Back in the day, when people thought nothing of meeting up to sing and have a few drinks of an evening, SingWest was a fast growing choral movement which started in West London.
Those times will come again and we can't wait to reignite our choirs and workshops and double down on their inclusive ethos - no auditions, no pressure, no embarrassment.
We don't quite know when that will be, but as soon as we feel that the time is right, we'll be in touch.
The SingWest Choirs
We have choirs in Hammersmith, Barnes and Queen's Park. Our choirs are open, inclusive and relaxed. None of us are especially talented vocalists, some of us are genuinely awful. Everyone is totally welcome. There is no pressure, you will never be required to sing a solo, it's easy to hide at the back and laugh, and we promise you will never feel self-conscious or embarrassed.
In a hectic and fast moving world, very few things are better for boosting happiness and well-being than singing in a group. According to research singing strengthens the immune system, enhances posture, helps with sleep, acts as a natural anti-depressant, lowers stress levels, improves blood circulation (which in turn helps mental alertness, concentration, and memory), widens your circle of friends and boosts confidence and self-belief.
We've all found the life-affirming and restorative power of music is an amazing antidote to the strain and routine of everyday life and we think everyone should experience it.
If you're - inexplicably - still feeling unconvinced, then hit the button below for a chat with one of our founders, Charlotte.
Who we are
SingWest is the creation of three friends who love music, people and sloping off to the pub.
Charlie Orr is a former advertising executive and garden designer. After her third child, Charlie wanted to rekindle a love of music and singing, and, having tried local choirs, she decided to start SingWest for people who wanted a more informal, fun format.
Dafydd Evans is a singer songwriter from Wales, who trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and The Academy of Contemporary Music achieving a First Class BMus (Hons) degree in vocal performance. He is a former member of Only Men Aloud, which won BBC 1’s 'Last Choir Standing' contest. Their debut album sold over 250,000 copies in the UK and their second album won Best Classical Album at the Classical Brit Awards.
Cian Brennan-Gavin is a classically trained Bass/baritone singer from Ireland, and a graduate of both The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the Guildford School of Acting. He was also a member of Only Men Aloud, and over his career Cían has performed alongside luminaries such as Juan Diego Florez, Katherine Jenkins, Josh Groban, Brian May, Russell Watson and Shirley Bassey.
Both Daf and Cian have appeared on TV numerous times, performed in lots of swanky places and toured extensively throughout the UK and the US. Poor Charlie has done none of those things, tragically.
Where we are
There are three SingWest choirs - in Hammersmith, Queen's Park and Barnes.
For obvious reasons they are currently suspended 😢
Frequently asked questions
People be like...
What kind of music do you sing?
A pretty accessible mix of contemporary, classical, folk, carols and so on.
But I can’t read music. Or even sing especially well if I'm honest.
That doesn’t matter - very few of us can read music. It’s not about a perfect musical performance. It’s about an uplifting, life-affirming moment in an otherwise slightly humdrum week.
7.30pm, like we said. Jeez.
Is there a charge?
Your first week will be free to see if you enjoy it, after that it will cost a tenner a session.
Can I call someone to discuss something?
Sure. Ring Charlie on 07710 541192.
Are you on social media?
Yes, when we remember to post. You can follow us on Instagram here.
2019 in review
Though we say it ourselves, 2019 was amazing for SingWest. So, without wanting to sound immodest, here are the top ten coolest things that happened last year:
Team Building Workshops
The SingWest workshops are one-off, 90 minute long group singing sessions that will give your team an opportunity to try something completely new together. Our sessions are fun and lighthearted but also challenging and rewarding - encouraging everyone to work together and listen to each other.
There are numerous benefits of singing as the team at SingWest are lucky enough to see at our choirs every week.
There’s a lot of science behind why singing makes us feel so good. When we sing our bodies release endorphins and oxytocin (a hormone which alleviates stress and enhances feelings of trust and bonding). Singing taps into the lesser used right side of the brain which encourages creative thinking. We also begin to breath together, move together and eventually our heart rates sync up. This all helps to boost confidence and strengthen relationships.
The music, the activity and the combined sound is amazing for creating a unique feeling in a team - a fantastic buzz that comes from harmonising with the people around you. You absolutely don’t need to be a good singer to enjoy the session and get a huge benefit from it.
“Singing is like an infusion of the perfect tranquilizer, the kind that both soothes your nerves and elevates your spirits” - Time Magazine.
For further details please contact Charlotte Orr: charlie@singwest.co.uk,
call 07710 541192 or download a brochure by clicking below.
Practice music for choir members
Click here to access our Soundcloud page which contains
the parts for all the music we're currently practising.
Payments
You can use this section to buy concert tickets, or make termly or annual payments if you're in the choir.
Key Dates
Weekly rehearsals
SingWest Hammersmith rehearsals take place between 7.30pm and 9pm every Monday.
SingWest Queen's Park rehearsals take place between 7.30pm and 9pm every Tuesday.
SingWest Barnes rehearsals take place between 7.30pm and 9pm every Wednesday.
Summer Concert Dates
Hammersmith: Monday 22nd June
Queens Park: Tuesday 23rd June
Barnes: Wednesday 24th June