the film which gives a tour around Cambridge with highlights of the the 9 pieces for Cycle of Songs here:

All the photos of these events are searchable on the Flickr site here at Cycle of Songs, and tagged as "Spinney Singers" or by date of the event.  

This video shows The Spinney Singers of The Spinney School, Cambridge, singing 'Hobson's Horses' outside Cambridge Junction on Wednesday 11th June 2014. The round called "Hobson's Horses" has lyrics written by Horrible Histories songwriter, Dave Cohen to the tune of Frere Jacques.   The Song called "Hooray for Hobson" was also learnt by the Spinney singers, which has words written by Dave Cohen and composed by Karen Whimhurst for the Cycle of Songs project.  Both songs are based on the research led by the Creative Director and Producer, Helen Weinstein.  In this short film, captured by Historyworks, the Spinney Singers are singing outside the foyer of Cambridge Junction, with an introduction by the Cambridge Music Faculty's Outreach Officer, Tizzy Faller, with the filming by Henri Ward and the editing by Tiia Sahrakorpi, two of our fantastic production interns at Historyworks:

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You can also view photos of the Spinney Singers taking part in the Cycle of Songs:

Sur Taal, Indian Music & Dance School

Sur Taal is a charitable music school setup in Cambridge to promote Indian Music and Dance learning among adults and children. Sur Taal is overseen by a committee of Trustees, and regular lessons and events are managed by the Events Co-ordinator.

They currently offer Tabla, Sitar, North Indian vocals and Harmonium, Carnatic vocals, & Bharatnatyam, Kathak and Odissi dance lessons. Sur Taal also conducts music workshops and lessons in schools, aimed at introducing the instrumental music to children from all backgrounds, particularly those who may not have had a chance to experience it before.

They are a non-profit organisation, with the main aim to make the music and dance accessible to everyone interested, and to facilitate the development of new talent through this activity.

If you would like to find out more please visit their website at http://www.surtaal.org.uk/index.htm

or contact them at Info@surtaal.org.uk

To view pictures of Sur Taal's invovlement with Cycle of Songs please click on the slideshow below:

The Chapel Choir of Selwyn College

Women of Note

Women of Note is a small, friendly women's choir that meets once a week on Tuesday evenings to rehearse. They were formed more than 15 years ago as an all-women a capella choir and currently have around 20 members. They sing a range of music from modern, traditional, world, to pop, learn by ear and sing unaccompanied. Led by Charlie Thomson, they sing regularly at concerts and events throughout the year. They don’t hold auditions but suggest that people attend a taster session to get a sense of how they run.

For more details visit their website at http://www.women-of-note.org/  

To view pictures of Women of Note recording 'Unsung Women' click on the slideshow below: