An Amazing Year for Pembridge Choir
It was New Year’s Eve last year when Hayley Osborne, freelance singer and voice coach, decided it was time to spread her infectious enthusiasm for singing by creating a Community Choir. Twelve months later the choir has become one of the most sought after in Herefordshire. Hayley, its Musical Director, who also performs solo as This Girl Loves to Sing, has led it to perform all over the county and beyond, to win awards in competition with more established choirs, and to create a fun weekly event which its members look forward to.
It’s a pop music choir and performs arrangements by Hayley which often feature a mash up of several popular songs. Some older members were quite apprehensive about their ability to perform this modern canon but with encouragement from their musical director soon found themselves singing four-part harmonies to acapella arrangements including Pompeii by Bastille and Freedom! By Wham! You can listen to their output on our Community Groups page.
Their first public performance, only weeks after being formed, was in a choral competition against more established choirs. No pressure! They rose to the challenge, winning a GOLD award and received the accolade of being asked to close the Gala concert.
Flushed with success, a string of performances followed in front of their home crowd to celebrate the 40th anniversary celebrations of Jane and Rosie’s tenure at the New Inn and at the D Day celebrations, the latter with the Love to Sing Children’s Choir.
The summer saw them go on tour to the Ludlow Fringe Festival, before returning to home ground at the Strawberry Fayre, and at the Hereford Applefest which they opened on the main stage. Then they were selected to perform in the musical “Make Good - The Post Office Scandal”
Working with local care homes and dementia charities the choir, and Hayley as a soloist, are helping to jog memories with a repertoire of the songs of yesteryear.
Members of the choir gave us their feedback on their first year.:-“Good for the soul”, “Fun and a great way to make friends,” “Hayley puts everyone at ease”, “A brilliant way to de-stress” , “Never thought I’d be able to sing pop songs” were amongst the comments we received.
Looking forward to 2025 there will be a chance to hear the choir again here in Pembridge when they perform at the Church on 5th April.
There’ll be the opportunity to not just be a spectator, but to join the choir. The new term starts on 13th January with adult sessions from 7pm and a new Children’s Choir from 5.30pm at Pembridge Primary School. For details contact thisgirllovestosing76@gmail.com
Kay Ingram
