Previous Concerts & Events:
Concerts & Events in 2012
Saturday 31st March 2012, Joint Concert with Global Harmony
A joint concert with sister world music choir Global Harmony at Oakham School Chapel.
The concert was a great success with a large audience enjoying two choirs for the price of one!
An extract from an email Liz received after the concert.
"I just wanted to say how much my husband I enjoyed your wonderful concert
in Oakham School Chapel. The music was so cheerful and uplifting and it was
amazing how you coped with all those complex words and sounds with no music
to help. It was great to see so many happy faces giving it their all. You
clearly have an amazingly charismatic and energetic director of music, her
vibes were positively infectious and it was great to join in at the end.
The two choirs came together brilliantly and the sound was incredible.
Thanks to all concerned and I hope we shall be able to make it to future concerts."
Monday 4th June 2012, Stamford Feast Festival
Woven Chords performed twice at the Stamford Feast Festival on the Meadows on Bank Holiday Monday June 4th. The first slot to an audience under umbrellas but for the second the sun shone brightly on us.
Thursday 28th June 2012, Olympic Torch Relay
Woven Chords performed to the huge crowds that gathered in Grantham and Stamford to see the Olympic Torch pass through the towns on June 28th and July 3rd respectively. We enjoyed singing to probably our biggest audiences yet! Before singing in Grantham we experienced, along with everyone else there, one of the most horrendous thunder storms ever! The site and town were completely flooded. However it cleared up just in time for the torch relay and after the parade had gone through we sang in glorious sunshine. We were particularly thanked by the organisers for entertaining the Guildhall cafe to every song we could think of to do with rain while waiting for the storm to pass over!
Sunday 1st July 2012, Summer Concert at St Michael and All Angels Church, Uffington
The beautiful pastoral setting of Uffington’s St Michael and All Angels Church, with its meadow of cows grazing peacefully beside it was just perfect for our summer afternoon concert.
The church needs a new roof and Woven Chords needed to add to their year’s fund raising efforts to host Vokaal Kabaal from the Netherlands this October. It was a good collaboration – the church brought a good audience and the choir raised the rafters with some glorious full bodied singing.
The wide ranging world music programme included something for everyone – even a song in Russian about bulls to waft through the open door for the cows! Parts of the church fabric date back to the 12th century as did a beautiful homage to the Virgin Mary, Shen har venahi from Georgia, which is still sung as part of the Georgian marriage service today. The afternoon also offered many changes of mood and cultures including some lively African songs and a new Gospel medley.
The sun shone as the audience and choir enjoyed the after concert strawberry tea – a deliciously sumptuous affair, sitting at tables along the church paths. A delightful way to end a splendid afternoon, which also successfully raised £430 for church and choir alike.
Our thanks to Les Bailiie and her Uffington team for all their hard work.
Sunday 21st October 2012, Free Concert Stamford Arts Centre
A FREE concert open to anyone wishing to attend at 6-8pm
Monday 22nd October 2012, Concert at Peterborough Cathedral
Saturday 15th December 2012, Christmas Concert Stamford Methodist Church
Songs from around the world, some seasonal and some not. 7:30 pm
Concerts & Events in 2013
Saturday 16th March 2013, Woven Chords Easter Concert, Edenham
29th May - 2nd June 2013, Visit to Vokaal Kabaal choir, Holland
See exchange 2013 page for details.
Sunday 14th July 2013, Woven Chords Summer Concert, Stamford Arts Centre
This summer Woven Chords is collaborating with sister world music community choir
from Melton Mowbray, Global Harmony, for a joint concert. Last Easter Global Harmony
organised a joint concert with the two choirs at Oakham School Chapel and both choirs
and audience thoroughly enjoyed the experience. This year it is Woven Chords' turn
and the concert will take place on their home ground - in the Ballroom - where the
choir rehearse.
Each choir will perform separately songs that the other choir doesn't know and then
combine for a grand finale of over 100 voices on songs common to both choirs. So two
choirs for the price of one.
