Location
Stroud, Gloucestershire
Stroud, Gloucestershire
My choirs are challenging, healing and immersive.
I teach polyphonic world music.
I have been running choirs and teaching songs to people in various settings for the past 23 years.
My larger community choirs are Springhill Singers (open) and Acapellies Choir (currently full).
I started a new community choir in September 2024 – Acapeeps Choir – this is now also full.
I also ran The George Choir in the Forest of Dean from 2011 to 2022 and a small singing group at Gannicox Community.
Having been an actor and theatre practitioner, I developed my love of composition and close-harmony singing through devising and touring shows.
My early childhood was spent singing in school and church choirs and performing in local theatre productions.
Much of my teaching work has been with young people on Drama, Music or Cultural trainings, namely for Stroud Youth choir, The Waldorf College, Stroud College, The Grange Camphill Community, The Asha Centre, The University of Gloucestershire and Gloucester International School.
I now run three thriving community choirs, weekly Singing for Wellbeing sessions in The Museum in the Park (now full), drop-in singing for all (including babies and children) on a Tuesday morning and regular singing sessions for a Biographical Counselling training. I also lead occasional day workshops, residential weekends and singing holidays.
I teach on the Schumacher Wild MA with Alice Oswald and also at West Dean College.
I often host singing workshops led by other choir leaders and musicians.
I have taught regularly at Unicorn Voice Camp.
I composed a choral commission ‘Archaea’ for Bristol University’s Life Science Department 2023.
I also composed ‘LandSongs’ whilst on a Gingerbread House residency on a community farm in Stroud 2024.
Recently my interest has focused on making choral pieces which gather communities together in order to process the big events of our time, namely The Gratitude Project, Songs of Fortitude, Sanctuary and Inconsolable. These have toured to other towns. My latest choral piece is Resonance.
Acapellies Choir are working on a new set with a Nature theme for autumn 2025.
A new polyphonic A’Capella Community Choir in central Stroud.
The repertoire will be 3 and 4 part polyphonic traditional and original songs from around the world.
Some previous experience of group singing and harmony listening is suggested.
£9 a session, payable in a block.
Cash or BACS.
Wednesdays 7 - 8.30pm term-times only
Acapellies is a non-auditioned community choir based in Stroud.
It has been running for 7 years and has recently developed into a 3 and 4-part performance choir.
The repertoire is mostly polyphonic songs from around the world.
Acapellies has been performing The Gratitude Project and Songs of Fortitude in response to the covid pandemic and the breakdown in community.
It is currently full with a long waiting list.
Tuesdays term-time 7.45-9.15pm
A new drop-in daytime choir in the Gold Room of the Centre for Science and Art in Stroud.
£7 cash on the door or paid by BACS.
All welcome – all genders – including babies, toddlers and children.
Tuesday 9.30am-10.30am
This friendly, informal group is led by Eleanor Holliday and is for any adults who feel they need a mid-week boost. Each week different seasonal and folk songs from across the UK and around the world are chosen for us to sing. Singing can help with breathing, posture, mental focus, memory and concentration, and singing together with others helps us find a sense of community and social connection, all important for our health and wellbeing. It can also be good fun!
All you need is a willingness to join in and commit to the series, and fairly good eyesight – as the song words are written up on a flipchart. If you’d like to book, or have any questions, please email museum@stroud.gov.uk or contact The Museum in the Park on 01453 763394.
Wednesdays 10.30am
Springhill Singers have been singing together for 16 years.
They are a community choir based in the Springhill Cohousing community, Stroud but are open to all local people joining.
They sing in 4 part harmony and are quick to learn and happy to connect with each other.
Most of the their repertoire is World Music but they also sing new compositions and old folk songs
Tuesdays 6.30-7.30pm
