Join Us

Brighton Gay Mens Chorus is growing. If you are wondering whether to join, reading this might help you make up your mind, but we always encourage newcomers to join in for a few rehearsals before signing up and becoming members.

You may have sung in a choir or group in the past, or you may be unsure if you ‘have a voice’. We think this is often a confidence problem rather than a vocal problem. Singing comes more naturally when you are surrounded by other voices and getting some encouragement, and that’s what we try to provide. The best way to start singing is to tune out all the internalised messages that say you can’t! In any case you are welcome to come along and see how things work out.

The best time to join is near the start of one of our ‘seasons’ when we are all learning new songs or refreshing our memories about existing ones. There are three seasons, and each one builds to one of our three main performances of the year: Spring (culminating with a show during the Brighton Festival), Summer (with a show which usually kicks off the Brighton Pride week) and Winter (finishing with our Christmas show).

If you have sung in a choir or other singing group before, and if you can read music, then that will probably help you make faster progress, but neither of these things are essential. In fact, roughly half of us have never been choirboys and can’t read music. We don’t use song sheets in performances, so we all have to learn things by heart. We make use of on-line resources as a learning aid to use in our own time, so nobody gets left behind. Everyone learns at a different pace, and you will never be pressured to perform until you are ready.

Don’t worry if you are not sure what your vocal range is. We sing mainly in four-part harmony: First Tenor, Second Tenor, Baritone and Bass. If you are not sure which you are, our Musical Director will advise. In any case he will want to hear you sing before you become a member, but you won’t be expected to prepare anything for a formal audition.

We rehearse from 7.30-10.00 pm every Tuesday evening at the Unitarian Church in New Road. On one Saturday each month we have a longer workshop. There are some additional rehearsals before our main performances, and the four voice parts each meet for “Sectional Rehearsals” too. Members are expected to come to most rehearsals. There’s always a tea or lunch break and the option of going to the pub afterwards.

If you decide to sign up as a member, we will need you to set up a standing order to pay your monthly subscription, which is £20 waged, or £10 on a concessionary rate. At the moment, that covers the cost of all music, materials, tuition, tea and (rationed!) biscuits. Any income that the Chorus generates is used to keep the enterprise going.

We are always interested in meeting anyone who wants to find out more about us, whether they end up joining or not. So if you want to sit in on a rehearsal and check us out, it would be great to hear from you. Just email us on membership@brightongmc.org so that we know to expect you, and can answer any questions you might have before coming along.

Want to know more?

Click here to view our FAQs for new members.