Singing lies at the heart of our Saturday Centre’s offering. Our biannual concerts at the end of the Autumn term and early in the Summer term are wonderful examples of how we reflect this philosophy. 

Winter Concert, 2023.

To celebrate Autumn Term, over 100 singers from both Saturday Centres performed an impressive programme of choral music ranging from Eric Whitacre’s Five Hebrew Love Songs to Spanish and Hebrew folk songs and contemporary pop song arrangements such as Taylor Swift’s Welcome to New York. Camjam Voices, with children as young as 6, sang alongside our Senior Centre Chamber Choir and was impressively supported by parents from the Adult Choir. The massed singing from the entire group brought the house down with a rendition of the Spiritual, Over My Head, as their final number.

Autumn Term Choral Concert, 2023
Autumn Term Choral Concert, 2023

Highlights of the concert were:

  • “When I Grow Up” from Matilda by Tim Minchin, sung by Camjam Voices from the Junior Centre, with budding superstars as young as 6 singing their hearts out.
  • “On Children” by Ysaye M. Barnwell, a poem by Kahlil Gibran, sung by our Early Choirs of 20 young singers aged from 12 to 18. This auditioned choir rehearses at the unsocial hour of 9 am on Saturday morning and attracts singers who are both committed and talented.
  • The four conductors, Ros Savournin, Ezra Burke, Enyi Okpara and Lis Stewart worked together to ensure all singers were superbly led and supported.
  • Although it was dark by the time the concert ended, the wonderful singing lifted our hearts as we left the hall. While it was not quite time for holiday celebrations, it felt as if the spirit of the festive season was most definitely in the air.

“This is my favourite concert of the year. Can we have more of them, please, please?”

“I can’t wait until January to start some new songs with all my friends”.

Saturday Centre Students

“I felt so proud of my daughter singing with such a wonderful group of people. Thank you for the music!”

“My neighbour came tonight and wants to know if her son, who loves singing, can join in January”.

Saturday Centre Parents

Camden Youth Choir rehearsing at St Martin’s Church, Gospel Oak for their Summer concert.
Camden Youth Choir rehearsing at St Martin’s Church, Gospel Oak for their Summer concert.
Camden Youth Choir rehearsing at St Martin’s Church, Gospel Oak for their Summer concert.
Camden Youth Choir rehearsing at St Martin’s Church, Gospel Oak for their Summer concert.
Camden Saturday choirs perform at St Martin’s Church, Gospel Oak
Camden Saturday choirs perform at St Martin’s Church, Gospel Oak
Adult choir performing
Adult Choir performing

Summer Term Choral Concert

Our annual Summer Choral Concert was held at the “platypus of churches” St Martins, Gospel Oak, on Saturday afternoon, May 11th. We have a longstanding relationship with this Church; its beautiful interior along with magnificent acoustics, helped to make this concert the highlight of the Camden Saturday Centres’ Choral year. Over 100 young and old singers performed to an audience of 180 parents and friends, and as with our Winter concert, a wonderfully varied programme was offered:

Highlights were:

  • “Five Hebrew Love Songs” by Eric Whitacre was performed by the 70-strong Camden Youth Choir. This demanding cycle was impressively sung and included solos by Salome Micallef-Zerbib and Emily Seddon-Deane. Former Camden student and Saturday assistant Maya Kasparova played the hauntingly beautiful violin obligato.  
  • Three pieces performed by Camden Early Choirs, including contemporary Norwegian composer Ola Gjeilo’s “The Rose”, were sung by memory and reflected the high standard of musicianship and performance of these singers.
  • “Shosholoza”, the South African Nguni miner’s song, concluded the concert (twice!) as all the singers, along with the adult voices, joined together to celebrate the wonder and awe of communal singing in such a beautiful venue. Once again, the choirs were conducted by Ros, Ezra and Enyi and brought together a fabulous afternoon of joyful celebration.

“I loved the programme and how ambitious the directors were for the young singers”.

“My favourite was Shosholoza as it’s so uplifting to sing in harmony!”

“We are so lucky to have such great musicians in Camden, my son absolutely loves singing!”.

“Thank you for all you do Camden Music, our children are so lucky to have such wonderful opportunities”.

Quotes from audience and choir members

Want to get involved with singing at Camden Music? Sign up today!

Visit www.camden.gov.uk/camdens-music-service to find out about Camden Music’s choirs for children and young people.

Year 3 – Year 5: CamJam Voices 

  • CamJam Voices meets on Saturday mornings from 11.30 to 12.15 at Brecknock Primary School.  
  • It is sort of a training choir for the main youth choir. 
  • There are no auditions – everyone is welcome! 

Year 6 – Year 13: Camden Youth Choir 

  • Camden Youth Choir meets on Saturday mornings from 10.00 – 11.00 at Camden School for Girls. 
  • There are no auditions – everyone is welcome!

Year 6 – Year 13: The Chamber Choirs 

  • The Chamber Choirs meet on Saturday mornings from 9.00 – 10.00 at Camden School for Girls. 
  • Members are invited for an informal audition.  
  • All members of the Early Choirs are also in Camden Youth Choir. 

Camden Holiday Voices 

  • Are you in Years 6 – 13? Do you like singing in harmony? Are you into pop, soul and RnB? Do you want to strengthen your voice? Camden Holiday Voices meets during the first weekend at the end of each half-term, starting after school on Friday.