OUR HISTORY
The Choir had its origin in October 1985 as a ‘backing group’ of adult voices for the Farnham Heath End School
Choir. It was recruited from members of staff in the school (- who were already helping with the choir), wives of members of the Hart Male Voice Choir, and some members, with other contacts of the school’s Director of Music.
In 1988, October, the group decided that it wanted to be a choir in its own right and, in an informal AGM in a room off
the dining hall at the school, the first committee was appointed of the Heath End Singers.
In the autumn term of 1991 the Choir moved its base to the narthex of Holy Trinity Church, Aldershot, which, coincidently, had an interesting connection with the choir because it had been built by Peter Wells’ - current Treasurer of the Carillon Singer, great grandfather’s company. It was that move that caused the name to be changed (after much discussion!) to the Carillon Singers.
The choir stayed there until the Spring of 1999, when it moved to the United Reformed Church Hall, Farnham, from April to October 1999, and May to October 2000, with the six months in between at St Christopher’s Church, Cove, November 1999 -April 2000.
19th October 2000 it moved to its permanent and very welcome ‘home’ in the hall of St George’s Church, Badshot Lea, Farnham, where it is regarded as ‘part of the furniture’ by the church. They ask the choir to do church events, as the ‘live act’, such as Summer Fêtes. A good example is the Jubilee Tea of June 2012 about which they are still talking and which had an excellent review in the Parish Magazine, the local paper and the combined Benefice AGM report. The choir sings St George’s Church Christmas Concerts every December for Church Funds and the ladies of the congregation put on a superb spread afterwards for audience, choir and guests.
In 1998 the Musical Director, Valerie Hoppé, resigned and Ralph Earwicker was interviewed to take on the job.
He started in January 1999 to the choir’s immense satisfaction.
The quality, confidence, number of members and extent of repertoire of the choir continued to improve dramatically under his inspired and hard-working leadership. The choir held a splendid party to celebrate his first decade with them in 2009.
In 2002 the Choir decided it would like to go on a singing tour, such was the improvement in confidence that had been
engendered under Ralph’s leadership.
The Carillon Singers’ first tour in 2003 was to the Isle of Man where three concerts were performed at the
Royal Chapel at St John’s ,
St George’s Church, Douglas and the
Erin Arts Centre in Port Erin.
In 2005 the tour was to Guernsey, in 2007 to North Yorkshire (based in Scarborough), in 2009 to Shropshire where it sang a
Lunchtime Series concert in Shrewsbury Abbey, in 2011 to East Anglia, where concerts were all sung at lunchtime in
Long Melford Church,
Lady Chapel of Ely Cathedral and
St Edmundsbury Cathedral
In May 2013, the tour went to the Isle of Wight where concerts were held in the
Minster, Newport, St Catherine’s Church, Ventnor, and All Saint’s Church, Ryde. Carillon were well received on the island.
On all the tours the Choir has a tradition, very important to them, of inviting local musicians to be their guests on the
programme and these have ranged from a classical soprano to a section from a brass band, a whole Silver Band to a piano-playing cleric, a family of musicians to a saxophone quartet, and many fine individual soloist singers.
The Carillon Singers’ repertoire is eclectic, from oratorios to pop and from Elizabeth I to Elizabeth II. They sing in several languages
( including American and Swahili ! ), have had pieces written for them and given several first performances, world premieres in fact!
The Carillon Singers are self supporting: When a concert is sung in a church, the hosting church keeps any money raised.
When the choir is paid for singing, all the money goes to Children in Distress, the Choir’s chosen favourite charity.
Children in Distress is run on a shoestring in Glasgow by a dedicated team and supported by individuals, churches and organisations who share their deep concerns about children born with terminal illness or serious disability in Romania.
Great work is done and great results achieved in the homes in which the children are loved, clothed, nursed, helped to achieve more than anyone ever thought possible, made to feel secure and happy and remembered with love after they die. Parents who want to look after their children but do not know how to do so are trained by the charity.
Their magazine Vision is sent to supporters and choir members can read what their splendid efforts are helping to achieve or visit their website.
The Choir holds an annual Bring and Buy Book Sale for the choir funds, a weekly raffle, a large raffle at the Annual Dinner and
members bring plants, jam, fruit, vegetables and other offering to sell for choir funds.
The Carillon Singers are a social bunch, their Summer Party is always great fun and everyone enjoys the Annual Dinner in
February.
Choir Tours are very popular with their social element as well as the singing aspects and our much appreciated “groupies” of husbands and wives are able to accompany us as their "holiday".
