As featured on INTERNATIONAL TV & RADIO
Our 2024/5 theme is ‘From Stage & Screen’ and includes music from:
The Greatest Showman, Rocky, James Bond, Mamma Mia, Hairspray and The Muppets!
Theatre performances, Performance at the Berlin Philharmonie, Tour to US/Canada,
Christmas concerts, Collaboration concert with visiting international choir from Berlin, UK Choir Festival,
Concert performance with Pops Orchestra in London, Recording at Abbey Road Studios and more….
The Choir rehearses in Marlow on Monday evenings from 7:30pm – 9:30pm.
Christ Church URC
18 Oxford Road
Marlow SL7 2NL
The Choir rehearses in St. Albans on Tuesday evenings from 7:30pm – 9:30pm.
Homewood Road URC
Homewood Rd
St Albans AL1 4BH
The Choir rehearses in Aylesbury on Thursday evenings from 7:30pm – 9:30pm.
Aylesbury Grammar School
Walton Road
Aylesbury HP21 7RP
Since its conception, the Choir has continued to develop and broaden its repertoire, building a reputation for its friendliness, its professional environment and its continued determination to be the very best it can be.
The choirs rehearse weekly throughout the year with periodic breaks, forming together as one choir for performances, making an incredible sound. Joint rehearsals are held from time to time and in the lead up to performances, and held at a central location between the three venues but sometimes in the home town.
“It is a known fact that singing regularly reduces stress, releases endorphins, promotes positive well-being, aids a wide range of medical conditions and gives you confidence. It’s fun, progressive and a skill almost anyone can pick up.”
Russell Scott
Musical Director
The choir performs regularly in concerts, festivals and charity events, as well as taking part in workshops and commercial recordings, both locally and internationally.
The choir has recorded four albums, and has toured in Austria, Sweden, Germany and the US.
It performs a range of music from musicals, pop and rock to jazz, country and light classics, in a mix of styles including a cappella, but also with backing tracks and with professional live musicians and bands. The choir has its own accompanist for rehearsals.
There are many project opportunities to choose from, and members can do as much or as little as they choose to sign up to.
Russell Scott is known for his direct, professional and meticulous approach to performance, and whilst making it fun and exciting, it is about giving the choir the very best opportunities available.
As well as making great music together, Next Stage Choir work on vocal techniques to help you improve your singing skills, your ability to read and understand music, your vocal production and of course, your performance.
The choirs also runs regular workshops as a bolt-on to rehearsals, aimed at helping members learn more and improve techniques.
It is a fun, dynamic and enthusiastic choir with lots of energy. And for those who want even more, there’s a great social scene too, giving opportunities to make new like-minded friends, whilst doing something you love to do!
Its continued high standards of learning and music-making, combined with a passionate and visionary leader help to create unrivalled, bucket-list opportunities for the choir and its loyal membership.
Musical Director, Russell Scott has been in the music industry, professionally, for over 45 years working in the worlds of Classical and Musical Theatre. He is not only a Producer and Musical Director, but an accomplished Singer and Vocal Coach.
As a performer he has performed all over the world, as a soloist and with leading choirs and orchestras. With over 100,000 record sales across his 4 solo albums, he’s also appeared on countless film soundtracks, opera, pop and musical theatre recordings.
His company, The Russell Scott Organisation Limited has developed into a successful and reputable entertainment production company specialising in creating and producing high profile, high-end productions. It has produced a number of hugely successful shows across the UK including ‘An Evening of Don Black’, ‘An Evening of Tim Rice’, ‘The Wonderful World of Ashman, Menken & Schwartz, and ‘From Stage And Screen… And Back Again!’ which raised over £15,000 for charity. He produced the critically acclaimed ‘Godspell In Concert’ at the Lyric Theatre in London’s West End in 2014 which went on to tour the UK in 2015.
He regularly directs masterclasses and workshops, and has worked with choirs and ensembles around the world including the acclaimed Military Wives Choir and for the youth programme at the Royal Opera House. He has also worked in Germany, conducting at the Berlin Philharmonie and in the US. He has directed several commercial recordings at leading studios including Angel Studios and Abbey Road Studios in London.
Russell leads an enormously busy life having achieved great success in the cross-over of genres. Music is his soul and his passion, and he is committed to finding and developing new musical talent, giving opportunity to those with the ability and dedication to succeed at the highest level.
Russell mentors Choir Directors to be the best they can be and to lead with passion. He is also creator and producer of the UK Choir Festival, hailed as “one of the most awe-inspiring choral festivals of the world.” More info at www.ukchoirfestival.com.
To find out more about Russell Scott click here
To join the choir you need to be able to pitch and harmonise. So, after your initial Taster Session, we ask you schedule a short 1-2-1 voice review with our Musical Director prior to joining. There is nothing to prepare. It takes around 5-10 mins and will involve some straight-forward pitch, listening and harmonic tests to ensure you are able to meet the standards we require. We understand many people get very nervous about auditions, however we are not here to make things difficult for you – we want you to feel relaxed and enjoy singing with us, so the emphasis is on ‘inclusion’ – we look to welcome new members, but you do have to able to sing!
Members can take part in as many or as few projects as they would like to participate in. We offer many opportunities from local projects to international tours.
Membership discounts are available for students in full-time education (verification required).
No. Around 80% of members have learnt to read and understand music from being in the choir. We do not use lyrics sheets or learn ‘by rote’ – we work with full choral scores, so whilst it certainly helps to sight-read, we do not have the requirement to join.
The choir does not operate in terms, and runs throughout the year, so there is never a bad time to join the choir, and no benefit in starting at any particular point. Simply join when you’re ready!
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