About US

SING OUT! is a community choir. We are a relaxed and friendly choir and have been running since 2013.

We are based in Yoxford and draw choir members from many surrounding villages. We are currently over forty strong with a good mix of Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass. We sing a mix of music to suit all voices; there is something for everyone. Some of us read music but many of us don’t. You don’t have to be an expert singer, all you need is a love of singing. There are no auditions and all are welcome.

We are a sociable group and besides our rehearsals and performances we arrange the occasional get together. The first Monday of the month we gather in the local pub after rehearsal and we always have a post-performance party. Many long-lasting friendships have been made through the choir.

Singing To Raise Money For Charity

We have raised more than £10,000nearly £4,500 for local charities nominated by choir members. We do not charge our audience an entrance fee for our concerts but instead ask for a donation to our nominated charity. We are proud of the great generosity of our audience.including Brains Trust, Suffolk Mind, Parkinson’s and Marie 

Curie.

Musical Director

Gretel Dowdeswell

Gretel Dowdeswell GRSM(I) LRAM dipRAM ARAM studied with Hamish Milne at the Royal Academy of Music and with András Schiff and György Kurtág at the International  Seminar in Prussia Cove, where she is now resident pianist and a regular guest at the annual IMS Open Chamber Music..

Gretel Dowdeswell was a founder member of the Gould Piano Trio, winner of the 1990 Charles Hennen International Chamber Music Competition, the 1991 Inaugural Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition and the 1993 Vittorio Guí International Chamber Music Competition, and has subsequently gained a reputation as a chamber music specialist, performing in Europe, Australia, Canada, South America and the Far East.

She has appeared at all the major chamber music venues in the UK and has broadcast frequently for BBC Radio 3. Duo appearances include recitals with Ralph Kirshbaum, Thomas Riebl, Pekka Kuusisto, Alice Neary, Li-wei Qin and Jian Wang. Local performances include a recital in the Snape Proms with cellist Miklós Perényi, and further work for BrittenPears Arts: Coaching for the Britten Pears Chamber Music Residency, répétiteur for a production of Noyes Fludde, and accompanist for Britten Pears Chamber Choir. More recently she has appeared at Snape with the London Mozart Players and the Opera Workshop, “Hey Maudie” in collaboration with the artist, Rachel Jones. 
As Associate Artist at Brunel University, London, she completed a Beethoven Piano Sonata cycle and more collaborations with the University in a three-year project featuring the keyboard works of J.S. Bach.
Gretel has recorded for BBC R3 (live performances and BBC magazine), Chandos and Toccata Classic.

In addition to her performing work she is director of Singout Yoxford, a local community choir, where Gretel has taken the choir from strength to strength. Gretel is a former examiner for the ABRSM and currently teaches piano at Thomas Mills High School, Framlingham College and Brandeston Prep School.