Other Local Singing groups - Music in Our Bones

**Please note this page needs updating and before attending any of these singing groups we recommend you contact them first- particularly during the current covid-19 crisis**

We hope our members get the benefit from singing and if you get soemthing out of it you consider joining other lcoal singing groups. Here is a list of all the singing groups in the area we are aware of. If you think one needs adding please email us musicinourbones@gmail.com and we can add it to the list.

A New Song Community Choir is one of Ipswich’s newest community choirs, based at Burlington Church Centre, London Road, IP1 2EZ, and launching on Monday March 3rd 2014. Whether you’ve been singing for years or never sung before you’ll enjoy music old and new with a friendly community. No experience necessary and we don’t mind if you can’t read music. As we develop we plan to hold workshops, performance at local venues and social events during the year. Rehearsals are twice a month on Monday evenings at 8pm. There’s no charge, but donations are welcome for refreshments. Email: anewsong@burlingtonbaptist.org.uk Facebook: anewsongchoir.
Chanting – Enchanting – Ipswich – one Saturday morning a month Mary Benefiel
Chris Rowbury’s Singing Safaris twice yearly – 6 weeks rehearsal leading up to a performance plus : Sing Out Saturdays are monthly drop-in sessions for anybody who loves to sing. Enter a stress-free zone and make some beautiful music with like-minded souls. They take place on the third Saturday of each month at the United Reformed Church, Hadleigh 10.30am to 1pm. Cost £8 (including refreshments). Different songs and different singers each month. No commitment needed, just turn up when you can. All welcome, no singing experience needed, everything taught by ear. https://singoutsaturdays.co.uk
Co-op singing groups Ipswich
Hadleigh Community Choir is for anyone over 16 who would like to sing with a choir and give public performances for charity and other good causes. There are no auditions and the music is light and popular. Rehearsals are on Thursdays at 7.15pm for a 7.30pm start in the United Reform Church off Market Place, Hadleigh, Suffolk IP7 5DL. For more information email choir@opensecret.co.uk.
Halesworth Harmony is an ‘open access’ community choir – open to all, without audition, regardless of experience. Songs are taught by ear and there is no need to be able to read music. We sing an eclectic mix of musical styles – probably best described as World Folk; this includes music from the English-speaking world, Eastern Europe and Africa. We usually learn a programme of songs during the year which are then performed in late Spring or early Summer, often in collaboration with other choirs. Email: halesworth.harmony@gmail.com.
Horringer Singers. We are a friendly mixed voice choir of approximately 30 members who enjoy singing anything from church music to songs from the shows, with usually 3 concerts per year. Led by our new M.D. John Catlow, we meet on Thursday evenings from 7.30 – 9.15 pm in Horringer Community Centre, near Bury St Edmunds.
Ipswich Community Children’s Choir – Aged 5-11? Love to sing? Come and join our exciting choir. All children welcome. No previous singing experience necessary. Weekly rehearsals on Mondays during term time at Song School, Tower House, 17 Tower Street, Ipswich. It’s Free! Email: singwithi3c@yahoo.com
Ipswich Reggae Choir – Love reggae? Maybe try this open access reggae choir https://www.facebook.com/events/westgate-ward/ipswich-reggae-choir/250124152583034/
Joyful Voices is an unaccompanied Community Choir in Bungay led by Mary Lovett. Alternate Tuesday evenings from 7-9
Songs from around the world all taught by ear, no experience necessary. EVERYONE WELCOME. If you would like to find out more, email
joyfulvoices@yahoo.co.uk
Keep On Rocking – ActivLives Community singing groups Ipswich and Woodbridge – Gina Silburn
Kirkley Community Choir Open access choir https://www.facebook.com/KirkleyCommunityChoir/
Lowestoft Signing Choir We are a mixed group of people. Some are Deaf, some Hearing, some Hard of Hearing and some of us have other related hearing difficulties. We all have connections with The Deaf Community, be it through our work, paid or voluntary, or family members/friends who are Deaf. http://www.lowestoftsigningchoir.org.uk/
New Directions music therapy group Ipswich
Funky Voices – Ipswich
New Voices – Ipswich Choral Society
North Suffolk Youth Choir (www.nsyc.org.uk) The choir was founded in 2008 by its musical director, Vetta Wise, and has about 25 members, boys and girls (ages 12 – 20+). It meets every few weeks usually on a Sunday afternoon in the Waveney Valley area for rehearsals and workshops and performs about twice a term at concerts, weddings or civic events. The group sings a wide variety of music, classical, musicals, popular and world music, and recently won two awards at the Gorleston Competitive Music Festival.
Participate – Snape Maltings – Open Community Music workshops once monthly Wed afternoons
