West Sussex Choirs: How to Find a Choir That Fits You

West Sussex has a range of choirs, and the fastest way to choose one is to filter by three things: where you are based, what kind of voice or sound you want, and whether you can commit to the rehearsal night. Worthing alone has a mixed voice choir, The Rowland Singers, that rehearses weekly on a Wednesday evening and welcomes new members — a useful example of what a local choral society looks like in practice. If you are near Worthing, Chichester, Horsham or Crawley, you can usually find at least one community, church or concert choir within reasonable travel distance.

Types of choir you will find in West Sussex

Choirs differ more in who they are for than in how good they are. The main types:

• Mixed voice choirs — men and women singing together, usually in four parts (soprano, alto, tenor, bass). The Rowland Singers describe themselves as a mixed voice choir based in Worthing. Good general choice if you want a broad repertoire and a social group.
• Male voice choirs — a strong tradition in Wales and northern England, but present in Sussex too. Often perform arrangements of folk songs, hymns and show tunes.
• Female voice choirs — upper voices only, sometimes with a lighter or more contemporary repertoire.
• Community choirs — usually no audition, focus on enjoyment and accessibility, wide range of music.
• Church and cathedral choirs — tied to a place of worship, often with a liturgical role and sometimes a commitment to services as well as rehearsals.
• Chamber and auditioned choirs — smaller, higher musical standard expected, usually auditioned.

If you are unsure, start with a community or mixed voice choir. You can always move to something more specialised later.

How to shortlist choirs by location, time and style

Use these filters in order, because they eliminate the most options fastest:

The Rowland Singers, for example, rehearse weekly on a Wednesday evening and perform concerts — their page mentions a Christmas concert at the Assembly Hall with the Southdowns Concert Band. That tells you two things about their model: they do seasonal concert performances, and they collaborate with instrumental groups. If that pattern appeals, look for choirs with a similar concert calendar.

What joining usually involves

Most choirs follow a similar pattern, though details vary:

1. Make contact first. Email or use the contact form on the choir's website. Ask about the rehearsal night, whether they are currently accepting new members, and whether you can visit a rehearsal.
2. Visit a rehearsal before committing. Most choirs let you sit in. You will see the standard of singing, the conductor's style and how the group treats newcomers.
3. Check whether there is an audition. Community and many mixed voice choirs do not audition; chamber choirs usually do. The Rowland Singers state they are "always happy to welcome new members", which suggests an open-door approach rather than a formal audition — but confirm this yourself, as policies change.
4. Ask about cost. Membership subscriptions, music hire and concert ticket obligations are common. These are rarely listed on homepages, so ask before you join.
5. Attend regularly. Choirs build towards performances, so missing rehearsals affects the whole group. If you cannot commit to most weeks, say so upfront.

Where to look beyond a single website

Do not rely on one choir's site. Cross-check across:

• Choir websites — start with the one you already found, then look for their "Join Us" or "Contact" page for the practical details.
• Social media — The Rowland Singers point to a Facebook page and Instagram (@rowlandsingersworthing), and mention YouTube for performance clips. Social accounts often show rehearsal photos and upcoming dates more quickly than a website.
• Local listings — council leisure pages, library noticeboards and community hubs list choirs by area.
• Venue programmes — concert halls and churches in Worthing, Chichester and Horsham advertise local choir performances; the programme usually names the choir and its contact route.
• Word of mouth — ask at a music shop or a local concert. Choir members are usually the best source of what is currently active.

A practical example: The Rowland Singers

The Rowland Singers Choral Society in Worthing is a registered charity (No. 1122131) and a mixed voice choir. From their own page you can see the pattern of a typical local choral society:

• Weekly Wednesday evening rehearsals
• Seasonal concerts, including a Christmas concert at the Assembly Hall with the Southdowns Concert Band
• Tickets sold through a booking site and by choir members
• Open to new members, with a contact route for more information
• Active on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube

If you are in or near Worthing and want a mixed voice choir with a concert calendar, this is a concrete starting point. If you want a different voice type, a no-performance community choir, or a church choir, use the filters above to narrow the search instead.

Quick decision guide

• Want to sing socially, no audition? Look for community or mixed voice choirs.
• Want a specific sound? Choose by voice type — male, female or mixed.
• Want to perform? Check the choir's concert calendar before joining.
• Tight on weeknights? Confirm the rehearsal day first; it is the hardest thing to change.
• Unsure about cost? Ask about subscriptions and music hire before your first rehearsal.

The main thing is to visit a rehearsal before deciding. One evening in the room tells you more than any website.