The first ever Merton SingFest: 13-17 October

A festival of singing to celebrate the rich diversity of Merton’s choirs

Over twenty of the borough’s school, amateur and professional choirs are coming together for a unique series of free concerts and ticketed events to celebrate the joy of singing and encourage further participation in choir singing.

Merton SingFest (13 – 17 October) is spearheaded by the Merton Music Foundation (MMF), a Registered Charity aiming to advance music education in the borough, and the Wimbledon Choral Society, a 100-year-old choir of 180-amateur singers that regularly sells out concerts at venues including Southwark Cathedral, Cadogan Hall and the Royal Festival Hall.

Events include free concerts by local choirs, a dinner cabaret with popular folk, jazz and classic songs, a ‘come and sing’ gospel workshop with the Royal Academy of Music’s Professor of Jazz Composition, Pete Churchill, at Merton Arts Space, as well as choirs from the borough’s schools singing their hearts out in the Merton Schools SingFest at St Mark’s Church on Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 October.

Neil Ferris, Director of Music of Wimbledon Choral Society and Artistic Director of Sonoro, said,

I have the unique experience of directing amateur and professional choirs in Merton, and the unifying factor is how much enjoyment the participants take from the singing experience, as well as the audience. Over the Merton SingFest weekend, Wimbledon Choral Society, Sonoro and Merton Music Foundation have come together for a fantastic series of events featuring a range of choirs from the borough that we hope spreads the joy of singing to all in the borough and beyond.

For full details of all the events, please visit the SingFest website.