The 150-strong UEA Choir is open to all by audition and was established in 1965 under Sir Phillip Ledger, UEA Director of Music until 1974. Since 2010, it has been directed by Tom Primrose.
Rehearsals and performances
UEA Choir enjoys membership from students, staff, and members of the local community. The choir rehearse on campus every Monday (19:30 - 21:30), during semester time, and perform either alone or with the UEA Symphony Orchestra at least twice a year. You can find details of past UEA Choir performances in our Events Archive.
The UEA Choir 2024-25 concert season will commence on Wednesday 11 December 2024 with the 'UEA Choirs Christmas Carol concert' at The Cathedral of St John the Baptist (Unthank Road, Norwich, NR2 2PA) and conclude on Saturday 1 March 2025 with 'The Dream of Gerontius' concert with Cambridge Philharmonic Chorus and Orchestra at Saffron Hall (Audley End Road, Saffron Walden CB11 4UH). Tickets for the 'UEA Choirs Christmas Carol concert' cost £9-£12 and are available to purchase from the UEA online store. Tickets for 'The Dream of Gerontius' concert cost £15-£30 and will be available to purchase from the Saffron Hall Box Office.
You can find details of forthcoming UEA Choir performances in our Upcoming Events Calendar.
Auditions
UEA Choir is open to beginners, as well as more experienced singers. Some previous experience singing in choirs is preferable, but not essential. Fluency in reading music is an asset, but we will consider any suitable voice whatever the level of reading ability.
All singers are auditioned, however the auditions are short and very informal.
Auditions for the 2024–25 concert season have now taken place. However, we do still have some vacancies in our Tenor and Bass sections. If you are a Tenor or Bass and would like to audition, please fill out an online audition form or email musicevents@uea.ac.uk stating your voice type, experience and availability for audition. Auditions are five minutes long. For the audition, candidates will be asked to sing some scales, do some vocal exercises (as directed by Tom) and work through two or three lines of a previously unseen piece. It is not a requirement, but they may wish to prepare a short song of up to two minutes.
Subscriptions
Full subscription rate is £45 for the year, and concession subscription rate (seniors (over 60s) and non-UEA students) is £22.50 for the year. Please note membership is free for UEA members (students and staff).