We are a community choir with participants from Congleton and surrounding areas. We do not audition but look for keenness and enthusiasm with enjoyment of singing. We consider that everyone can sing, whatever their gender, age, ethnicity or ability and welcome all comers. What the Beartown Singers do Practice sessions and Performances are signed using Sign Supported English (SSE) which is based on BSL and word copies follow RNIB guidelines for using Arial font 14. If wanted, these can also be brailled. The community centre where we practice is also wheelchair friendly.
Our Musical Director, Loretta Grace and Signer, Joan Proctor, are both DBS checked and we have a first aider in our choir.
We are invited to sing at various centres including nursing homes, Congleton Park, the Town Centre Carol Service plus performances for other various groups but performance is not compulsory; each member chooses if they wish to perform or not. We do not charge venues for our performances.
Choir members pay £5 each time they attend a practice plus 50p towards refreshments which also includes a Christmas party; for the past two years we have also had a day trip to Llandudno which is subsidized by the choir.
We sing a variety of songs which encompassa variety of genre including songs from the shows, pop songs, folk songs plus those from Disney films. Our Musical Director, Loretta, is a qualified music teacher and ethnomusicologist, having studied at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and SOAS Universities. She is also an experienced and qualified teacher of those with special needs.