Saturday 7th December 2013, Woven Chords Christmas Concert Barn Hill Methodist Church
A rousing concert helped Barn Hill Church to raise money for their chosen charities Phakamisa, the Ever Green Care Trust and Youth Outreach Work.
The church looked beautiful decorated with night lights and greenery and the choir’s gorgeous harmonies filled the lofty space delighting the audience for yet another year at Christmas time.
The world music programme included two very moving tributes from South Africa to Nelson Mandela, the whole audience standing for a stirring rendition of N’kosi sikelel ’i Afrika.
Woven Chords has sung at Barn Hill Church for so many Christmases now that it must be regarded as a Stamford festive season tradition. As the audience and singers alike didn’t hide their obvious enjoyment on the night last week – it is most likely that the tradition will continue!
Thank you to all who supported the choir and church by being there.
Woven Chords / Vokaal Kabaal Choir Exchange 2012 - 2013
20th - 23rd October 2012, 65 members of Vokaal Kabaal Choir from Holland (including some partners) visited Woven Chords in Stamford.
Fund raising: Woven Chords raised £5000 in a year. Proceeds from our 3 end of term concerts helped but the rest was raised by holding events such as an auction of promises and a Swish evening. These provided good social opportunities too.
A Swish event
A coin windmill mosaic
Vokaal Kabaal’s visit:
A welcome reception at Browne’s Hospital
Two joint concerts to capacity audiences, one at Stamford Arts Centre and one at the magnificent Peterborough Cathedral.
Vokaal Kabaal at Peterborough Cathedral
Woven Chords
Two parties, one dancing to a Ceilidh band, one dancing to the Les Woods Band.
Ceilidh evening
Vokaal Kabaal's visit also included Sunday lunch in Woven Chords homes, a Chinese restaurant meal and a day in Cambridge.
29th May - 2nd June 2013
Visit to Vokaal Kabaal choir, Holland.
60 members of Woven Chords (including some partners) visited Vokaal Kabaal in Castricum, Holland
Our visit to Vokaal Kabaal included:
Welcome party with clog dancers from Vokaal Kabaal
Two joint concerts to standing ovations
Wonderful meals
A walk to the beach
A visit to Amsterdam
Dinner in Vokaal Kabaal homes
A visit to an outdoor windmill museum
and an historic village
A sad goodbye
Well! What can we say?! We at Woven chords have enjoyed a magnificent five day visit to Castricum in Holland. We have deepened and strengthened our ties with Vokaal Kabaal. Musically we have been invigorated and inspired.
The concerts at the Reformed Church and the Jac P Thijsse College provided larger audiences than we had ever experienced and their appreciation of our music was uplifting. Two standing ovations caused serious goose bumps! Sharing two stages with Vokaal Kabaal provided a musical experience beyond compare and observing the mutual respect and admiration of our two musical directors Liz Underhill and Rolien Eikelenboom was very moving. Add in to this mix a well organized social programme, including sightseeing, dinner in the homes of choir members and after concert parties and there was a fire-proof recipe for success. The welcome and generosity of our Dutch hosts went beyond the extra mile and this trip will live in everyone’s hearts and memories for a long time to come. We are looking forward to the next steps….so watch this space
Margaret Marsh (Alto)
Concerts & Events in 2014
A busy January for Woven Chords - 3 events in as many weeks!
11th Jan 2014, Wassail Stamford Community Orchard
"The banging & slamming & booming & crashing were something beyond belief" is how Mark Twain described Wagner's opera 'Lohengrin', but, in a definitely positive sense, it is an appropriate description of the enthusiastic Wassailing at the young but thriving community orchard where we've had the privilege of singing for the 3rd year running as part of this ancient English tradition.
Members of the public joined the SCOG & Woven Chords in several impromptu renderings of the Wassail Song followed by a cacophony of pot & pan clanging & banging which surely drove away all evil spirits from the orchard!
17th Jan 2014, The Chairman's Charity Gala Concert Grantham
‘The most direct route to happiness is in service to others’
One wet, windy evening approximately half the choir trekked over to Grantham Guildhall to take part in the Chairman’s Charity Gala Concert. We formed part of a mixed programme of entertainers fund raising for Cancer research. I will never forget the hilarity of the stagehands watching a group of old dears (so they thought) as we boogied on down to the rapping act that preceded us !
