Alresford is a small, attractive, and popular market town, but what is the choir doing that makes it so appealing to so many local people?
It seems to boil down to a great mix of community ethos in a shared musical spirit.. According to its own members – it’s hugely welcoming, open-minded and social. Everyone involved enjoys a lot of fun while singing, making wonderful music.
Founded by our Director Keith Clark in 2012, the inclusive, community nature of this choir was always an important part of his longer-term vision.
The choir is very inclusive. It doesn’t do auditions. It doesn’t need people to be able to read music, although it does run workshops for those who are keen to learn. You don’t even need to have sung in a choir before, but if you’re in the mood for a spot of personal improvement, you can take part in vocal coaching sessions.
However, don’t be fooled. Standards are high, and getting better every year as the choir grows in numbers, energy and passion, rising to the various challenges set by its Director.
A great deal of pleasure for choir members, for the music team who lead us forward, and our lovely audiences, comes from a joyful breadth of repertoire and high levels of challenge and support. From secular to sacred and all the way back again, you never quite know what to expect next. From old American spirituals, past familiar West End show tunes, via ancient Russian hymns and fast-paced modern cantatas written just for community choirs, right the way to its stunning performance of Handel's Messiah in 2017.
Keeping audiences thoroughly entertained, ACC regularly hosts sell-out performances at Alresford’s St John’s Church as well as other local venues such as Winchester Cathedral, the Alresford Watercress Festival, Arundel Cathedral, St. Swithun’s School, and the Alresford Music Festival. On occasion we take our exciting repertoire beyond the local area, such as to Beaulieu in the New Forest and to St Cross.
New members are always very welcome. If you would like to come and see if ACC is for you, just let us know when to expect you and you will freceive a very warm welcome!
