Welcome to the wonderful world of Bel Canto Singers
Hello
Here we are, ready and waiting just for you! We are an established, well-known Worcestershire group of singers with 50 enthusiastic members who have been singing together, in one form or another, since 1990. We are a four part group of singers (SATB) with highly professional musical leaders who teach, hone and develop our performances.
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Bel Canto Singers do what we can to support charities and, each year, we adopt a local charity to fundraise for and donate to. This year it is Redditch Find Your Voice (Parkinson's). In addition we like to support other charities who may invite us to sing for concerts.
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We hold rehearsals once a week on a Monday evening (7.30pm - 9.30pm) at
St John's Church, Greenlands, Redditch. Worcs. B98 7PZ.
There’s always a warm welcome awaiting you so do come along and try us out.
We rehearse on Mondays at 7:30pm
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Scroll down and click on the YouTube icon to watch our latest videos.
About Us
Bel Canto Singers is an independent group and was formed in June 1990 and have grown from an initial membership of around 10 singers to where we are today. Despite the challenges of Covid we are delighted to be here and ready to take on new singing ventures.
We are happy to sing at a variety of events and venues including corporate, private and charity occasions so do please contact us for the event you have in mind as we can offer groups of different sizes to suit the occasion. We love to sing and we are flexible with our group size and our musical performance.
We are lucky to have the talents and encouragement of our professional M.D., Ollie Neale, who brings vivacity, knowledge and wonderful teaching skills.
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To listen to our latest recordings, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Youtube hyperlink.
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Ollie Neale
Musical Director
​Oliver is a versatile organist, performing at Truro Cathedral, St Chad's Cathedral, and a highlight recital at St Paul’s Cathedral. He studied at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, graduated July 2022, and holds the Associate Diploma of the Royal College of Organists. He has sung as a scholar at Truro Cathedral performing in frequent radio broadcasts and tours. He has also been a Voces 8 scholar and a member of Genesis Sixteen.
Wendy Quirk
Accompanist
Wendy Quirk joined Bel Canto in 2014 as resident accompanist. Wendy is a gifted pianist and also a highly accomplished professional violinist. She is currently playing with CBSO and has toured, playing in most of the large European cities as well as at the home of CBSO, Symphony Hall, Birmingham. We always enjoy Wendy’s solo pieces and her skills as accompanist are second to none.
Polly Speers
Chairperson
Polly has had the utter joy of having been with Bel Canto Singers since 1993. She has risen through the ranks to her current position and can be found in the alto section. Polly is the person to come to for the answers to any questions you may have regarding the joining, booking and organisation of choir. If Polly can’t be contacted then Veronica Porter (secretary) will be on hand to help in any way she can.
Listen To Us
Lovely choir- lovely people- happy, fun atmosphere singing an eclectic mix of music; favourites include Blow, Blow Thou Winter Wind, Singin’ In The Rain.
Rehearsals are an enjoyable musical workout! I love the challenge of learning new songs; favourites include Run, Fix You. I also love the fast, catchy ones like Y'all Come, and Enjoy Yourself which I do, every week!!
A friendly, welcoming choir with a lovely range of music, something to suit everyone. Favourites: Flight Song, A Thousand Years, Hallelujah.
Mark, Malcolm & Peter
Kath
Liz & Linda
Join Us
We rehearse on a Monday evening from 7.30pm - 9.30pm, at St John's Church, Greenlands, Redditch B98 7PZ
We rehearse on Mondays at 7:30pm
Our music choices run though a wide variety of genres, for example popular music like Fix You by Coldplay, A Thousand Years by Christina Perry, Put a Little Love in Your Heart by Jackie De Shannon to name but a few. We enjoy popular and more classical pieces like The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins, Ave Verum Corpus by Mozart, Flight Song by Kim Andre Arnesen and Ubi Caritas by Maurice Durufle. Other pieces that we know go down so well with our audiences include Amarillo, Enjoy Yourself, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Singin’ In The Rain and Bring Him Home. We pride ourselves on offering a repertoire which is extensive and different from other choirs and is greatly enhanced by us being able to sing to live music which is provided by our accompanist.
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We are inventive in our programme choices (don’t mention the jokes provided by Polly or the kazoos whenever they pop up!) and are always open to suggestions from members and clients. We also welcome the addition of a range of instruments, thanks to our talented members, to enhance our performances.
Upcoming Events
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Monday Rehearsals
Rehearsals are now taking place on Monday evenings
in readiness for our Easter concerts.
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Easter Concerts
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5th April 2025 at 3:00pm
Bromsgrove Methodist Church
an afternoon of reflective music for the season.
Entrance details from Bromsgrove Methodist Church
(either payment on door or retiring donation)
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7th April 2025 at 7:30pm.
St Chad's Church, Rubery,
an evening of reflective music for the season.
Entrance details from St Chad's Church
(either payment on door or retiring donation)
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35th Anniversary Concert
7:30pm on Saturday 27th September 2025
at Routh Hall, Bromsgrove
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