We may have only had three songs to sing but we gave it our all and were much appreciated. The thought that we contributed, if only in small part, to a cause that surely touches every one of us brings joy to the heart!
26th Jan 2014, Zulu Day Stamford Arts Centre
Wow! What a fantastic event. It was a privilege to perform in front of a full house at Stamford Arts Centre on Sunday 26th January. We all thoroughly enjoyed singing our repertoire of South African songs as a precursor to the storytelling and documentary about the making of the film Zulu.
Richard Seal and his African drum enhanced our performance and added to the authenticity of our sound. It was thrilling to be so close to our audience and able to see the expressions on their faces, as they could see ours. The theatre has great acoustics and it was a pleasure to hear each part of the choir clearly. We also had some great dynamics in the songs and I think our rendition of Noyana was the sweetest and most moving performance to date.
So from a choir member's perspective, it was an uplifting experience. It is also good to know that the audience enjoyed our music as well. The feedback at the interval was overwhelming and much appreciated. Thanks to Stamford Arts centre for hosting this informative event and also for showing the classic film Zulu later that afternoon. A good show all round.
Margaret Marsh (Alto)
Fri 7th February 2014, Global Harmony and Woven Chords go back to school!
Woven Chords and Global Harmony singers inspire children to sing!
About 30 members from the two choirs spent a wonderful day on Friday 7 February with the children of Sacred Heart Catholic Academy in Leicester for their curriculum day. The children’s objectives were - ‘to be able to sing in unison’ (for the whole school) and ‘to be able to sing in two parts’ (for Years 5 to 7). The choirs’ objectives were - to pass on the love of singing, and, to make it through the day!
Saturday 29th March 2014, Community Choirs Festival, Stratford on Avon
Performing to 500 other singers.
On Saturday, 29th March, sixty-five representatives from Woven Chords and Global Harmony joined forces and travelled to Stratford upon Avon to take part in the annual Community Choirs Festival.... a celebration of a cappella singing. Over 500 enthusiastic singers from all over the country came together to share their enthusiasm for and joy of singing, to socialise and perform. Choirs of all types and sizes from far and wide....Yorkshire, Hampshire, Wales, London and many locations in-between gathered with great excitement and anticipation of what the day had in store.
Sunday 13th April 2014, Easter Concert in the Ballroom, Stamford Arts Centre
A response from Sue Archer (alto) who is convalescing and so was able to be in the audience for a change:
“I was so pleased to attend the concert on 13th April in the Ballroom. It was very strange to be in the audience rather than on stage though I couldn't help singing along to most of the songs! All the songs chosen by Liz sounded amazing. The balance of the four parts, the tone and the notes were all superb. I really liked the Japanese song when everyone was standing in a circle around the audience - it sounded fantastic! The African set was particularly moving, made all the more special by Richard's amazing drumming, but what made the concert so great was the sheer confidence, exuberance and enthusiasm you all showed both with the singing and movement. You looked like you were having a ball! I came away feeling completely uplifted - and with a raffle prize too! - so all in all it was a really great evening. Thanks to everyone in Woven Chords for a very special concert and I look forward to being back singing with you very soon.”
A message from Marion (alto) who was also in the audience:
Saturday 12th July 2014, Summer Concert at Langham Church
A lovely summer evening, a beautiful church, an energetic and enthusiastic choir, a responsive and appreciative audience – all added up to a great evening!
Woven Chords gave of its best and gave its services free enabling Langham Church to make nearly £600 for their church maintenance fund raising campaign. Debbie and Hilary and their team from the church provided some delicious interval refreshments.
A good time was had by all and the choir enjoyed an opportunity to socialise afterwards at the village pub.
The smallest choir for some time - it's called the summer holiday effect!
Only 6 basses - but they sounded like many more!
Some of the tops giving it their all
Thurs 24th July 2014, End of term pic-nic on Stamford meadows.
