Portsmouth Choral Union
Interested in coming to join us?
PCU is pleased to be back rehearsing in person and our membership is currently approximately 100 singers of all voice types. If you enjoy singing and want to experience the thrill of belonging to a large choir that regularly performs to the highest standards with professional orchestras and soloists, you might wish to consider joining us. In addition to concerts, members of PCU benefit from a wide range of musical and social activities, including: concert tours both at home and abroad, singing workshop days/weekends, quiz nights, wine tasting experiences and dinners.
Rehearsals take place during school term time each Tuesday evening between 7.15pm and 9.15pm in the main hall at The Portsmouth Academy, St Marys Road, Portsmouth.
Prospective new members are encouraged to come along to a couple of rehearsals to see if PCU is for you, after which you will be invited to undertake a simple audition, which will be held in a private room with only you, the musical director and an accompanist present.
Shortly after the audition, prospective members will be notified of the outcome of their audition and if successful invited to join the choir.
Once a member of the choir, members are expected to attend at least 80% of all rehearsals to be eligible to sing in each concert. They will also be expected to attend a Saturday afternoon rehearsal on the day of the concert itself.
The current annual subscription is £215, which is subject to an annual review. It is payable at the start of the choral season (which normally starts at the beginning of September and goes through until the end of June or early July – depending on the date of our summer concert) and is payable on a pro-rata basis when a member joins part way through the choral year.
Students in full-time education are eligible for free membership.
Sonia Schofield is the contact for prospective new members. If you are interested in joining the choir or have any questions please contact her on 07808879243 or at PCURegistrar@gmail.com
What choir members say about the audition process:
Nita Fielder (Soprano) – “Although I was apprehensive, the audition was not a daunting experience. It consisted of a few vocal exercises and a sight reading test. David Gostick made me feel at ease and I felt that he wanted me to do my best. I’m sure that my nerves were obvious, particularly during the sight reading test, but he helped me through it. With hindsight, I do not know why I was put off auditioning for the choir for so long“.
John Harding (Bass) – “As a new boy to the choir, I approached the audition with trepidation, having not sung formally for half a century. My sight reading is now improving, I will leave it to my neighbours to decide about the sight singing! The steam rally season is about to start, will the choir have changed my attitude to Saturday night sing songs?”
Choir highlights
- One of the largest and most acclaimed choirs in the south of England
- Directed by talented and dynamic Musical Director – David Gostick
- Holds four major concerts a year
- Accompanied by professional orchestras and soloists
- Performs the choral repertoire from classics to 21st-century works
- Encourages new singers and new musicians
- Provides tailored tutorials for its members to develop their individual voice
- Hosts an annual New Year “Come and Sing” concert for members of the public and choir
- Undertakes regular international tours with performances – France, Belgium, USA (Carnegie Hall, New York and North Carolina), Germany, Canada (Toronto and Niagra) Italy (Tuscany), Germany and most recently in 2024 to Quimper in France.