Choir. It was recruited from members of staff in the school (- who were already helping with the choir), wives of members of the Hart Male Voice Choir, and some members, with other contacts of the school’s Director of Music.
In 1988, October, the group decided that it wanted to be a choir in its own right and, in an informal AGM in a room off
the dining hall at the school, the first committee was appointed of the Heath End Singers.
In the autumn term of 1991 the Choir moved its base to the narthex of Holy Trinity Church, Aldershot, which, coincidently, had an interesting connection with the choir because it had been built by Peter Wells’ - current Treasurer of the Carillon Singer, great grandfather’s company. It was that move that caused the name to be changed (after much discussion!) to the Carillon Singers.
The choir stayed there until the Spring of 1999, when it moved to the United Reformed Church Hall, Farnham, from April to October 1999, and May to October 2000, with the six months in between at St Christopher’s Church, Cove, November 1999 -April 2000.
19th October 2000 it moved to its permanent and very welcome ‘home’ in the hall of St George’s Church, Badshot Lea, Farnham, where it is regarded as ‘part of the furniture’ by the church. They ask the choir to do church events, as the ‘live act’, such as Summer Fêtes. A good example is the Jubilee Tea of June 2012 about which they are still talking and which had an excellent review in the Parish Magazine, the local paper and the combined Benefice AGM report. The choir sings St George’s Church Christmas Concerts every December for Church Funds and the ladies of the congregation put on a superb spread afterwards for audience, choir and guests.
In 1998 the Musical Director, Valerie Hoppé, resigned and Ralph Earwicker was interviewed to take on the job.
He started in January 1999 to the choir’s immense satisfaction.
The quality, confidence, number of members and extent of repertoire of the choir continued to improve dramatically under his inspired and hard-working leadership. The choir held a splendid party to celebrate his first decade with them in 2009.
In 2002 the Choir decided it would like to go on a singing tour, such was the improvement in confidence that had been
engendered under Ralph’s leadership.
The Carillon Singers’ first tour in 2003 was to the Isle of Man where three concerts were performed at the
Royal Chapel at St John’s ,
St George’s Church, Douglas and the
Erin Arts Centre in Port Erin.
In 2005 the tour was to Guernsey, in 2007 to North Yorkshire (based in Scarborough), in 2009 to Shropshire where it sang a
Lunchtime Series concert in Shrewsbury Abbey, in 2011 to East Anglia, where concerts were all sung at lunchtime in
Long Melford Church,
Lady Chapel of Ely Cathedral and
St Edmundsbury Cathedral
In May 2013, the tour went to the Isle of Wight where concerts were held in the
Minster, Newport, St Catherine’s Church, Ventnor, and All Saint’s Church, Ryde. Carillon were well received on the island.
On all the tours the Choir has a tradition, very important to them, of inviting local musicians to be their guests on the
programme and these have ranged from a classical soprano to a section from a brass band, a whole Silver Band to a piano-playing cleric, a family of musicians to a saxophone quartet, and many fine individual soloist singers.
The Carillon Singers’ repertoire is eclectic, from oratorios to pop and from Elizabeth I to Elizabeth II. They sing in several languages
( including American and Swahili ! ), have had pieces written for them and given several first performances, world premieres in fact!
The Carillon Singers are self supporting: When a concert is sung in a church, the hosting church keeps any money raised.
When the choir is paid for singing, all the money goes to Children in Distress, the Choir’s chosen favourite charity.
Children in Distress is run on a shoestring in Glasgow by a dedicated team and supported by individuals, churches and organisations who share their deep concerns about children born with terminal illness or serious disability in Romania.
Great work is done and great results achieved in the homes in which the children are loved, clothed, nursed, helped to achieve more than anyone ever thought possible, made to feel secure and happy and remembered with love after they die. Parents who want to look after their children but do not know how to do so are trained by the charity.
Their magazine Vision is sent to supporters and choir members can read what their splendid efforts are helping to achieve or visit their website.
The Choir holds an annual Bring and Buy Book Sale for the choir funds, a weekly raffle, a large raffle at the Annual Dinner and
members bring plants, jam, fruit, vegetables and other offering to sell for choir funds.
The Carillon Singers are a social bunch, their Summer Party is always great fun and everyone enjoys the Annual Dinner in
February.
Choir Tours are very popular with their social element as well as the singing aspects and our much appreciated “groupies” of husbands and wives are able to accompany us as their "holiday".