Published on 1st August 2024

A well-established, all-female choir in Horsham has undergone a transformation, changing its name and expanding its repertoire.  

One Accord choir, which meets at the Holy Trinity Church in Rushams Road, Horsham on Wednesday afternoons, was founded about 65 years ago and was previously known as The Pleasure Singers. 

Chris Denne, Chair of One Accord, said: ‘The previous name perhaps suggested that members could dive in and out of the group, so the time was right for a refresh. Our new name is a play on words, as we sing in three harmonies with soprano, second soprano and alto sections. While we continue to take great pleasure in singing, we also strive to improve and expand our repertoire, singing challenging music that covers not just classical and opera but also musical theatre and popular music. We have also adopted a more relaxed uniform, moving away from the traditional purple of the Pleasure Singers to brighter colours that reflect individual personality.’

SWEET HARMONY

For the past nine years, the choir has progressed under the direction of Jon Openshaw, a classically trained baritone who lives in Horsham and is a vocal teacher at Rikkyo School in Rudgwick. As a professional singer, Jon has raised levels within the choir by working on vocal techniques, experimenting with harmonies and identifying ways to adapt songs to suit the choir. He believes the change in identity better reflects the choir’s reputation and quality... 

‘The Pleasure Singers perhaps sounded old-fashioned and gave people the wrong perception,’ said Jon. ‘There are choirs who come together and simply celebrate the joy of singing and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, our choir is a little more complex and the name One Accord better reflects the quality of our performances. Having said that, the choir has always welcomed newcomers with open arms and continues to do so without the need to audition, with people able to come along for a free session to see if they enjoy it.’  

‘We embrace new challenges and are always trying new ideas. Recently, we’ve been learning more songs from the 1960s and 70s, by acts such as The Beatles and The Carpenters. We have also been singing Eva Cassidy’s version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. We’re giving audiences a more modern interpretation of songs they know and love, as well as singing numbers from West End musicals too. Our last concert included a Les Miserables medley and we’ve also performed songs from shows like Sister Act, in addition to arrangements from the classical repertoire, such as Ava Maria, to give audiences more variety and also test the vocal range of the choir. It keeps them on the toes and given that several ladies are in their 80s or 90s, they do remarkably well!’

NOT THE WHITE CLIFFS OF DOVER!

One Accord perform in the community, visiting care homes, sheltered housing schemes and local clubs. At its recent concert in July, the choir invited elderly residents from the area to join them at Holy Trinity for a relaxed performance, serving tea and cake afterwards. The social side is important, with members forming friendships to give a family-feel to rehearsals and concerts. Long-serving member Hazel Knight believes that singing is also good for health and memory, as it involves learning new lyrics and melodies: ‘In the time I’ve been singing with the choir, the songs that people love to hear has changed. On a recent visit to a care home, we were going to sing war-time favourites by the likes of Dame Vera Lynn, but that wasn’t what they wanted. That generation has largely gone now and instead people want to hear the songs they love from the 50s, 60s and 70s.’ 

‘So, we’re continually adapting new arrangements to suit our style, which is challenging but also great fun. I’ve particularly enjoyed singing Eva Cassidy songs this term, as the songs are beautiful but the arrangements challenge the whole choir. 

;Every Christmas, we also perform a carol concert, singing in French, German and Italian, thanks to our long association with Horsham Twinning Association. That is another enjoyable night, as we have a repertoire of about 30 carols, including Silent Night in German.’ 

NEW SINGERS

One Accord is on the lookout for new singers, with numbers having dipped during the pandemic. At its peak, the choir was about 60-strong, but now there are closer to 30 voices with new ones required to help it return to full strength. The choir hopes to attract people by offering two free sessions throughout September. 

Chris Denne, Chair, said: ‘A lot of our members enjoyed singing when they were young and stopped for family or career reasons before taking it up again in retirement. We hope that applies to others out there and would encourage such people to come along, as few things bring as much enjoyment as singing in a choir. Although we cover the costs of a Musical Director and pianist, we have kept prices down and membership costs only £70 a term, so One Accord offers excellent value for money.’   

Further information:

One Accord meets at Holy Trinity Church, Rushams Road, Horsham, on Wednesday afternoons from 2 – 4pm. For more details, visit: www.oneaccordchoir.co.uk 

WORDS: Ben Morris / PHOTOS: Alan Wright