After an amazing feast in glorious evening sunlight, any passers-by on the meadows were treated to some ad hoc singing by all those there. A great way to end the term!
Saturday 6th December 2014, Woven Chords Christmas Concert Thurlby Methodist Church
Thurlby Methodist Church, High Street, Thurlby, Near Bourne, PE10 0ED
Carols from around the world including familiar traditional favourites, mixed in with a glistening selection of unseasonal songs from our ever increasing, wide ranging world music repertoire.
Concerts & Events in 2015
Saturday 17th January 2015, Wassailing at Stamford Community Orchard
Saturday 28th March 2015, Easter Concert Oakham School Chapel
Saturday 11th July 2015, Summer Concert Haconby Church near Bourne
A sold-out concert with a mixture of African songs and songs from our global repertoire plus a few familiar songs including a gospel medley, under the leadership of our new musical director Abi Moore, and a most appreciative audience made for a very enjoyable concert at Haconby church, with lots of money raised for Malawi Education Link.
Friday 18th December 2015, Christmas Concert - at Stamford Arts Centre, 7.30pm.
Traditional Christmas Carols, global songs and winter poetry.
Concerts & Events in 2016
Saturday 9th January 2016, Wassailing at Stamford Community Orchard
Friday 10th June 2016, Summer Concert at All Saints Church Stamford
Our summer concert took place this year at the beautiful All Saints church in Red Lion Square,
right in the centre of Stamford.
Our two sets for the concert this year consisted of a wide range of a capella songs from traditions as varied as
English and Scottish Folk, African and European numbers.
The harmonies resonated beautifully in the church and, judging by the warm applause from our audience,
the concert was much appreciated.
Friday 24th - Sunday 26th June 2016, Street Choirs Festival 2016
About a dozen members of Woven Chords attended the Street Choirs Festival over the weekend of 24-26 June 2016, hosted this year by Red Leicester Choir in that wonderful city. The Street Choirs Festival has been going for about two decades now and I can see why: the whole festival was a joy, wonderfully organised by Red Leicester and the whole thing ran like clockwork.
Abi leads the combined choirs in Leicester city centre
Friday 22nd - Sunday 24th July 2016, Woven Chords Residential Weekend
For the second year running members of Woven Chords took to the hills of Derbyshire for a weekend of singing and great merriment. The Nightingale Centre in Great Hucklow near Buxton played host to 35 members of the Woven Chords choir, who wasted no time in getting down to some serious eating, drinking and bonding!
The main focus for the weekend was the singing and we were led by Beth de Lange, an accomplished world music practitioner, who introduced us to some challenging Georgian songs on Saturday morning and uplifting African material on Sunday.
African workshop with Beth de Lange
Friday 16th December 2016, Christmas Concert at Stamford Arts Centre
Stamford Arts Centre hosted the latest festive celebration from Woven Chords, the local natural voice choir who have gathered a loyal following and a strong reputation for close, tight harmony work.
This was Abi Moore's last concert as choir leader and her work with the choir has seen them move from strength to strength. Friday night's concert was another example of the professionalism and sense of real enjoyment that she has fostered within the group and how this is transmitted to the audience.
A full house showed its appreciation as the choir performed Basque and Catalan Christmas songs, as well as Swedish, Polish and Ukranian carols, all sung in the original language, as were the Italian protest song and the Hawaiian Earth blessing. Alongside the seasonal songs were others from their extensive repertoire, including Barbara Ann and Blowin' in the Wind.
All songs were sung unaccompanied and great credit goes to all concerned for the mastery of the material displayed and the light and shade created during the performance.
The audience were left feeling that Christmas was now upon us and the Woven Chords Annual concert is now the unofficial launch of the festive season for many people in Stamford and the surrounding area.
Concerts & Events in 2017
21st - 22nd October 2017 UK Choir Festival 2017 St Albans
A small but enthusiastic group of us attended the above event accompanied by our director Emmanuel. The Festival's aim is to bring together choirs from all over the UK in a pleasing setting where people can learn, thrive and develop through singing.
