The cost of community choirs in the capital is rising – and there are fears this could be making them unaffordable to some music lovers.
What are community choirs?
Community choirs have no official definition, but, members body Making Music says they are “singing groups that welcome everyone – open, inclusive spaces where people from all walks of life can enjoy singing.”
London is home to at least one community choir in each of its 32 boroughs, offering people the opportunity to come together in song.
In Dalston, Some Voices community choir has over 50 members. General Director Catherine Courtley told City London News that members range from “their 20s, right up to 70, 80”, gathering every Thursday evening for up to two hours of singing.
How much do they cost?
Dalston Some Voices performing at their Christmas concert.
With inflation hitting 3%, community choirs are not immune to the rising cost of living.
Membership prices vary across the capital. Some Voices in Dalston charges £29 per month, while Sing Clapham Community Choir in Southwest London costs £35 per month. Peckham Rye Sings offers three drop-in sessions for £35.
With fees matching the price of a London Pure Gym membership, concerns are growing that community choirs could become unaffordable for many.
Clara Cullen from professional musicians charity Help Musicians told City London News that “we are at risk of seeing music as a sort of luxury,” warning that increased costs could limit access.
“If music becomes a preserve for people who can already afford to get private lessons, it becomes difficult for everybody to receive the benefits.”
‘Keeping music accessible’
Dalston Some Voices singing at their Spring Term concert (Some Voices)
Marianne Rizkallah, director of North London Music Therapy, agrees, arguing that affordability is key to keeping choirs open to all.
“Keeping music accessible, making music for everybody, opening choirs that everybody can join and that everybody can be a part of, we get a greater variety of music that is made and can be shared, and we find out more about each other, and we understand more about our communities, our neighbours, and people around the world.”
‘We do genuinely believe that anyone who wants to sing should be able to’
For many, community choirs are a vital part of social life and well-being.
Clara insists: “Music should reflect the general population and it’s views, because it is for everyone.”
Catherine Courtley echoes this sentiment, stating, “We do genuinely believe that anyone who wants to sing should be able to.”
To help with affordability, Some Voices offers an NHS discount and additional concessions for lower-income households.
Catherine emphasises that Some Voices aim to make their choirs for everyone; “It doesn’t matter what job you do, how much you earn, who you vote for. You know, none of those things matter the minute you start singing”.
Clara emphasises the importance of making sure the musicians running the choirs are recognised fairly too.
Often those choirs are run by professional musicians, so it is important that they get paid and they get kind of fair recognition of that work, but it’s also all about balance and making sure it’s not exclusionary.
As the rising cost of living shows no sign of slowing, the question remains: will community choirs remain accessible to all or will they become a place only for those who can afford it?
For anyone considering joining Some Voices community choir, Catherine’s message is clear:
“Get in touch and we’ll always try and help.”
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Standfirst
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HeadlineWhy the cost of community choirs are pricing Londoners out of joining
Short HeadlineCommunity choir singing as a 'sort of luxury'
StandfirstA representative from Help Musicians suggests London’s community choirs need to “make sure they’re not so expensive that they exclude people”.
The cost of community choirs in the capital is rising – and there are fears this could be making them unaffordable to some music lovers.
What are community choirs?
Community choirs have no official definition, but, members body Making Music says they are “singing groups that welcome everyone – open, inclusive spaces where people from all walks of life can enjoy singing.”
London is home to at least one community choir in each of its 32 boroughs, offering people the opportunity to come together in song.
In Dalston, Some Voices community choir has over 50 members. General Director Catherine Courtley told City London News that members range from “their 20s, right up to 70, 80”, gathering every Thursday evening for up to two hours of singing.
How much do they cost?
Dalston Some Voices performing at their Christmas concert.
With inflation hitting 3%, community choirs are not immune to the rising cost of living.
Membership prices vary across the capital. Some Voices in Dalston charges £29 per month, while Sing Clapham Community Choir in Southwest London costs £35 per month. Peckham Rye Sings offers three drop-in sessions for £35.
With fees matching the price of a London Pure Gym membership, concerns are growing that community choirs could become unaffordable for many.
Clara Cullen from professional musicians charity Help Musicians told City London News that “we are at risk of seeing music as a sort of luxury,” warning that increased costs could limit access.
“If music becomes a preserve for people who can already afford to get private lessons, it becomes difficult for everybody to receive the benefits.”
‘Keeping music accessible’
Dalston Some Voices singing at their Spring Term concert (Some Voices)
Marianne Rizkallah, director of North London Music Therapy, agrees, arguing that affordability is key to keeping choirs open to all.
“Keeping music accessible, making music for everybody, opening choirs that everybody can join and that everybody can be a part of, we get a greater variety of music that is made and can be shared, and we find out more about each other, and we understand more about our communities, our neighbours, and people around the world.”
‘We do genuinely believe that anyone who wants to sing should be able to’
For many, community choirs are a vital part of social life and well-being.
Clara insists: “Music should reflect the general population and it’s views, because it is for everyone.”
Catherine Courtley echoes this sentiment, stating, “We do genuinely believe that anyone who wants to sing should be able to.”
To help with affordability, Some Voices offers an NHS discount and additional concessions for lower-income households.
Catherine emphasises that Some Voices aim to make their choirs for everyone; “It doesn’t matter what job you do, how much you earn, who you vote for. You know, none of those things matter the minute you start singing”.
Clara emphasises the importance of making sure the musicians running the choirs are recognised fairly too.
Often those choirs are run by professional musicians, so it is important that they get paid and they get kind of fair recognition of that work, but it’s also all about balance and making sure it’s not exclusionary.
As the rising cost of living shows no sign of slowing, the question remains: will community choirs remain accessible to all or will they become a place only for those who can afford it?
For anyone considering joining Some Voices community choir, Catherine’s message is clear:
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