Pop Chorus – Woodbridge area – the friendly, fun, fabulous chorus you’ve been searching for! You don’t need any experience, you won’t have to audition or sing on your own and you don’t need to read music. We unashamedly sing great pop songs in harmony to professional backing tracks – this is unlike any choir you’ve ever heard! Copdock Pop Chorus (Tue eve) 7.30-9.30pm on Tuesday evenings in a function room at the Cameo Hotel, London Road, Copdock, IP8 3JD. Kesgrave Pop Chorus (Wed am) 10am-noon on Wednesday mornings in the function room at the Farmhouse pub, Grange Farm, Kesgrave, IP5 2GA. Ipswich Pop Chorus (Wed eve) 7.30-9.30pm on Wednesday evenings at Ipswich Sports Club, Henley Road, Ipswich, IP1 4NJ. Framlingham Pop Chorus (Thu eve) 7.30-9.30pm on Thursday evenings at Framlingham Conservative Club, Church Street, IP13 9BH. Come and try a session for free – email sing@popchorus.org for more information.
The Rabble Chorus began in 2009 as a community choir for those who didn’t see themselves quite fitting into the ‘choral society’ mould or taking themselves too seriously, but just really enjoyed singing. The main group is run by Kirsty Logan, a local professional musician, and rehearses on Thursdays 8-9.30pm at Easton village hall or occasionally at the pub. A second ‘Daylight’ Rabble Chorus runs in Woodbridge at St Johns Hall on Tuesday mornings, 10.30a.m. There are other Rabble Choruses, one on Wednesday morning in Needham market and one on Thursday morning in Saxmundham. The choir repertoire encompasses high brow, low brow and anything in-between. We don’t audition or make anyone sing solo and we don’t mind if people have never sung before or whether they can read music. You can contact us via www.facebook.com/RabbleChorus, or web www.theRabbleChorus.co.uk
Senior Singers Ipswich
Shared Voices – Bentley – some Saturday mornings Clive Barker
Sing to beat Parkinsons – Ipswich and Snape Skylarks run by Amy Mallett . A fun and friendly singing group for people living with Parkinson’s and their companions.Skylarks (Sing to Beat Parkinson’s) groups use techniques based on years of research to help those with Parkinson’s to maintain or improve their psychological and physical wellbeing through taking part in regular singing activity. Email :amallett@snapemaltings.co.uk
Singing For The Soul- To work together to overcome homelessness and social exclusion while using our voice to achieve social change. We are utterly delighted to announce a new, free weekly singing group, run by Andi Hogood from Suffolk Soul Singers, at The Royal Oak. The group meet every Friday morning, 10-11.30am, round the piano in our warm space. Its completely free, fun and informal. All ages and abilities welcome, lyrics will be provided. www.emmaussuffolk.com/blog/singing-for-the-soul
Suffolk Music Therapy Services https://www.suffolkmusictherapyservices.co.uk/adult-services
SongRise – Old Hall, East Bergholt – Tues eves fortnightly Tracy Sharp Contact tracy.sharp43@ntlworld.com
Suffolk Soul Singers is a dynamic community choir, led by Andi Hopgood. Established in 2009, the choir quickly gained a reputation for offering lively performances of timeless soul classics, upbeat gospel songs and contemporary hits with a soulful twist. We are a truly inclusive and accessible choir, united by a love of singing and a commitment to learning together. We welcome anyone who loves to sing – experienced singers and beginners alike. We don’t hold auditions or expect you to be able to read music, as we learn all our songs by ear in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. http://suffolksoulsinge.onesuffolk.net/join-us/
Taize singing – Unitarian Church Ipswich – Tuesday mornings once monthly – organised by Ann Baeppler and run by Liz Gerrie and Jan Savage
Tudor Rose Singers – we are a choir of around 25 singers based in Woolpit. We sing a wide range of music, old and new, and give concerts at various locations in West Suffolk. We meet on Sunday evenings at Woolpit (in the Institute during the winter, and in the Church during the summer), from 7:15-8:45pm. New members are always welcome and no auditions are required. Just come along to one of our rehearsals or email janejones2405@gmail.com for more information.
Unscene Singers What? Fully accessible singing workshops led by professional singing leader and vocal coach Emma J Bishton. Songs will be learnt by ear and distributed in large print or audio format. When? Mondays afternoons, 2.15-4.15pm.Where? DanceEast, Foundry Ln, Ipswich IP4 1DW. Our volunteers can meet you from local buses and trains. How much? £5 per session. Next steps? To book a place, please contact: email@unscenesuffolk.co.uk or call 07528 189865
Village Voices – Hoxne a friendly open access community choir run by Janet Koralambe https://thevillagevoices.weebly.com/
The VIPs- The VIPs are an award winning, male Acappella chorus, singing 4 part harmony, in the barbershop style. We rehearse in Norton Village Hall, near Bury St Edmunds, on a Tuesday at 7:30pm for 2 hours ish each week. www.vipchorus.co.uk

