University Choir
Our choir is perfect for anyone who enjoys singing with others or would like to have a go at singing in a choir for the first time.
The Choir is open to Loughborough University students, staff and members of the public. In addition to weekly rehearsals the Choir performs two concerts each year.
The Choir's repertoire includes classical choral pieces as well as lighter, popular music. They perform concerts in May and December each year. The Choir is also invited to take part in other University events such as Christmas in the Wood, retirees' lunches and alumni events.
Come and Sing Day 2024
Loughborough University Choir and Peckleton Church invite you to join them in learning to sing music by Vivaldi and Ivor Novello with a concert at the end of the day.
Sunday 21 July
Peckleton Church, Leicester, LE9 7RA
Registration and rehearsals from 9.30am at Peckleton Church
Concert at 4pm
Singer fee £20 to include music loan for the day (students free)
Bring a picnic and spend a day with Loughborough University Choir to learn and perform Vivaldi’s Gloria plus David Whittle’s rich arrangement of Ivor Novello’s songs, including “Keep the Home Fires Burning” and “We’ll Gather Lilacs”. All singers are welcome, whatever your level of experience.
About the choir
When and where?
Rehearsals are weekly on Monday evenings from 7-9pm (term time only). They take place in Cope Auditorium (Edward Barnsley Building) on campus; this is located on the same side of Epinal Way as Loughborough College.
There is parking close to the building but please note that visitors, as well as staff and students, are required to pay to park.
Find out more about visitor parking
Who can join?
Anyone aged 16 or over! The Choir is keen to welcome new students and staff members as well as alumni and members of the local community. You do not need any prior experience, all abilities are welcome.
How do I join?
Membership is £10 per concert period (Sep-Dec or Jan-May) and this includes the cost of weekly rehearsals and loan of any sheet music you need. Annual membership is also available at the start of each academic year (September) for £20. Student membership is free but students should still register. Anyone is welcome to observe or try a session free of charge before payment; you will be able to borrow the music for the night but not take it home.
Please note that once you have purchased your membership you will be added to the Choir's email group, which is used to keep members up to date with all the latest information regarding rehearsals and concerts.
Formal registration for new members will open again in September 2024 and details will be added here. If you wish to join the Choir in the meantime and come along to their rehearsals then please email the Choir for details.
If you have any other questions about the Choir, then please email LboroUniChoir@gmail.com to find out more about membership and for the latest information on arrangements.
Why should I join?
Being a member of our Choir is a fantastic opportunity to learn how to sing in a choir under the direction of our wonderful Music Director Eleanor Graff-Baker. Singing in a choir can help you learn to read music and improve your own singing.
For many people, singing in a choir helps with their wellbeing. It gives you a sense of purpose and connection with other people, can boost your confidence and help to relieve stress.
Accessibility
The Cope Auditorium has step free access and there is an accessible toilet in the main foyer. Parking is available outside the building in the evenings. If the barrier is down then please press the buzzer and ask Security to raise it.
If you have any specific access requirements or anything you would like the Choir to be aware of when running rehearsals, please let us know by emailing LUArts@lboro.ac.uk and we will do our best to accommodate them.
The Choir's musical team
The choir is conducted by Eleanor Graff-Baker. Eleanor read Music at The Queen’s College, Oxford, where she was a Choral Bursar and a member of Schola Cantorum. She is an Associate of the Royal College of Music. Her career has combined performance as a violinist and singer with composition and musical direction.
The choir’s accompanist is Eleonora Babitsky, who studied at the Gnessin Music Institute in Moscow. She was a regular performer with the Soviet State Philharmonic Society, specialising in chamber music; and for five years was an accompanist for Soviet Radio. For many years she was an accompanist for Moscow Chamber Choir conducted by Vladimir Minin. She has also worked for Hochshule fuer Musik in Munich; and is much in demand as an accompanist for string players, having played for Igor Oistrakh, Daniel Sahfran, Vladimir Spivakov, Igor Ozim, Vadim Repin and many other musicians across Europe.