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The SingWest Choir
Welcome to SingWest, a Hammersmith choir created by three friends who love music, people and sloping off to the pub. Our choir is open, inclusive and relaxed - none of us are especially talented vocalists, and 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.
There are aroud fifty or so regular members and we are always looking for new recruits. We perform a couple of times a year in front of friends and family at informal concerts, but everything is relaxed, fun and engaging.
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 not quite convinced, then hit the button below for a chat with one of our founders or shoot us an email.
Who we are
Sing West is a real community where everybody pitches in. The original driving force was Charlie Orr, who lives locally, and is very good at getting people to do stuff and making things happen. Charlie still comes every week, but Daf and Cian lead the choir these days.
Daf 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.
Frequently asked questions
People be like...
What kind of music do you sing?
A pretty accessible mix of contemporary, classical, folk, carols at Christmas. That kind of thing.
But I can’t read music. Or even sing especially well if I'm honest.
That really 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.
Hmmm. You’re right that my existence has become a little predictable maybe. What are the other people there like?
Really nice - not too earnest. Almost normal you could say. Some of them, anyway.
What time is practice?
We meet Monday nights at 7.30pm at St Peter's Church, Hammersmith, W6 9BE.
Is there a charge?
The choir costs a tenner a session.
How do I pay that?
You just get in touch with Daf and he sends you the deets.
Are you on social media?
Yes, when we remember to post, which is not that often tbh. You can follow us on Instagram here.
Where we are
We meet Monday nights at 7.30pm at St Peter's Church, Hammersmith, W6 9BE
Gallery
A few photos from performances and rehearsals
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’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).
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 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.
“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 get in touch via email
