Membership of Coro is by audition. Auditions are held approximately three times per year, usually on the evening of a regular Monday rehearsal, giving potential new members the opportunity to meet and sing with the choir.

What are we looking for in new members?

• Vocal flexibility

• Choral experience

• Good sightreading ability

• A high level of commitment to rehearsal attendance

• A willingness to take part socially.

If you have a short prepared piece which you enjoy singing, bring it along (even a well-known hymn tune or carol will suffice). If not, don’t worry — the Musical Director will lead you through some exercises to determine range and adaptability. Excellent sightreading, though desirable, is not a prerequisite. However, if your reading is not strong, it is expected that you will devote some personal time to study of the music.

How DO REHEARSALS WORK?

Coro rehearses regularly on a Monday evening in the beautiful Wren church of St Andrew, Holborn (moments from Chancery Lane tube station, and not far from Holborn, Farringdon or Blackfriars). Rehearsals begin at 7pm and finish at 9.15pm (and then we head to the pub!).

The number of weekly rehearsals for each concert ranges between four and eight, depending on the programme being prepared. We generally perform three or four major concerts per year. To these we always add a number of ad hoc events – corporate functions, recording sessions, charitable events etc – which are extremely important both for the profile of the choir, and for boosting our funds. Members of Coro pay a very reasonable subscription of £65, three times per year.

What WILL YOU BE SINGING?

Our concerts are often mixed programmes of sacred and secular music, and our repertoire ranges from the sixteenth century to the contemporary. We also regularly perform extended works, both a capella and with orchestral accompaniment. In recent years these have included Durufle Requiem, Rachmaninov Vespers, Mozart Requiem, Monteverdi Vespers and Bach St. John Passion. Our Christmas concert has become an important part of many Londoners’ festive season and always attracts a large audience.

ANYTHING ELSE?

Other special events include trips to European choral competitions, where we have enjoyed many successes, and weekends away in the UK, where we combine some intensive rehearsal with plenty of eating and drinking!

SAY HELLO…

If this sounds like the choir for you, come and meet us…