Viva Voices – Bury St Edmunds, Newmarket and Wymondham – friendly community choirs for everyone who loves singing! We sing a lively mix of pop, rock, easy listening, musicals, classical music, and songs from around the world. – please visit our website for more info.
The Voice Squad is a Youth Choir, but not in any traditional sense. The National Award-winning group presents its wide repertoire of show songs, jazz, folk, gospel and world music (and classical music too!) with movement, costume and a good deal of panache. It is based in Bury St Edmunds.
Yox Vox in Yoxford- Monday eves fortnightly Jennie Fisk and Tracy Sharp. Contact tracy.sharp43@ntlworld.com

Below is a full A-Z list of Suffolk Choirs if you become interested in singing a more complex classical repertoire:

Aldeburgh Music Club. Founded by Benjamin Britten in 1952, the choir has about 100 members and gives 3 major concerts per year of which two are in Snape Maltings Concert Hall. The repertoire includes a broad range of oratorio and religious music, opera, contemporary and commissioned works. The Director of Music is Edmond Fivet.
The Aquarius Singers. Bury St Edmunds’ best loved ladies’ choir. If you’d like to join us, you’re welcome to drop in on a rehearsal – you’ll find us at The Unitarian Meeting House in Churchgate Street, Bury St Edmunds between 1.30 and 3pm most Thursday afternoons.
Beccles Choral Society was founded in 1874. It has around 70 members and performs three main concerts each year. It performs the large scale works and the main concerts have often been with orchestra. The choir meets in Beccles and always welcomes new members.
Burgate Singers. A well-established choir of about 40 based on the Norfolk-Suffolk border near Diss. We are friendly and fun, but aim for high standards under musical director, Alain Judd. We perform with a professional orchestra and soloists. Rehearsals Sunday evenings.
Bury St. Edmunds Bach Choir. The choir was founded in 1932, and currently has 120 singers under the Music Direction of Philip Reed. The choir performs three major concerts each year with professional soloists and orchestra. Whilst one concert each year features a work by Bach, the choir performs many of the large scale classics of the choral repertory including much twentieth-century British music.
Co-op Ladies Choir (Ipswich). We perform regularly at va rious events, including Ipswich Music Day, Ipswich Arts Association lunchtime recitals, weddings, charity concerts, and local clubs. We perform a variety of music, and can tailor our programme to your audience. Please see our website:- www.co-opladieschoir.co.uk for more details on booking or joining the choir.
The Eye Bach Choir (www.eyebachchoir.co.uk) is a small, friendly choral society based in North Suffolk, with a history of excellent and adventurous performance under the baton of its Director, Leslie Olive.
Hadleigh Choral Society (www.hadleighchoralsociety.org.uk) – we are a 100 strong choir based in Hadleigh, Suffolk. We enjoy singing mainly from the established choral repertoire when we perform with the Colchester Symphony Orchestra and professional soloists. We are a friendly but committed group of singers and we welcome new members. There are no auditions but some ability to read music and some singing experience are useful as well as a commitment to practise!

