The Dragon Sanctuary Choir
Do you love to sing devotional songs? Are you an experienced singer?
The Dragon Sanctuary Choir is looking for Bass and Tenor singers: people who can pick up a song easily and sing in tune, who have previously sung in community choirs or amateur/ professional choirs.
The choir meets regularly to learn the songs that are sung in the Taizé and Harmonic Temple evenings that Leo and Sundara offer. In this way, the choir plays a vital role: anchoring each part and making it easier for everyone to learn the songs. This means we can spend less time learning the songs and more time deepening into the experience of singing them.
The choir meets every two months on a Sunday evening at The Dragon Sanctuary, and each session we learn new Taizé and Harmonic Temple songs, as well as go over recently learned material. There is no charge for attending these practice sessions, but we ask that you pay for the public sessions that you attend, and that you come to those as often as you are able. We lead a Taizé or Harmonic Temple evening once a month, also on a Sunday.
We also take time in the practice sessions to deepen into the meaning and spirit of the songs; and at Christmas we have a party, with mince pies and Christmas carols!
Most men can either sing Tenor or Bass (or both). Some women with low voices can sing Tenor. If you’d like to apply to join the Tenor or Bass section of the choir, contact Leo on 07508 639216 or email leo@sofer.com
Leo and Sundara create a magical space for harmony and fulsome celebration. Gently learning your part by ear, weaving it with others into a healing blend of sound, finding your space in a balance of giving and receiving where we all learn to listen and tune in to each other.
I enjoy singing with the Dragon Sanctuary choir very much. The choir is excellently and warmly led by Leo and Sundara with a very light touch. The group is always welcoming, open-hearted and harmonious and the music has a very sacred and uplifting feel. It makes for one of my favourite activities.
Lead by Leo and Sundara in a supportive and encouraging atmosphere our friendly group practise songs for the next public session. I find it helpful to be able to read music and learn quickly, but I love getting to the stage where I know it by heart and can really listen to the other parts. Being in the choir therefore enriches my experience in the public sessions. Thoroughly enjoy being part of the Dragon Sanctuary choir.
We love this choir! Actually not so much a choir (no performances) as a group of people who love singing together for the sheer joy of it. Led with clarity and warmth by Leo and Sundara we sing short, easily learnt devotional chants in four part harmony. The Taize chants originate from a Christian community in the south of France and the Harmonic Temple pieces draw from a variety of religious traditions from around the world. If you can hold a tune and like the idea of an uplifting and often transcendent experience then I am sure you would love this group too.
I was taken by friends to the Dragon Sanctuary Harmonic Temple and Taize sessions just over a year ago, having enjoyed singing Taize as a teenager.
I was made to feel extremely welcome – Sundara and Leo are great at creating a beautiful, serene and peaceful space to sing in.
Following on from this I joined the choir – this involves attending an evening practice session every two months to learn the parts of the songs to be sung at the next public session.
The choir’s role is then to support singers attending the Dragon Sanctuary sessions to enjoy and participate fully in the singing by ‘holding’ the parts. The music is in 4-part harmony, easy to learn and the vocal range comfortable for most voices. You do need to feel confident at singing a part, in tune, alongside others singing different parts.
I love singing with the choir – It is a safe and supportive place to enjoy music and the company of the small very lovely group of people in the beautiful environment of The Dragon Sanctuary.