Our next concert is 'Back to the Land' on Saturday 16th May at 7:30 in the St Edith Hall, Kemsing.
This year is the International Year of Women Farmers and Pastoralists! Aw, heck, what a mouthful! Undaunted, we have an immensely interesting programme of music that recognises the extraordinary contribution of women through the 20th century into the modern age and also celebrates our beautiful and unique rural landscapes.
We are using narrators to bring to life the Women’s Land Army with their song ‘Back to the Land’.
Judith Weir was Master of the King’s Music until another women, Errollyn Wallen, took over in 2024. Weir’s setting of ‘I love all beauteous things’ was written for the late Queen’s 90th birthday.
We include two light-hearted arrangements by our accompanist, Peter Young: Percy Grainger’s ‘Country Gardens’ and a spoof on the theme to The Archers called ‘Fearlessly Female Farmers’.
On a more serious note, we have two beautiful pieces capturing moments in the British landscape: Elgar’s ‘As torrents in summer’ and Stanford ‘The Bluebird’.
We are also including a medley from Fiddler on the Roof with our very own Fiddler from the alto section.
Like variety? Then you’ll be sure to like us! We are keen to welcome new members.We rehearse on Mondays from 7:30-9:30pm in the St Edith Hall Kemsing and always give people a chance to see if we suit before committing to membership.
We are a friendly, mixed choir of about fifty singers of varying abilities. The choir was formed in 1964 and, throughout its life, has always performed a lively mix of music in a great variety of styles. Our motto is "Fun and Fine Singing" and our aim is to sing well and enjoy doing so. We give public performances in the Kemsing and Sevenoaks area under our Musical Director Sara Kemsley, with pianist Peter Young. We also sing occasionally at fetes and festivals and for weddings or funerals. We have a very competitive subscription for members but still raise money for charity and use professional soloists each season. Read all about us and how you can join.
If you like the sound of us, why not come along and see for yourself? You'd be very welcome, so just email Sara beforehand to discuss it: musicaldirector@kemsingsingers.com
Singing is good for you. It’s official!
Singing has been shown to benefit everyone hugely. There has been so much research in recent years that proves what so many of us know from experience. It releases the ‘happy’ chemicals, endorphins, dopamine and serotonin, into our systems. It improves lung function. Many asthmatics are helped by singing or learning a wind instrument. It helps beat stress and relaxes us and also improves memory and cognition. Singing in a choir adds a sense of community and wellbeing that you don’t get from singing in the shower!
But, listening to music has powerful benefits too. Research has shown that listening to music can reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and pain as well as improve sleep quality, mood, mental alertness, and memory. Listening to new, unfamiliar music is a mental workout for the brain. Keep your brain young