Haverhill Choral Society (Founded 1860). The Society meets under Musical Director Jane Wright to sing a wide range of Choral music, from large works for the main concerts and a variety of pieces to sing at the local Summer Arts Festival. New singers are always welcomed to a friendly Society.
Ipswich Bach Choir an 80-strong choral society based in Ipswich. It performs a wide range of classical choral music from Baroque to 20th Century
Ipswich Choral Society – a friendly mixed choir of some 70 members. It is the second oldest Choral Society in England, having been formed in 1824 by a group who gave the first provincial performance of Haydn’s Creation in their first concert.
Kirbye Voices. The choir formed in the 1970s, is based in Bury St Edmunds, and is a chamber choir, rather than a consort, of two dozen or so singers, which specialises in unaccompanied vocal music, both sacred and secular, much of it from the Elizabethan period.
Lowestoft Choral Society will celebrate its 70th year in 2017. We usually give 2 concerts per year: at Christmas and in early summer. We sing a wide range of music, from folk songs to Faure, with piano, organ or small orchestra accompanying. We meet at Trinity Methodist Church Lowestoft every Tuesday, September to May/June, from 7.30 to 9.30pm. New singers always welcome.
Orwell Park School Choral Society was founded in September 1994 by the then Headmaster, Andrew Auster. It was intended to include parents, friends of the school, and members of the wider community, including local residents. It is run along traditional Choral Society lines, with weekly rehearsals on Mondays during term time, and includes an annual programme of concerts and sung services. If you enjoy music, like to sing, and would like to meet new people in a beautiful environment, then we would like to hear from you! Rehearsals are each Monday at 7.30 p.m.
Stellar Acappella – a new group for women in Ipswich created by, and for, good singers who want to sing with other good singers, who want to be able to influence the music they sing, who want to be challenged to be better singers and better performers and create complex harmonies.This new a cappella group has been set up by award-winning a cappella director Gaynor Schofield right in the centre of Ipswich and currently looking to recruit women singers across all vocal ranges. We get together every Wednesday evening at 7.30 p.m.Email gaynordugay@btinternet.com
Suffolk Constabulary Male Voice Choir was founded about 50 years ago, initially for serving police officers. Now we very much welcome singers from all walks of life. We rehearse every Tuesday in Martlesham. There are no auditions. If you love singing and would like to join a friendly choir, we could be the right one for you. Click here to find out more…http://www.suffolkconstabularymalevoicechoir.co.uk
The Orwell Singers is a friendly ladies’ choir based in Ipswich. It has been established since 1993 and rehearses weekly throughout the year. The choir’s repertoire covers a wide range of music, including popular melodies, songs from the shows/films, spirituals and well-known classical pieces.
Pakefield Singers. We are a SATB choir formed in 2003, with a membership of 55 (aged 14 to 80) based in Lowestoft, under the musical directorship of Vetta Wise. We have a wide repertoire of songs, including opera, musicals, sacred and spirituals. We perform up to 10 concerts a year, some of them to assist local charities’ fundraising.
Phoenix Singers – Phoenix Singers is an amateur choral society that was founded by musician Malcolm Russell in 1976. The choir is based in the historic and lively market town of Framlingham in east Suffolk. With a choir of some 60 mixed voices, we perform three concerts a year, mainly of sacred/liturgical but occasionally secular music, using the space and fine acoustic of St Michael’s parish church. Sometimes we combine forces with other choirs to perform a major work. We occasionally give our summer concert at Framlingham College. We also arrange a concert of Christmas music and readings each year in St Michael’s. For most concerts Phoenix Singers engages professional soloists and a small orchestra of mostly professional musicians, with the aim of giving a high standard of performance. Andrew Cantrill is the Music Director – Andrew is a highly experienced international conductor and organist and his career so far has taken him to New Zealand and the USA as well as several UK posts.
Suffolk Singers is a small, sociable choir of 25-30 regular members. Our Music Director Claire Weston is a previous principal soprano with English National Opera. Our repertoire is mainly unaccompanied and ranges from music of the Renaissance to folk songs, spirituals and light music. We hold 4-5 concerts a year and in addition we sing at a wide range of events including weddings, entertainments and music festivals.
Stowmarket Chorale – This is an enthusiastic and friendly choir which rehearses in Stowmarket on Wednesday evenings between September and July. Founded in 1901, the chorale generally performs a major choral work early in spring, a lighter summer concert and a Christmas carol concert. We are always ready to welcome new members. Leslie Olive is our Director of Music, the founder-conductor of the Suffolk Philharmonic Orchestra. He also conducts the English Arts Chorale in Reigate, and the Eye Bach Choir, and every few years the 3 choirs together perform a major choral work in a prestigious venue. William Baldry, assistant director of music at St Mary-le-Tower, Ipswich, and former organ scholar at Tewkesbury Abbey, is our accompanist.
Sudbury Choral Society – We are a friendly group of around 60 singers under the musical direction of David Butcher. We rehearse Monday evenings, 7.30pm – 9.30pm in Friars Hall, School Street, Sudbury. We perform four concerts each year in St Peter’s, Sudbury. Our programmes feature a wide variety of music, ranging from Bach to The Beatles. New faces are very welcome – no auditions.
Trianon Music Group comprises a full symphony orchestra and choir who perform 3 concerts annually. In addition small groups of Trianon members participate in Community Concerts helping to raise funds for churches and charities in the region. www.tmg.org.uk
Woodbridge Choral Society. The Society was founded in 1883 and at present gives two concerts per year, in local venues. We hold our weekly rehearsals on Tuesdays between Semptember and December, and January until April yearly. Membership is 100 plus and new members are always welcome – please visit our website for details. We are a friendly crowd and hold several social events during year e.g. a summer BBQ at the Woodbridge Cruising Club and a Christmas Party at Martlesham Heath. Website www.WoodbridgeChoralSociety.org, contact Secretary@WoodbridgeChoralSociety.org