Ashtead Youth Choir is a community choir open to young singers aged 7+, with a young leaders’ programme for those aged 14-18 (see below). It is open to all, whether or not they live in Ashtead. Although the choir is part of the choral outreach programme at St Giles’ and St George’s, Ashtead, church membership is not a requirement. There are no auditions and there is no membership fee.

Alongside making new friends and experiencing the joy of singing together, rehearsals are a chance for choir members develop their singing technique, music reading and aural skills in a relaxed and fun environment.

The choir rehearses on Tuesdays at 5.45pm at the Dell Centre, Park Lane KT21 1EJ. Singers aged 11+ and at secondary school rehearse for an hour and finish at 6.45pm and younger singers finish at 6.30pm (with provision for them to stay on site until 6.45pm under supervision if they have older siblings in the choir).

The youth choir performs at termly concerts and combines with Ashtead Parish Choir to sing at special festival services in church three times a year. The choir’s repertoire includes inspirational and sacred music in styles ranging from classical and folk music, to gospel and pop. There are opportunities for choir members to sing solo and for advanced instrumentalists to play in concerts.

If you are interested in joining, you are welcome to come to a rehearsal to see whether it might be for you. Please get in touch with the choir director, Esther Jones, to find out more: email esther.jones@ashteadparish.org or mobile 07795 236347.

We have established a programme for young singers aged 14-17 year olds who would like to take on a leadership role within the choir. This includes leading their own ‘team’ of younger singers, and assisting with tasks such as setting up chairs, taking the register or distributing music. For those taking a Duke of Edinburgh award, this meets the criteria for the ‘volunteering’ or ‘skill’ activity.

Those who are part of the Young Singing Leaders’ programme, and have good vocal and musical skills, will be invited to sing with the parish choir on an occasional basis (though this is not mandatory). For some events, such as weddings and funerals, there is a fee for singers.

We also have a choral scholarship scheme for those interested in singing more regularly with the parish choir. The commitment is two Tuesday rehearsals and two Sundays per month, and choral scholars receive a bursary of £240 per annum. This is excellent preparation for anyone considering a choral scholarship at university – and it is also a very good way to develop ear-training and sightsinging skills, both of which are valuable for anyone taking GCSE or A-level music. For further details, please get in touch with Esther or see our website.

Esther Jones is the Director of Music at St George’s and St Giles’ Ashtead, and has directed Ashtead Youth Choir since September 2023. She is an experienced choral conductor who specialises in music education, and has run children's and youth choirs in schools, churches and local communities across the UK. She works with singers of all abilities - from complete beginners to experienced singers. In her role as Associate Principal Conductor of the National Youth Choir of Great Britain she has helped aspiring young singers to develop their musical skills in order to support GCSE and A-Level music qualifications, become choral scholars at university, study at conservatoires and, sometimes, become teachers and choir directors themselves. But, ultimately, her main aim is always to provide opportunities for young people to experience the joy of singing for themselves.

Ashtead Youth Choir was founded by Leah Perona-Wright in 2000. Prior to this – and for generations – children had sung with the adult Parish Choir (you can see some very old photos of the boy choristers on the wall of the choir vestry in St Giles), but the youth choir has a different focus. Rather than singing weekly services, the choir only sings within a church service once a term, and also performs at termly concerts and at other local events. Over the years it has sung a wide range of ambitious repertoire, including musicals, a full-scale production of Britten’s Noye’s Fludde, Chilcott’s Little Jazz Mass complete with jazz band, and Rutter’s Mass for the Children with a local choral society among others. Last year it featured as a guest choir in the Surrey Primary Schools’ Singing Festival in Dorking Halls.

All staff and volunteers are DBS-checked and have regular safeguarding training. Please click HERE to see the church’s safeguarding policy.