Not religious?
Enjoy singing?
We are a friendly, non-auditioned London-based choir. Our emphasis is on enjoying music in a welcoming, non-religious environment. Our wide-ranging repertoire consists of secular music that’s joyful and fun to sing. We rehearse on Tuesday evenings, 7-9pm at Doreen Bazell Hall, a short walk from Kings Cross station. New members welcome!
We are part of Humanists UK.
Latest News
St Thomas’s Hospital – Postponed
For obvious reasons, our concert at St Thomas's has been postponed (it is one of the treatment centres for Coronavirus Covid-19). But we'll be rearranging this (or potentially moving this to Guys Hospital) as soon as possible. Sorry!
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We're really happy to be doing our second concert for an NHS trust (last summer we went to Stoke Mandeville Hospital). We'll be doing a couple of short sets for staff, patients and their friends and families on the afternoon of Saturday 21st March, at 14:30 and again at 16:00.
This is a free event, so if you happen to be in the area, please do pop along to hear us!
The hospital's Humanist chaplain will be joining us for the afternoon as well. Supporting the work of other Humanists is central to the choir's ethos, and we hope to do more NHS gigs in the future.
New Term – 7 Jan
Wooop - it's choir time once again!
We'll be reconvening again at Doreen Bazell Hall at 7pm on Tuesday 7th January. Our benevolent musical dictator Laurel is once again in charge, along with our very own Mozart (accompanist Alex) to keep us firmly on the right musical path.
The first rehearsal will be a recap of what we've been learning for our first performance of the decade - on Sunday 11th January. Then from Tuesday 14th January we'll be breaking out some new music! (If you're brand new to the choir, that's the best rehearal to come to.)
Songs this term will include a Pokarekare Ana (a love song written in Maori) and Joni Mitchell's classic Big Yellow Taxi. Plus, we're going to start prepping music for our One Life annual concert on 4th July, so there will no doubt be some 'choir bangers' to get our heads around. There will be many more performances between now and then to look forward to - and we're also plotting our return to the Edinburgh Fringe in August!
If you fancy giving singing a go, or want to come back to choir, please do pop along to a rehearsal - your first one is free (we ask for an £8.50 donation thereafter to cover our costs). There are no auditions, you don't need to have sung on a choir before, and there's the all-important tea/coffee/biscuit half time break and post-reheasal pub trip to look forward to.
Wishing everyone a 2020 filled with warmth, curiosity, respect and music.
Festive Singalong – 16 December
It's time to get your jolly on with LHC! Yes, our annual singalong is here once again, on Monday 16th December at the Scolt Head pub in Dalston.
We'll be belting out our (secular) versions of some festive favourites as well as some crackers we've been learning this term. And the best bit is, we'll be providing lyrics for everyone in the audience to join in as well.
Free entry, and everyone is welcome. Doors at 19:00, with the singing starting at 20:00.
Drinks and food are available to purchase from the pub. The room is fully accessible.
The Scolt Head is at 107A Culford Rd, N1 4HT. Nearest station is Dalston Junction. Here's a map to help you out.
London Pantomime Horse Race – 15 December
It's possibly our most out there event yet - but we're ridiculously excited to be part of the pre-race ceremony for the 10th annual London Pantomime Horse Race! Even better - this year the theme is Star Wars!
You'd better believe there will be some dressing up and Star Wars themed songs happening. You'll be able to find us among the Jawas and Wookies at Devonport House, King William Walk, Greenwich, from 11am. The Horse Race itself starts at 1pm.
The event is free, and raises money for Help Rosie Walk, Make a Wish UK Foundation plus Harpenden Riding for the Disabled (RDA), and The Running Charity’.
It's guaranteed silliness, with an added smattering of Storm Troopers. There's even a trailer!
For more information, go to www.pantohorserace.org
Remembrance 2019 with Defence Humanists – 9 November
Our friends the Defence Humanists have asked us to perform as part of their secular reflection on the sacrifices made in war, on Saturday 9th November.
