Who are we?
Red Leicester Choir are an enthusiastic group of about 30 people with a passion for singing in unaccompanied four-part harmony. Originally a Worker’s Education Association (WEA) evening class, Songs of Struggle and Celebration from Around the World, we became an independent choir in 1996. We aim to be open access, so we have no auditions. We are members of Musicians Against Nuclear Arms (MANA) and the National Federation of Music Societies (Making Music).
When and where do we meet?
We rehearse on Wednesday evenings during school term time, from 7.30 to 9.30 at Secular Hall, Humberstone Gate, Leicester (opposite Sainsbury’s). The hall we use is on the ground floor so if you come by bike, feel free to bring it in with you. The hall is accessible for wheelchair users, but unfortunately the womens’ toilet facilities are on the first floor and there is no lift. The Secular Hall has plans to install a ground floor disabled toilet. There are regular bus services to Humberstone Gate and Charles Street, and on-street car parking is available nearby. After rehearsals, some of us go for a drink at The Ale Wagon on Charles Street, and everyone is welcome to come along.
What do we sing?
Red Leicester’s repertoire comes from all over the world and includes historical and contemporary songs expressive of social and political protest, and songs of worldwide celebration, struggle and change. Our influences include the peace movement, civil rights, women’s movement, gay rights, workers’ rights and environmental issues. We encourage creative talent in the choir; several of the members have penned witty and satirical lyrics to well-known tunes, with stirring harmonies provided by arrangements composed by our musical director, Jane Bursnall. We learn both by ear and with sheet music.
Where do we sing?
We perform locally and nationally in support of national and international causes. Each year, in June/July, we perform at the National Street Music Festival (in Whitby this year). Every two years we perform at Raise Your Banners Festival of Political Song, held mid November. Several choir members take an active part in running Leicester Sing for Water, which has taken place during the Riverside Festival for three years now, and has raised over £17000 for WaterAid in total. Here are some of the things we’ve done from September 2010 to September 2011:
- Sang at the CND Garden Party, which raised £1200
- Some members took part in London Sing for Water with 45 choirs
- Busked outside Oxfam in Market St multiple times, raising money for the floods in Pakistan, the cholera epidemic in Haiti, SHARP in Leicester, an educational project in Ethiopia, Friends of Bethlehem, WaterAid, the Leicester Zimbabwe Choir and the famine in the Horn of Africa
- Sang at a reading event about books that changed the world, by singing some songs that changed it too
- Performed at the UAF counter-demonstration to protest against the EDL’s presence in Leicester
- Sang at the One Leicester event
- Sang at some Leicester Secular Society events
- Supported Roy Bailey at The Musician in support of the Lord Mayor’s Forget-me-not Appeal
- Some members led the carols at the LOROS Light up a Life service
- Joined in the Leicester Uncut Campaign
- Had our annual Winter Warmer party for choir members and their friends and families
- Sang at the opening of the Greenlight festival at De Montfort University
- Some members went to the Community Choirs Festival in Stratford-upon-Avon and sang with members of Amika choir
- Others went down to London on the same day to take part in the March for the Alternative
- Had our annual fundraiser for the Shelter Housing Advice Centre in Leicester at the Ukrainian Hall, with food, singing and the Greenshoots Ceilidh Orchestra
- Sang to celebrate South Africa’s Freedom Day at an Afro City Swingsters gig
- Many members sang at (and helped organise!) Leicester Sing for Water during the Riverside Festival at Bede Park
- Performed in Town Hall Square for Red Cross Refugee Week, then walked up to the Quaker Meeting House to sing at Leicester City of Sanctuary’s summer fair
- Went to the National Street Choirs Festival at Whitby and performed Brother Can You Spare a Dime and Arrogance Ignorance and Greed
- And came full circle by performing at the CND’s 2011 Garden Party, which again raised over £1300!
If you’re exhausted just reading that list, don’t worry – not every member performs at every gig, and some prefer not to perform at all, but there are certainly plenty of opportunities to get involved!
How are we funded?
Members pay subscriptions to cover the costs of running the choir. These include the hire of rehearsal space, musical director fees, sheet music, insurance and membership of other organisations. Subscription rates on a sliding scale are £60 (waged), £30 (low waged) and £10 (unwaged), payable three times a year at the start of each term. It is also possible to pay half a term at a time. New members are charged £1 per week for three weeks while they decide if they want to join. We sometimes charge other organisations for our performances. Bookings can be arranged by contacting Veronica on 0116 2703143.
How are we organised?
Red Leicester Choir operates democratically, with a Management Committee, a Repertoire Group, and an Annual General Meeting. Meetings are open to all members and minutes are always available. We have a constitution, which is available on request.
How do I join Red Leicester?
You can come along to a rehearsal at any time of the year (please remember that we only meet during school term times though!) New/prospective members are always made very welcome. We will only ask you to pay £1 a week for your first three visits, while you decide if this is the right choir for you. We will help you to find the part (bass, tenor, alto or soprano) that suits you and to pick up some of the words and notes we are all learning. If you would like to speak to someone before coming along, you can call Veronica on 0116 2703143.
