Formerly Barclays House Choir (BHC) now The Quayside Choir (TQC)
Barclays House Choir is now The Quayside Choir. A new website is following in due course. However this site will contain all relevant information although apologies are give that out of date information references may still appear.
Just before the Lockdown crisis, and after over 40 years as Barclays House Choir, we were advised by Barclays Bank that they could no longer support the group financially as they were formerly disbanding their Arts Council, through which our funding had been secured. We are grateful to Barclays for enabling us to sing together for so long. Undeterred, we are now re-named as The Quayside Choir and continue to offer a great musical and social activity for the people of Poole and the surrounding area.
Helen Brind, our musical director since 2014, remains at the helm. Rehearsals have moved to United Reform Church Higher 1 Blandford Road, Broadstone, Dorset, BH18 9HQ, where we meet on Tuesday evenings from 7.45-9.30pm. The choir is going through the process of applying for charitable status and aims to continue to stage its own concerts and to participate in other community events in the area. Repertoire, as always, will consist of a wide variety of music both sacred and secular. Watch this space for information of our events and activities!
Potential new members are welcome to come and meet us at any time during the term. The ability to read music is helpful but most important is a love of singing and a willingness to learn. We sing a wide range of repertoire both sacred and secular and perform at our own concerts and at other events in the community. The choir is particularly in need of altos, tenors and basses but would love to hear from any potential new members.
Upcoming Events
Saturday 6th December 6.00pm – please note earlier start time
St Mary’s RC Church, 211a Wimborne Road, Poole,
BH15 2EG
CHRISTMAS CRACKERS!
Our annual Christmas concert has a different twist this year – with an earlier start of
6pm, the programme is aimed at appealing to families looking for an evening that gives us all the aspects of Christmas that we love to share. There will be reflective pieces, songs of rejoicing, fun and laughter, festive fare, and a splendid raffle of hampers and gifts. The ‘Crackers’ are not just the crazy or explosive kind, but also those ‘cracking’ pieces of music that we all love, including some old favourites for the adults, some Jingling Bells and red-nosed
reindeer for the children, and carols for everyone to join in with. Not to be missed!
Tickets
priced at £15 (to include refreshments) can be purchased on the door (cash or card). Children under 16 will be admitted free of charge, so bring along your friends and family for a joyful evening with The Quayside Choir.
Sunday 7th December 12 noon onwards – Carols and Songs at Kingston Lacy House, Wimborne, BH21 4EA
We are thrilled to have been invited to sing at the beautiful National Trust property, Kingston Lacy. The Quayside Choir will be singing in the café courtyard during the afternoon, with our first performance at 12 noon. Come along and enjoy the grounds and house, hear some festive music, and join in with a carol or two..
Saturday 7th March 2026 – Choral Workshop, Upton Community Centre, Poole Road, Upton, BH16 5JA 10.30am – 4.30pm
Our very popular annual workshop will be led in 2026 by Mark Burstow, Musical Director of the Bournemouth Symphony Youth Chorus. Mark has a wealth of experience with choral groups, and we are delighted that he will be joining us for the workshop. The Quayside Choir’s choral workshops are becoming quite famous locally – not least due to the excellent tea and cakes that are provided, and also the great networking and social opportunities they bring! Most enjoyable, give it a go! More details will follow in the New Year. If you would like to go on an email mailing list for further information, please message quaysidechoir AT yahoo.com*. *Replace AT with @, (SPAM Protection).
For full details of all forthcoming concerts see here