The event, supported by the Ministry of Defence, will take place between 14:00 and 16:00 at the Royal College of Defence Studies, Seaford House, 37 Belgrave Square, London, SW1X 8NS.
It's a solemn occasion, but we are very happy to support our fellow Humanists and those of no religion in a remembrance event which is fully inclusive of those views.
More information on how to register to attend can be found on the Humanists UK site.
New Term – 17th September
Choir starts once again on Tuesday 17th September at the trusty Doreen Bazell Hall near St Pancras station, and we have quite the term in store!
We're singing at two remembrance events for our fellow Humanist groups in November, busking for Charity in early December, and getting ready for all sorts of seasonal indulgence with our very own Christmas singalong. More events are bound to pop up too.
If you fancy coming along for the first time - please do! You can find more information on our Join Us page. We promise not to bite.
New songs we'll be learning include The Chain, True Colours, We Will Remember Them, Lonesome Road and Wishes - and musical director and general conducting legend Laurel assures us she has more up her sleeves.
Here's to a suitably secular/fun/ridiculous 2019/20 season.
Stavanger – what a trip!
We've just got back from our first international choir trip - and frankly, the rest of our lives are going to be a disappointment in comparison.
Huge thanks to our hosts Sangkoret Humus, the Humanist choir in Stavanger who invited us to join them in their concert celebrating their 25th anniversary - they could NOT have been better hosts.
There was singing on the top of a fjord (following an epic hike in the rain), singing next to three giant swords (also in the rain), singing at Stavanger Konserthus with Swedish legend Mikael Wiehe and Humus, taking part in Stavanger Pride, singing on a boat, and busking all over the town centre.
We've made such good friends with our fellow choir, and hope to find opportunities to link up again in the future. As Humus would say 'Oh My Something!'
Stoke Mandeville Hospital gig – 3rd August
The first Humanist and non-religious head chaplain in the NHS, Lindsay van Dijk, has invited us to sing at Stoke Mandeville Hospital for an audience of staff, patients and families on Saturday 3rd August.
Lindsay has asked us to perform at the hospital to help reflect the non-religious aspects of pastoral care in NHS settings, with many religious groups having previously performed at the hospital.
Lindsay has been in post since 2018, and oversees a team of multi-faith and belief healthcare chaplains at the Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust. Her appointment was the first time chaplains have worked under a non-religious lead chaplain in the health service. Her team includes people from both non-faith and range of faith-based backgrounds.
We're really happy to help Lindsay spread the word about a Humanist approach to life, and to be given the chance to (hopefully) entertain those visiting, staying and working at Stoke Mandeville Hospital.
If you're in the area, please do pop along! There will be two sets - one at 12:00 and the other at 14:30.
Norway Choir Tour 5-8 Sept
LHC is going INTERNATIONAL!
More details to follow soon, but we will be travelling to Stavanger, Norway, to sing with our friends Humus, a humanist choir based there.
We'll be performing a few times (including on top of a cliff overlooking a fjord) - but the main reason for our trip to to help Humus celebrate their 25th anniversary in a big concert in central Stavanger on Saturday 7th September.
(image from https://www.crossed-flag-pins.com)
One Life 2019 – 13th July
One Life is BACK for 2019! Save the date - Saturday 13th July at Conway Hall.
This year's event also happens to be the 10th anniversary of the choir, and we'll be performing some of our favourite songs from our repertoire, as well as some new numbers – expect everything from John Lennon to Eric Whitacre.
Returning as this year's compere is science showoff Dr Steve Cross, who will once again be wrestling the evening into some sort of order. Also gracing the stage will be the hilarious Bec Hill, a professional comedian and self-described dork – you will never look at a flip chart in the same way again! And Ahir Shah, twice nominated for the Edinburgh Comedy Award, and a regular guest on the Mash Report, will entertain as he finds the funny in the most unlikely places.
Entry is FREE, but please register at www.humanists.uk/onelife2019
Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 7:30pm.
There will also be a cash bar and raffle to entertain you.
Conway Hall is fully accessible. Red Lion Square, London, WC1R 4RL