Day 1
The ten or so choirs, some from as far afield as Ireland, were treated to a busy, stimulating and challenging Saturday, involving a series of workshops before giving a performance. Always entertaining, the talented workshop leaders encouraged us to develop such skills as pitching correctly and listening to others around us to improve the blend and balance of the choir.
Day 2
The warm up from inspirational choir leader Ula Weber didn't really feel like one! which goes to show you can warm up the body and the voice while having fun and feeling a bit/ a bit more/ or very silly. I think this is a big draw for voice coaches choir leaders et al as they get satisfaction from seeing their pupils look totally daft but hey why not?
Friday 8th December 2017, Christmas Concert at Stamford Arts Centre
Concerts & Events in 2018
Saturday 6th January 2018, Wassailing at Stamford Community Orchard
The wassail event has been revived in Stamford because of the long association with apple growing in this area. On a chilly but dry winter’s evening, about 120 people of all ages gathered at the Stamford Community Orchard to perform this old medieval ritual and the choir was asked to take part. We readily took up this invitation as we like to seize opportunities to take part in community activities. There was much jollity and merriment as morris dancers danced, people banged on pots and pans and the choir performed several songs, while mulled cider was served to keep those cockles warmed. . all in the hope of bringing on a successful apple harvest this coming year ! As well as singing some old numbers, we revived a wassailing song especially for the occasion and led the crowd. We certainly sung our hearts out and have already been invited back for next year, so hopefully we made a worthwhile contribution to this community event.. and we won’t get blamed if the apple harvest is poor this year !
Saturday 13th January 2018, Christmas Party
On the 13th January about 35 people, choir members, family and friends, gathered to make merry at our annual Christmas party. Once again we had engaged the wonderful services of the band Ock ‘n’ Dough who hail from Northamptonshire and can claim to be the world’s only Anglo-Latvian Zydecajun Ceilidh Band ! As expected, we were treated to a wonderful evening of tunes which took us from far away Latvia to the bayous of the Deep South with some good old Celtic country dance music thrown into the mix. The irresistible rhythms ensured that the dance floor was nearly always full, with just a break for some very welcome supper in the middle of the evening - delicious fare provided by all who came. It was a fantastic evening out and a wonderful way to chase away any gathering winter blues on a cold January night!
The Choir and friends with Ceilidh Band Ock ‘n’ Dough
Saturday 7th July 2018, Summer Concert at Bourne Baptist Church
After months of hard work the choir assembled on Saturday July 7th at the Baptist Church, Bourne, ready to sing its heart out for the summer concert. In front of an audience of friends, families and church members, and under the directorship of Emmanuel, we gave what some said was ‘the best concert ever’!
Our programme of some 20 songs was a varied mix of Emmanuel’s own compositions (some in the Nigerian language), English folk songs, traditional gospel and world music, often incorporating haunting new harmonies by Emmanuel. Our sound was also at times given extra depth and authenticity by the addition of drumming by Elizabeth, Emmanuel’s wife.
According to some, what made the concert particularly special, was the joy of singing we conveyed to our audience with one person coming up and saying ‘I just wanted to get up and sing too!’. No doubt we have to thank Emmanuel for that, his choice of music for us, his infectious enthusiasm throughout the year and his constant encouragement during the performance.
The deafening applause, cheering and stomping as our last song ended left us in no doubt that an encore was called for. Another rendering of the gospel song ‘Oh Happy Day’ , accompanied by clapping from choir and audience, could genuinely be said to have raised the rafters!
While there is much sadness that Emmanuel has to move on, it was a wonderful and memorable evening to mark the end of his time with us.
Fri 20th to Sun 22nd July 2018, Great Hucklow Singing Weekend
On Friday evening we welcomed old and new friends, looking forward to the activities of the next two days. Dinner was as good as we remembered, and made all the more enjoyable this year because it was followed by a celebration of Dianne's birthday with a delicious cake baked by the chef. The evening was spent revisiting our repertoire spanning the years, which gave a pleasing balance of old and new songs, catering for everyone at some point in the course of the evening.
