Dartford Choral Society rehearses from the beginning of September usually until June with breaks of about two weeks at Christmas and two weeks at Easter. There are usually four concerts a year, all of which take place in the Dartford area.
Rehearsals take place on Monday evenings at 7.30pm to 9.30pm at the Mick Jagger Centre, Shepherds Lane, Dartford, Kent DA1 2JZ (Telephone 01322 291101, Box Office 01322 291100):
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A location map (provided by www.streetmap.co.uk) is also available on the web and additional travel information can be found on the Mick Jagger web site.
There is a 10 minute break during the evening.
As a general rule, members who wish to sing in a particular concert are expected to attend at least 75% of the scheduled rehearsals for that concert, and the final rehearsal should be viewed as being compulsory!
We suggest potential new members come, initially, to two or three rehearsals, to "try us out" and see if we are what you are looking for!
There is usually ample parking at the Mick Jagger Centre.
Buses 96 and 492 stop at West Hill (Tower Road) a few minutes walk from the Mick Jagger Centre at the Dartford Grammar School for Boys.
Dartford rail station is in the centre of the town, a half mile walk, or a short bus ride away.
You will be able to hire music for a nominal charge and will then be able to take it home with you after you have given your name and address to our Librarian. If you later decide not to join, the hire fee will usually be refunded when you return the music.
Alternatively, you can purchase your own music score to keep.
Dartford Choral Society does not usually hold auditions, although the Musical Director may ask you to sing up and down a scale as far as you can go in order to assess the range of your voice and which voice section you should join. The most important thing is not whether you have a voice of solo quality, but whether you can sing in tune, can hold your part and will blend in. Good sight-reading is helpful but not essential. A warm welcome awaits you, and all we really ask is that you commit to come to rehearsals regularly and enjoy yourself!
Our membership includes - amongst others - teachers, students, politicians, bankers, musicians, ... and retired individuals!
The membership fees for the current season are as follows:
Members: £132 (payable in two instalments if required)
Student Members: Free
Sales of concert tickets are vitally important to defray the costs of soloists, orchestra, staging and the concert venue. Members are asked to help the society meet these costs by selling tickets for our concerts.
At concert performances ladies are asked to wear a long black skirt, or black trousers, and a plain white blouse with sleeves. Gentlemen are asked to wear either evening dress, or black trousers and a black jacket, with white shirt and bow tie.
Occasionally for more informal concerts we may substitute plain coloured shirts/blouses for white.
So, if this hasn't put you off yet, we would be delighted if you decide to join us and hope you get as much fun and enjoyment out of singing wonderful music, such as that at our next concert, as we do.
If you still have any questions which are not answered here, then please turn up at a rehearsal, or contact us.
We need you!!