Performances
Our first ever performance was at the Forest Activities Festival at Speech House in April 2017. At this point the Choir was 6 weeks old and we were to perform our first ever songs of "Fields of Gold" "Hallelujah" and "What shall we do with the Drunken Sailor" This was especially nerve wracking, as sadly we couldnt get the keyboard to work. Our first ever Forest Singers performance was performed "A capella". Despite all that, the audience loved it and we received amazing feedback. We welcomed new members off the back of that performance so it couldn't have been that bad - But what a Baptism of Fire for our first ever outdoor concert. One we will never forget....
We were invited to sing at Taurus Crafts Midsummer Concert during the heatwave of June 2017. Our Choir members had grown and we show cased our new songs "Sea Medley" "Amazing Grace" and"Down in the River to Pray" This was also the first time we presented ourselves in our signature dress code of Black and White.
On Saturday 30th September 2017 we hosted our very first Fundraising concert, to celebrate Forest Singers 1st Birthday. We were joined by the Drybrook and District Male Voice Choir and the Ukes of Azzard. All the tickets were sold, and it was standing room only as we had a thoroughly enjoyable evening being entertained
Saturday 16th June 2018 This was our second Fundraising Summer Concert at Christchurch, where we sang our new repertoire of songs including "Pink Panther" and "Circle of Life" This was also the second concert, where we were joined by Singer/Songwriter Stella Thomson - Pigott
In September 2018 we were invited to be apart of the "Helping Harry" Fundraising Concert, to raise vital funds to help a young boy receive a life changing operation. This was an amazing event. We shared the stage with various local choirs, Including Wyedean Gospel Choir. We were thrilled to showcase our new song "Skyfall" and honoured to have been accompanied by award winning, professional Concert Harpist Jemima Phillips.
"The Jewel in the Forest Singers Crown."
In November 2018 Forest Singers were invited to sing at the Autumn Choral Meeting in Prague. Our extremely new and inexperienced Choir shared the stage with National Choirs from Latvia, Croatia, Poland and Hungary, but we held our own. The Cathedrals we peformed in were exquisite, and the accoustics incredible. We were able to show case our repertoire of songs and the audience loved it! We received amazing feedback, warmth and hospitality from the event organisers and hosts. It was an incredible experience, and we will hold on to the memories of Prague forever.
Saturday 23rd March 2019 we hosted our 2nd Birthday concert. It was at this event we sang our new songs for 2019 which included "Fix You" and "For as Long as I have Music" we were joined by our guest artists - Djabot Drumming Group. it was a wonderful evening full of music and song and a great way to celebrate our Birthday.
On Sunday 30th June 2019 we were invited to perform in the grounds of The Old Court Hotel, Symonds Yat at their annual Charity Summer Garden Party.
This year it was to raise money for MIND The Better Mental Health Charity. The sun shone, and the beer garden was packed with guests enjoying the afternoons entertainment. We had a wonderful time and were thrilled to have received such lovely feedback. They enjoyed us so much we have been invited back to sing next year. Best of all over £1100 was raised for MIND
To kick off our very busy festive season performing our Christmas repertoire of songs which included new carols "All on a Silent Night" and some old favourites in a classic Christmas Medley of "Winter Wonderland" "Have yourself a merry little Christmas" and finishing with "Most wonderful time of the year"
We were invited to sing at The Wilson Museum and Art Gallery in Cheltenham, which coincided with the first day of the Cheltenham Christmas Market and late night shopping event. We didnt realise until we arrived, in our festive jumpers and Christmas hats that we would be singing on the staircase in the entrance hall. But what an amazing sound that created with incredible accoustics. According to one visitor we could be heard several floors up. It was a wonderful performance and certainly got everyone in the Christmas spirit.
We were honoured to have been asked back for the third year in a row to perform at Taurus Crafts Christmas Market. Another chance to showcase our new Christmas songs, but with an added twist of showcasing "The prayer" and "Fix You" It was another well organised event and one we very much enjoy participating in to get us all feeling Christmasssy.
March 2020 saw us holding our 3rd Birthday Concert at Lydney Town Hall. We presented our first Musical Bursary Award to Five Acres High School Choir and Ben Hannaford-Waddington. A packed town hall including the mayors of Lydney and Coleford and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire enjoyed a very varied evening of music. That was to be our last concert for a very long time, but we are now building up to entertaining the Forest again soon.
Christmas 2021 saw us singing for a YouTube video for BigDug, a local company. You can watch the performance here Ahuge thank-you to BigDug for giving us this opportunity and for making such a generous contribution to our Musical Bursary.
In April 2022 we chose to celebrate our 5th birthday with a slightly smaller audience in our new home, Mitcheldean Community Centre. The mayor of Coleford, Cllr. Nick Penny awarded our Musical Bursaries to Talia Racine, Lola Davies and Frankie D'Amato. It was a bittersweet occasion for us as we had to say goodbye to our Choir Conductor Sarah Waycott, who had been with us since the beginning.
In October 2022 we held a concert at Lydney Town Hall with our Bursary winners, Talia Racine, Frankie D'Amato and Lola Davies and Cinderford Town Band in aid of Ukrainian Refugees. We raised £1000 which was donated to the St Briavels Ukrainian Refugee Hub