On Saturday morning we met our workshop leader, Val Regan - what a discovery! From the moment she addressed us, we knew we were in expert hands- her calm, humorous, and confident teaching style made for a dynamic enjoyable and very satisfying singing experience for us all. The songs Val chose looked very challenging, (one being in Mexican and the other with verses in English, Spanish, Arabic and an African dialect) but as soon as she started teaching us we learned very quickly and felt we were making a great sound. Her encouraging remarks made us feel super-confident. Over the two workshops Val interwove the learning of the two songs with fun rhythms and warmups. By Sunday lunchtime we could sing both songs and felt anything was possible. A huge thank you to Val - we must get her back to Stamford!!
Saturday afternoon was spent in a variety of ways: walking: site seeing: relaxing. By Saturday evening it was party time! An inexhaustible choice of music was made available courtesy of online music streaming and wireless speakers, to cater for everyone's requests. Even the most obscure was found! Norah offered tango and jive lessons which were enthusiastically taken up, whilst those of us not dancing certainly exercised our voices, accompanying all the golden oldies requests. Thank you to all those who entertained us!!
Val Regan leads the choir in a singing workshop.
Sat 9th February 2019, Winter Social
We were on familiar ground for this year's winter social, only making the short trip downstairs from the ballroom to the cellar bar.
There was a very good turn out, representing everyone from the old stalwarts to our newest and youngest members.
The evening began with an icebreaker quiz, where every round the teams of two moved on to work with other partners. This proved to be highly successful and meant that we all got to chat to a variety of people we wouldn't normally come across. Dave H and Maggie B won by a huge margin, which means they will be in great demand for any future quiz teams!!
As always, the food you provided was delicious, varied and imaginative. It was a real feast and we managed to polish off most of it.
Running through the evening were three activities: the book stall:the homemade stall and the "Guess Who" photo competition. These were all well patronised and raised welcome money to swell our coffers. Lia won the photo competition guessing 12 out of 17 faces.
Everyone was socialising so spontaneously that the time ran away with us and it was with surprise that we realised we only had 30 minutes left, so reluctantly we were obliged to postpone the karaoke and the singalong. Many thanks to Steve Moore for going to all the trouble of setting up the karaoke. At least he knows how to do it for the next time!! Looking forward to it already!
A huge thank you to the committee who work brilliantly as a team and pulled together to ensure a seamless and thoroughly enjoyable evening.
Thursday 4th April 2019, Concert at Carlby Church
Combined Woven Chords and Orphicon String Quartet concert.
Friday 12th July 2019, Summer Concert Stamford Arts Centre Ballroom
Friday 13th December 2019, Christmas Concert at Stamford Arts Centre ballroom
Concerts & Events in 2020
Saturday 4th January 2020, Wassailing at Stamford Community Orchard
Concerts & Events in 2022
Thursday 21st July 2022, Summer Concert at Stamford Arts Centre ballroom
Join our popular Stamford based choir in a celebration of glorious harmony, singing songs from across the globe in a variety of languages.
Thursday 15th December 2022, Winter Concert at Stamford Arts Centre ballroom
Join our popular Stamford based choir in a celebration of glorious harmony, singing songs from across the globe in a variety of languages.
Concerts & Events in 2023
Thursday 13th July 2023, Summer Concert at Stamford Arts Centre ballroom
Local community choir Woven Chords are back on stage with a Summer Concert to celebrate the end of another vocal year. In keeping with their motto of "Worldwide Harmonies with a Local Heart" they will be singing a wide range of a cappella songs from Europe, Africa, Asia and beyond (although nothing as yet from Antarctica!). Under musical director Graham Dale, prepare to be taken around the world in eighty minutes!
The musical delights will include folk songs, gospel songs, protest songs, ecologically sound songs, original compositions, an unofficial national anthem, and even some Gaelic mouth music. How is this all possible? - we hear you ask. Come along and find out!
Thursday 21st December 2023, Winter Concert at Stamford Arts Centre ballroom
Stamford's long-running community choir, Woven Chords, will be back on stage on Thursday 21st December in the Stamford Arts Centre ballroom. Specialising in a cappella songs from at least four continents, and often singing in the original languages, they aim to take the audience around the world in eighty minutes. After the success of their Summer concert in July they are returning with another seasonal and global selection.
