GENERAL FAQ'S

Q: WHAT IS SOME VOICES AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

A: Some Voices is a contemporary, non-audition choir of over 1,400 members, who rehearse at 15 locations across London and in Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Margate, Newcastle, Portsmouth, St Albans, Stroud, Wimborne and York.

From Spring 2024 we now also rehearsing in Amsterdam and Paris!

Our choirs rehearse weekly for three terms per year, with 10 rehearsals each term, during which you’ll learn and rehearse 8 songs. At the end of our 10 week term we produce professional performances for you to take part in. New choirs may have shorter introductory terms.

Some Voices also has a professional choir which is available to book for events, recordings, weddings and more. Find out how to book us here.

Q: IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT TO JOIN SOME VOICES?

A: Some Voices is an adults only choir, all participants need to be over 18 years old.

Q: HOW LONG IS THE TERM AND IS THERE A BREAK?

A: Our normal terms have 10 sessions. This usually includes a half term break but in some circumstances this is not possible. At the end of term, there is an extended rehearsal in preparation for our performances.

Q: CAN I BOOK A CHOIR FOR MY EVENT?

A: Some Voices Professional Choir is available for corporate and private events, including parties, weddings, festivals and premieres.

Find out how to book us here.

Q: HOW DO I BECOME A MEMBER?

A: Head to Sing With Us, select your preferred location and find the ‘Join This Term’ link. Then you can simply sign up online. If you know which location, head straight to Join This Term.

Once you've paid your membership fee, you’ll receive an email with all your membership details. If you have any questions not answered in our FAQs just pop us an email at sing@somevoices.co.uk

Q: HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

A: The 10 week term costs £110 / €130. This includes your 10 weekly rehearsals, online resources, extended intensive rehearsal and a performance opportunity.

Q: DO YOU OFFER ANY CONCESSION RATES?

A concession rate with a 15% discount is available to NHS workers, students and those on low-income. Proof of eligibility is required - please contact sing@somevoices.co.uk to find out more. Some Voices reserves the right to change or withdraw this discount for any future terms. This discount cannot be combined with any other discount.

Q: CAN I PAY IN INSTALLMENTS?

A: We can’t reserve places and we need members to commit to a full term as we book all our venues and leaders in advance. But we want to make Some Voices available to as many people as possible so will try and help in any way we can. If you’re unable to pay the full term fee upfront please contact the team on sing@somevoices.co.uk and we will discuss options with you.

Q: I WANT TO COME FOR A FREE TASTER SESSION - WHAT DO I DO?

A: Great! We'd love you to sing with us! Your first rehearsal with us is free,

Simply head to our Taster Booking page.

Q: WHEN CAN I ATTEND MY FREE TASTER?

A: You can attend in weeks 1-4 and 6-9 weeks of term as long as we have spaces available - you just need to book a session. We have recap sessions in Weeks 5 and 10 which are less fun for a taster to attend.

With some of our more popular choirs, you may find member spaces have sold out before your taster - if this happens we’ll contact you to offer you a different location.

Just be aware that if you come to a sessions later in the term, and love it so much you want to join (you will..promise), you will have missed a significant amount of rehearsals. We do have resources to help you catch up and learn the material.

Head to our Taster booking page to sign up.

Q: CAN I SWITCH MY TASTER DATE/VENUE?

A: Of course. Just complete this form: https://www.somevoices.co.uk/missing-taster to let us know you can’t make it, and then complete the booking form again to book a new taster date.

Q: I ATTENDED MY TASTER BUT DECIDED TO JOIN NEXT TERM. IS THAT OK?

A: No problem. We'll keep you on the mailing list to receive information about this term's show and next term's sign-up.

Q: DO I NEED PREVIOUS SINGING EXPERIENCE?

A: Not at all! We’re a non-audition choir and everyone is welcome - whether you've been singing for years, fancy trying something new or have never sung outside your shower before!

We learn everything by ear and believe that this offers the most accessible and enjoyable experience for everyone, while making our rehearsals fun and informal. There's no sheet music to worry about and you'll get access to an online folder of audio recordings to help you practice at home.

Q: WILL THERE BE A PERFORMANCE AT THE END OF EVERY TERM?

A: Our aim is to provide at least one performance opportunity for every choir each term. On rare occasions, external circumstances may prevent this and we will always put the safety of our members and leaders first. But we strongly believe in the power of performing to bring the choir together and build confidence, and that having a performance to work towards gives the term focus, so we strive to provide as many performance opportunities as possible.

Q: WHAT DO MEMBERSHIP FEES CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS?

A: Membership fees ensure we can provide a professional and fun experience for all our members. This includes paying our professional Choir Leaders to expertly deliver rehearsals in welcoming and accessible venues; writing and arranging the songs; the production of our end of term performances; recording professional backing tracks for learning resources outside of the rehearsal space; maintenance of our website; administration fees and business taxes.

Q: WHAT DO TICKET SALES CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS?

A: Our end of term shows are produced in exciting venues round the country and we do our best to make the shows high quality for the enjoyment of both our members and our audiences. The cost of staging these shows includes hiring the venues; lighting and sound equipment and skilled technicians; any additional staging, set, props and costumes; paying our professional leaders to conduct; front of house staff, and marketing the shows. We try to keep ticket prices as low as possible whilst covering our costs.

We also use our shows as opportunities to fundraise for our chosen charities where possible but this is separate to the ticket price.

Q: DO I HAVE TO STAND TO SING?

A: Not at all - especially if you are unable to stand for any length of time. If you have any access requirements please drop us line at sing@somevoices.co.uk or fill in the form link via the button below and we will work with you to ensure you can just focus on the singing and having a wonderful time.

