Membership

It's a great time to join us!

Monmouth Choral is currently recruiting singers in all the voice sections. Some choral singing experience is necessary, and while music reading is desirable, help and support is readily given to those who are less experienced. There are accessible resources for learning sheet music reading, and we can point you towards apps, guides and other internet resources for rehearsing individual voice parts.

Our new year begins on 2 September 2025 and our first concert will be The Dream of Gerontius by Elgar, on 22 November. 

To join Monmouth Choral Society, contact Sue Wilderspin, membership secretary, sue.wilderspin@btinternet.com

Find more ways to contact us here>>

Membership Fees and concessions

Currently our annual subscription is £160 for the year.  Subscriptions are due after our AGM (as they have to be approved for the year), so normally mid October. They may be paid over instalments.

  • If you are a UK taxpayer, please gift aid your subscription if you can: it really helps the choir’s funds (see below). 
  • We have a concessionary rate for students and those who are experiencing financial constraints can speak in confidence to our Treasurer to agree an appropriate fee. 
  • There is a £10 reduction if you also join the 100 club (see below)
  • For those joining the choir part way through the year, the Treasurer will advise on fee level. 


To inquire about fees, please contact our Treasurer, Veronica Scott, via treasurer@monmouthchoralsociety.co.uk 

Sing for Steve

We do not require new members to audition. However, members of the choir are encouraged to have a voice assessment with Steve Kings, our choral director. This is designed for Steve to get to know the voices in the choir and to check that you are in the right voice part. It usually takes place (in private) before a rehearsal and takes around 10 minutes. You bring a song that you are comfortable singing and Steve goes through a number of short exercises with you. Any member of the choir who has not previously 'sung for Steve' can request to do so at any time.  

Concerts

To be able to sing in the concert, it is essential that you attend 70% of the rehearsals. A register is taken each week by the section leader, so if you are unable to attend it is a good idea to let your leader know.

Current section leaders are:

Sopranos: Judy Craven

Altos: Sue Wilderspin

Tenors: Matt Jenkins 

Basses: Colin Brown

There is usually a rehearsal on the Friday evening before a concert, and another on the afternoon of the concert.

The Saturday afternoon rehearsal is usually held at the concert venue.

Concert dress

Men: black dinner jacket and trousers, white shirt, black bow tie and black shoes.

Ladies: black skirt or trousers, a black top (with sleeves), black tights and shoes. Discreet jewellery only.

Membership forms

These are available from the Membership Secretary.  Contact her for these and any other enquiries on  membership@monmouthchoralsociety.co.uk 

Fundraising

You can help us to fundraise for the choir by joining one of our fundraising schemes:

  • Gift Aid

  • 100 Club

  • Give As You Live

Gift Aid

Boost your subscription by 25p of Gift Aid for every £1 paid. Gift Aid is reclaimed by us from the tax you pay for the current tax year. To Gift Aid your subscription, you need to fill in a gift aid form and return it to the Honorary Treasurer.

100 Club

We run a 100 Club, which is a fundraising scheme for the benefit of the choral society. The scheme makes a major contribution towards restraining membership fee increases and helps to maintain the high musical standards we practise. A participating member commits to paying £60 a year (paid at £5 per month). Participants are allocated a unique number which is entered into a prize draw four times during the year. Draws take place on the second Tuesday in December, March, June and September; 40% of 100 Club income is returned in prizes. If you would like to join, please contact the Honorary Treasurer.