Do you hear what I hear?

Posted on 03/12/2019 by doverhousesingers

xmastreefest

“Do You Hear What I Hear?” is the question people were asking at St Margaret’s Church Christmas Tree Festival on Friday evening as they “mingled” over eats and treats whilst we “jingled” in the background.

If “Somewhere In My Memory” brought back memories of Christmas past, “Star Carol” kindled thoughts of Christmas future and “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” of Christmas present(s). All provided a taster of the Festive Fiesta of Song we will be offering at our concert at St Mary’s Church in Putney at 7.30 pm on Saturday 14th December.

Should anyone have missed the opportunity to purchase a tree, all of which have been blessed in a special Advent Service, please do get in touch with Helen at office@stmargaretsputney.org – proceeds go to the garden redevelopment of the church and Regenerate-RISE.

Some enchanted evening

Posted on 07/10/2019 by doverhousesingers

Screen Shot 2017-05-12 at 12.17.35

It wasn’t quite evening, more like late afternoon, when we got together for our sing-a-long with The Sunflower Café last Saturday but there was definitely something enchanted about it.

Singing through golden oldies like On the Street Where You Live, Getting to Know You and Cheek to Cheek, one elderly couple were moved to hold hands as they sang their way through Love Me Tender.

For anyone who wants to be part of magical moments like these, we’re gearing up for our festive season with Sing ‘n’ Slurps, Carol Singing, a Christmas Tree Festival and a concert all in the pipeline.

Dates and details of all these activities, together with our rehearsal times can be found here.

Rehearsals start again Wednesday 4th September at 8pm

Posted on 01/09/2019 by doverhousesingers

We hope you’ve had a lovely summer break.

We’ll be back on Wednesday for a new term and a new repertoire, be sure to join us from 8pm – new members are always welcome!

What the world needs now…

Posted on 24/07/2019 by doverhousesingers

In our troubled times … “love sweet love” seems to be one thing “there’s just too little of” … so … at our Summer Concert on Saturday 20th July we evoked the Summer of ’69 when Peace, Love and Joy rocked Woodstock … whilst … 50 years ago … to the day … men walked on the moon …

With Flower Power in full force we performed “The Best of the Beach Boys”, “A Medley from Forest Gump” and other favourites which, with ensemble pieces and our Stephanie Kirton’s sweltering “Summertime” solo, kept a packed St Mary’s Church in Putney abuzz with delight.

Keeping to the task of bringing more love into the world our fundraising efforts, consisting of a raffle, cake sale, bar and retiring collection, brought the total donation to date to our chosen charity, Regenerate Rise, who work with the isolated elderly, to £10,018.90.

Regenerate Rise are presently fundraising to build a 10 bed Re-ablement Unit in the heart of Putney to alleviate the bed blocking crisis that currently exists in the NHS. Anyone who would like to learn more and donate can do so here https://www.regenerate-rise.co.uk/donate.php.

We will now be breaking for the summer but our fabulous Musical Director will continue running his Pub Choirs with an extra special “The Greatest Showman” evening scheduled for Thursday 22nd August. More can be learnt here https://www.carlspeckmusic.com/thepubchoir.

For anyone interested in being a part of our next season of musical adventures culminating in our Christmas Concert on Saturday 14th December … meet us … 8.00 pm … Wednesday 4th September … St Margaret’s Church Hall in Putney … https://doverhousesingers.co.uk/membership/.

Summer concert – Saturday 20th July, 7pm

Image

Thanks for joining us at the Dover House centenary

Posted on 01/07/2019 by doverhousesingers

On Saturday we joined in the centenary celebration of the creation of the Dover House Estate and performed a selection of songs from our repertoire in St Margaret’s Church on Putney Park Lane.

Our theme was Summer of ’69 which perfectly reflected the glorious sunny weather on the day, and the medley of Beach Boys songs brought back memories for some of a momentous year which included the moon landing, Woodstock and the Stonewall riots.

To reflect the theme of the centenary event, we invited the audience to join us for a selection of songs from different decades of the past 100 years which they did with great gusto.

Afterwards many of us stayed on to enjoy the rest of a very enjoyable event – and a few glasses of wine and Pimms!

In full bloom

Posted on 03/06/2019 by doverhousesingers

There was not a raindrop on any rose to be seen when we got together with The Sunflower Café, set up so people with dementia and their companions can come together for support and fun experiences, this weekend on a sweltering Saturday afternoon.

After several years of singing together we all considered ourselves part of the furniture and settled into a summery afternoon’s crooning of old and new favourites in and amongst swapping bits of movie trivia. Who knew The Artful Dodger had once been played by Phil Collins?!

We do hope to meet with The Sunflower Café again, some sunny day, but before then intend to Party Like It’s 1919 at The Doverhouse Estate Centenary Celebrations where, starting at 6.00 pm on Saturday 29th June, we will be leading a sing-a-long featuring songs from each decade.

Tempted to join us? More details can be found here.

Going places…

Posted on 20/05/2019 by doverhousesingers

There was a time, not so long ago, when our performances had been to a huddle of family and friends clustered in the first three pews of St Margaret’s Church stalwartly supporting our rather tentative choral endeavours.

Who would have thought then that an appearance as part of the Wandsworth Arts Fringe lay before us … but it did … and Saturday 18th May saw “Putney’s liveliest choir” stepping out at St Mary’s Church as part of the festival with “Songs to Welcome the Summer”.

Performing a taster of the songs to feature in our official Summer Concert at St Mary’s Church at 7.00 pm on Saturday 20th July (do come to see us if you can) to a mix of family, friends and the just plain curious it was indeed a special moment for us all.

Concert – Saturday 18th May, 4pm

Posted on 08/05/2019 by doverhousesingers

Join us at St Mary’s Church, Putney for our next concert.

It’s part of the Wandsworth Arts Fringe Festival and absolutely free.

What a feeling!

Posted on 05/04/2019 by doverhousesingers

St Margaret’s Church in Putney could not help but feel the rhythm when we took our passion and made it happen at our Disco and Pop Sing-A-Long held there last week.

Over a boisterous wine and snack fuelled evening an untrue “Buttercup” was wooed, a “Daydream Believer” tumbled reluctantly out of bed whilst a “small town girl” and a “city boy” took “midnight trains” to … anywhere. Blessings were also remembered for “the rains down in Africa”.

We will reunite with St Margaret’s Church at 6.00 pm on Saturday 29th June for another Sing-A-Long, this time featuring songs from each decade, to celebrate the Dover House Estate centenary.

Starting from 2.00 pm onwards people are invited to come along, in 1919 dress, to participate in various festivities more details of which can be found here.

Rumour has it the event will even be graced by the presence of a special surprise celebrity guest …

Dover House Singers

We're a Putney choir open to everyone.