Q: WHEN WILL YOU BE STARTING A CHOIR IN MY AREA?

A: Some Voices now has 15 rehearsal locations around London and choirs in Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Margate, Newcastle, Portsmouth, St Albans, Stroud, Wimborne and York; plus our first international choirs in Amsterdam and Paris. Our full list of choirs can be found here. If you'd like to suggest a new location to us, please email us at sing@somevoices.co.uk.

MEMBER FAQ'S

Q: DO ALL CHOIRS LEARN THE SAME MATERIAL?

A: Usually, all our locations learn the same material and work towards an end of term show with the same theme. New and international choirs may start with different material suited to an introductory term.

Q: DO YOU REPEAT SONGS ACROSS THE TERMS?

A: Every term has a fresh theme and a carefully chosen set list. There will always be brand new arrangements to learn but we will also repeat a few songs from previous terms or sometimes from years ago.

The reason we do this is to help build up the repertoire of our choirs, so that we aren't just learning notes - we can work on the performance of the songs. We always aim to strike the right balance to give you fresh and exciting material without an overwhelming amount to learn, so that we can build everyone's confidence, including our newer members.

We want our shows to be as jam-packed with music as possible for you and your audience, so this combination of fresh material and repeats gives us the best of both worlds.

Q: WHAT IS THE SEMI CHORUS AND HOW CAN I JOIN?

A: Our Semi Chorus is a smaller, auditioned choir that performs extra material at our London shows and performs at external events. The Semi Chorus has extra rehearsals during the term to learn the extra material and there is no additional cost for these.

Auditions are held yearly via self-taped video - look out for details in your Members Area. If you have recently been a member of the Semi Chorus, you do not need to audition again, but if you have not taken part the last year you will need to re-audition.

Semi Chorus is aimed at strong, experienced singers who have the capacity to learn more material and perform in smaller groups. It is currently only open to London members.

Q: WHAT IS A CHOIR RANGER AND WHO CAN BE ONE?

A: Our Choir Rangers are members who volunteer to help our leaders at their rehearsals. They assist members with signing in, welcome new members and tasters, help Some Voices HQ with communicating info to members. They often run WhatsApp groups to keep choir members in touch and sometimes organise social events for their choir.

We aim to have two Choir Rangers per location ideally. If you would like to volunteer please email sing@somevoices.co.uk to find out more or speak to your Choir leader.

Q: CAN I SWAP BETWEEN REHEARSAL VENUES?

A: To help foster our choir communities and to prevent overcrowding, we don’t allow impromptu swapping between locations.

However, if you sign up in advance via the Members Area, you can now attend a rehearsal in ANY of our national UK locations and in the following London choirs:

• Monday Strand

• Tuesday Wimbledon

• Wednesday Tottenham Court Road

• Saturday Soho

You do need to register in advance so we know who to expect, can keep an eye on numbers and let you know of any last minute issues (e.g. a venue change or session cancellation).

You can attend these extra sessions instead of your usual rehearsal, or even in addition if you want an extra practice of the song.

Q: DO YOU LEARN NEW SONGS EVERY TERM?

A: Each term, we choose a theme and our Musical Directors Laura and Curtis devise a set list of 8 songs for the main choir to learn. This will include a mixture of brand new arrangements and a few songs that have been performed before. Repeating songs from previous terms is a great way to build up the repertoire of the choir, to help newer members build confidence and to increase the number of songs we can perform.

Q: DO YOUR SHOWS OR SONGS CONTAIN OFFENSIVE MATERIAL?

A: We choose a broad variety of popular songs and exciting show themes that we hope will appeal to as many people as possible. We do occasionally find that a song contains lyrics that are outdated, offensive or problematic and we will always change and update these.

Inclusivity is at the core of Some Voices’ mission and we strive to make our live shows as inclusive as possible and do not include any offensive or explicit material. Where a show contains a more mature theme or is staged in an age-restricted venue, we will provide age limit guidance for audience members.

Q: I’M A NEW MEMBER - WHERE DO I GET MY VOCAL PARTS?

A: When you book your membership you will be sent a Welcome Email all about your local choir. If you have booked early, you will get an email with your Vocal Parts via an online folder just before rehearsals start. If you join once term has started, this email will be sent out to you on the day you join.

Q: I CAN'T LOG ON TO THE MEMBERS PAGE - HELP!

A: When you signed up to the new term you would have received an email from us with a password for the private Members Page. If you can't find this email don't worry - just drop us a line to sing@somevoices.co.uk.

If you know the password, and are trying to log in on your mobile phone - don't forget to press 'return' after you have entered the password and before you press 'done'.

Q: HOW DO I SIGN IN AT REHEARSAL?

A: Your leader will have a poster with a QR code, which you can scan to sign our digital register at each reherasal. If you don’t have a smart phone or have trouble scanning, please ask your Choir Ranger or a fellow choir member to use their device. Please ensure you do this every week. If you forget, and you are logged as a no show for more than 2 rehearsal, we will assume you no longer want to joining and will take you off the membership list.

Q: I CAN’T COME TO CHOIR ANYMORE - CAN I GET A REFUND?

A: We are sorry to see you go!

As stated in the MEMBERSHIP POLICY you have the right to cancel this agreement at any time, however, the minimum commitment period is one term. Refunds won’t be given for the remainder of the current term if you decide to leave before the end.

You can interrupt your membership for any period of time under exceptional circumstances, to be agreed with Some Voices management.

Q: WHAT IF I CAN’T ATTEND A SESSION?

A: If for any reason you can’t attend your rehearsal, you will have the online resources to learn the song you missed. We also film one of our weekly rehearsals as an additional way for you to catch up. Details are available in the members area.

Please let us know if you can’t attend a rehearsal by filling in the form below.