Concerts & Events in 2024
Saturday 6th January 2024, Wassailing at Stamford Community Orchard
Thursday 11th July 2024, Summer Concert Stamford Arts Centre Ballroom.
Community choir Woven Chords are back on stage with a Summer Concert to celebrate the end of another vocal year.
In keeping with their motto of "Worldwide Harmonies with a Local Heart" they will be singing a wide range of a cappella songs in a variety of languages from Europe, Africa, Asia and beyond (although nothing as yet from Antarctica!).
Under musical director Graham Dale, prepare to be taken around the world. How is this all possible? - we hear you ask. Come along and find out!
Thursday 19th December 2024, Winter Concert at Stamford Arts Centre Ballroom.
Stamford's popular community choir, Woven Chords, led by talented musical director Graham Dale, will be back on stage on Thursday 19th December in the Stamford Arts Centre ballroom.
Specialising in a cappella (unaccompanied) songs, and often singing in the original languages, they aim to take the audience around the world with songs from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.
Enjoy their glorious harmonies, be uplifted and filled with seasonal cheer. How is all this possible? -we hear you ask. Come along and find out!
Concerts & Events in 2025
Saturday 4th January 2025, Wassail at Stamford Community Orchard
Sat 4th January 2025 4:30pm
Thursday 24th July 2025, Summer Concert Stamford Arts Centre Ballroom
Thursday 24th July 8pm
Stamford's popular community choir, Woven Chords, are back on stage with a Summer Concert to celebrate the end of another vocal year. In keeping with their motto of "Worldwide Harmonies with a Local Heart" they will be singing a wide range of a cappella songs in a variety of languages from Europe, Africa, Asia and beyond.
Lead by talented director Graham Dale, the musical delights will include: rich harmonies, folk songs, gospel songs, protest songs, original compositions, an unofficial national anthem and even some Gaelic mouth music. How is this all possible? - we hear you ask. Come along and find out!
Saturday 19th July 2025, Concert at Langham Church
Saturday 19th July, 7:30pm tickets £15
Thursday 30th October 2025, Woven Chords 30th Birthday
Woven Chords, Stamford’s world music community choir, has been practising and performing in Stamford Arts Centre for 30 years in September.
We began in 1995, as an Arts Council initiative to get more women into singing. It was then known as Stamford Women’s Choir, under the musical directorship of Sally Brown. The next musical director, Chris Rowbury, eventually floated the idea of men joining the choir and the mixed choir that Woven Chords is now, was formed.
Our present director is Stamford’s own, Graham Dale. To celebrate our thirty years, we are planning a party based on a Georgian ‘Supra’ or feast. It will be a mix of Georgian and English traditions with lots of food, drink and song held in our home, The Ballroom at Stamford Arts Centre, on Thursday 30th October at 7:30pm. All present and past members of Woven Chords are welcome to join us for the party. We have present members of Wovies who attended the first workshop 30 years ago, so you are sure to meet up with old friends!
Thursday 11th December 2025, Winter Concert Stamford Arts Centre Ballroom.
Thursday 11th December 8pm
Stamford's popular community choir, Woven Chords, are back on stage with a Summer Concert to celebrate the end of another vocal year. In keeping with their motto of "Worldwide Harmonies with a Local Heart" they will be singing a wide range of a cappella songs in a variety of languages from Europe, Africa, Asia and beyond.
Lead by talented director Graham Dale, the musical delights will include: rich harmonies, folk songs, gospel songs, protest songs, original compositions, an unofficial national anthem and even some Gaelic mouth music. How is this all possible? - we hear you ask. Come along and find out!
Saturday 3rd January 2026, Wassail at Stamford Community Orchard
Sat 3rd January 2026 4:30pm (end of Christ Church Close, off Green Lane)
Booking the choir
We are always looking for performance opportunities (the more unusual the better!). We have already performed in a prison, and done our first wedding. For more information check out the Booking the Choir page.