Community choirs from Surrey and Sussex will again perform together at Choiroke2016 on Saturday, 23rd April 2016, at Dorking Halls. Now in its sixth year, Choiroke is a concert platform that brings together a diverse range of choirs from across the region for a one-night only, choral spectacular that encourages, expects and features the enthusiastic participation of the audience. As 23rd April is St George’s Day the concert will have a patriotic flavour featuring some well-known, inspirational ‘national songs’, much flag waving and a balloon drop during the finale.
The concert is being sponsored by pub and dining business, Time Well Spent. It is produced by BRAVO, the social enterprise organization which was a double finalist in the FSB Surrey Business Awards 2015.
Seven local choirs will perform a variety of popular singing styles from male voice through to musical theatre and popular classics. Each choir will showcase their individual talents with three songs one of which will be ‘Choiroke number’, the lyrics being projected onto a screen making it easy for the audience to join in – after all, it is Choiroke!
By popular demand the first-ever Schools’ Choiroke was staged in 2015, the concert taking place during the afternoon of the evening’s main Choiroke performance. The event was a resounding success both with the schools taking part and the audience and will again take place during the afternoon. Four talented school choirs will take to the stage, the event offering a fabulous opportunity for young choirs to perform in front of a large audience. This year sees the first special-needs school choir take part: Brooklands Primary School in Redhill will be signing Makaton.
A competition is being held amongst the school choirs: children taking part will be invited to submit drawings of ‘St George and the dragon’. All entries received will be exhibited in Dorking Halls’ foyer during the afternoon performance, the winning drawing will appear in the Schools’ Choiroke programme.
The charity partner for Choiroke2016 is Surrey-based charity, The Orpheus Centre. Started and managed by Sir Richard Stilgoe, The Orpheus Centre gives young adults the necessary skills for living independently and helps nurture their performing and singing talents. Sir Richard is to attend Choiroke and will perform a song with some of his student singers. A raffle will help provide support for The Orpheus Centre.
As a social enterprise, BRAVO will inject profits from Choiroke back into the community; one of its goals is the resurrection of a local hospital work place choir for staff and local residents.
Taking part for the fifth time is Dorking Loud & Proud, a spokesperson for the choir saying "We’re delighted to be participating in Choiroke again! This will be our fifth year and we always look forward to the event especially as this year we’re performing at Dorking Halls, our ‘home turf’. The choir gets a real buzz from being part of a professionally produced show both as Dorking Loud & Proud and as part of the massed choir. We take immense pride in taking part: Choiroke has become a highlight in our singing calendar; it’s an event that gives all of us a real high and gives many members a huge boost in confidence. This year is particularly special as our choral director, Sean Peters, is holding the baton as musical director for Choiroke”
Tickets for either Schools’ Choiroke (afternoon performance) or Choiroke2016 (evening performance) are available from Dorking Halls’ box office.
Schools’ Choiroke (2:30pm): £10.00 (No concessions)
Choiroke2016 (7:30pm): £20.00 and £15.00 (Concessions: £18.50 and £13.50)
All tickets include a complimentary programme and flag.
Dorking Halls’ box office: 01306 881 717
Website link – Schools’ Choiroke: http://www.dorkinghalls.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=26565&eventid=23535
Website link – Choiroke: http://www.dorkinghalls.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=26565&eventid=23536
Choiroke2016
Loud and Proud, Dorking. Fifth time.
Songbirds, Crawley. Second time.
The Downsmen, Leatherhead (male voice choir). Second time.
The Sussex Gruffs, Worthing (male voice choir). Second time.
The Horsham Rugby Club Choir, Horsham (male voice choir). First time.
Show Choir, a combination of three show choirs based in Dorking, Woking and Cobham, First Time
Show Choir Banstead. Second time.
Show Choir is the largest choir performing at this year’s event and has around 130 singers; in 2015 the choir had 83 singers. They are taking up 2 slots in the programme
Schools’ Choiroke
Brooklands Primary School, Redhill (special needs). First time.
St Mary’s C of E Primary School, Chessington. Second time.
Bewbush Academy, Crawley. First time
Poundhill Primary School, Crawley. First time
Patriotic songs
Opening
Schools’ Choiroke and Choiroke: God Save the Queen into Jerusalem as opening numbers for both events.
Finale
Schools’ Choiroke: Land of Hope and Glory with flag waving.
Choiroke: You’ll Never Walk Alone, Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory with flag waving and a red and white balloon drop on the audience.
Website link – Schools’ Choiroke: http://www.dorkinghalls.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=26565&eventid=23535
Website link – Choiroke: http://www.dorkinghalls.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=26565&eventid=23536
For further information and photos please contact Louise Camby via louise@Choiroke.co.uk or on 07889 304 460
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Notes for editors
Participating choirs
Choiroke2016
Loud and Proud, Dorking. Fifth time.
Songbirds, Crawley. Second time.
The Downsmen, Leatherhead (male voice choir). Second time.
The Sussex Gruffs, Worthing (male voice choir). Second time.
The Horsham Rugby Club Choir, Horsham (male voice choir). First time.
Show Choir, a combination of three show choirs based in Dorking, Woking and Cobham, First Time
Show Choir Banstead. Second time.
Show Choir is the largest choir performing at this year’s event and has around 130 singers; in 2015 the choir had 83 singers. They are taking up 2 slots in the programme
Schools’ Choiroke
Brooklands Primary School, Redhill (special needs). First time.
St Mary’s C of E Primary School, Chessington. Second time.
Bewbush Academy, Crawley. First time
Poundhill Primary School, Crawley. First time
Patriotic songs
Opening
Schools’ Choiroke and Choiroke: God Save the Queen into Jerusalem as opening numbers for both events.
Finale
Schools’ Choiroke: Land of Hope and Glory with flag waving.
Choiroke: You’ll Never Walk Alone, Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory with flag waving and a red and white balloon drop on the audience.
