Edinburgh's Voice of the Town Choir
BEST FOR
Adults only (18+)
WHERE
Edinburgh
What it’s like
An adults-only contemporary choir where you learn harmonies by ear, complete with choreography and claps, no sheet music required.
This is a choir for grown-ups who fancy singing something with a bit more energy than the usual carol concert repertoire. You're on your feet learning contemporary songs with harmonies, steps and claps rather than sitting reading sheet music. No auditions, no need to read music, but they're upfront that you need to sing out with decent pitch, hold a harmony under pressure and be comfortable performing with a bit of movement.
You learn the parts from mp3 vocal guide tracks and PDF sheets rather than traditional notation, which suits anyone who never got on with music theory but can hold a tune. That said, it's not a turn-up-and-see-how-you-get-on setup: they expect weekly practice at home and attendance at most rehearsals, since everything gets memorised rather than performed off a page. If you're after something low commitment, this probably isn't it.
Terms run three times a year, 12 sessions each, from 7pm to 9.30pm. You start with a free taster session before deciding whether to sign up, which takes the risk out of it, and membership after that is £116 a term, payable in one go or spread over two or three instalments. Given the size of that commitment, it's worth being sure about the venue location and rehearsal times before you even book the taster.
What you get for your money is more than just turning up to sing: membership includes access to a members area online where you download all the practice tracks and parts, so the work you put in outside rehearsals is genuinely between sessions rather than starting cold each week.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- Adults 18 plus who want a proper singing commitment, not a casual drop-in
- Worth knowing
- Free taster session before committing to membership
- Everything is learned from mp3 guide tracks and PDF parts, not sheet music, but songs are fully memorised
- Weekly practice at home is expected between rehearsals
- Membership fee can be split into two or three instalments rather than paid upfront
- This is 18 plus only, with no under-18 places
Plan your visit
Do I need to be able to read music or sing solo?
No, you don't need to read music and you won't be asked to solo. You do need good pitch and the confidence to hold a harmony and perform with some expression and movement.
How much does it cost and how do I join?
You start with a free taster session, then membership is £116 per term if you decide to continue. That covers 12 sessions and can be paid in full or split into two or three instalments.
How often are rehearsals and how long is a term?
There are three terms a year with 12 sessions each, running from 7pm to 9.30pm. You're expected to attend most rehearsals since songs are learned progressively and memorised.
What if it turns out not to be for me?
The taster session comes with no obligation to continue. It's worth checking you're happy with the rehearsal venue, timings and the term fee before you book it though, since membership is a proper commitment once you're in.
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