Join us
Our choir is a safe and supportive space for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies to come together and share our love for music, unity, and expression.
Welcoming new members
We welcome new members and anyone can join.
We hold a New Members Evening at the beginning of Autumn and Spring terms, so that potential members can get a sense of what our choir is like, settle in and become familiar with our musical repertoire.
Our next New Members Evening will be on Tuesday 13th January 2026, 7.45pm at Longbridge Retirement Village – we would love you to come along and try us out. Being a member of our choir opens up opportunities to meet new people and make some new friends who all share a passion for music.
Frequently asked questions
How is the choir structured?
There are four sections, soprano (high), alto, tenor and bass (lowest). We don’t hold auditions but Liz will help you identify which voice section is most suited to you if you are not sure. Most songs are in these four parts (SATB) but sometimes tenors and basses combine into a single lower part. At other times, a section may split into two, e.g. first and second sopranos. Again, you can choose the part most suited to your vocal range.
Sometimes there are opportunities for soloists or small groups which you can volunteer for if you are feeling confident or want to gain experience.
Where are rehersals held?
Rainbow Voices rehearse at Longbridge Retirement Village, Longbridge, Rednal, Birmingham B31 2FZ.
The venue and rehearsal studio are fully accessible for people with disabilities and there is free parking available. If you are interested in joining us we host new members night twice a year.
How often are rehersals held?
Rehearsals are held every Tuesday evening during term time from 7.45 pm – 9.45 pm.
We have reps from each singing part who will welcome you to our choir to make sure you settle in and any needs are supported.
What happens in rehearsals?
With the help of our Musical Director Liz and our professional pianist Sam, rehearsals begin with some exercises which are designed to loosen up our bodies, focus minds and warm up our vocal chords in preparation for singing. Liz will help you identify which voice section is most suited to you e.g. Base, Alto, Soprano or Tenor section.
We learn a wide repertoire of songs which the choir has active input into choosing before each new season begins. We will generally work on one or two new songs each week and then go over ones we have been learning for longer, refining them or working on trickier sections.
Printed sheet music and audio tracks are provided to all paid members, which will guide you through the current repertoire. We have a welcome break half way through to enjoy cake and a drink (please bring your own drink, we take it in turns to bring cake to share).
I can’t read music, is that a problem?
That’s ok, we all learn in different ways.
Some people learn better through call and repeat and regular attendence can help improve your musical abilities. With the support of our experts, everyone has time to practice songs which are learned a small bit at a time.
We also provide an online portal where members can access recordings of all the music and musical parts to practice at home in their own spare time.
How much does it cost to become a member?
Standard membership is £25 per month, although we also offer a consessionary rate of £16 for people on low incomes. However if you are struggling financially please talk to our Treasurer and we will see what we can do to assist. We do not want anyone to be unable to join the choir because of their financial circumstances.
We prefer the subscription to be paid monthly by direct debit, with banking details provided by our treasurer. You can attend four free rehearsals before you decide to join as a fully paid up member.
Does the choir go on tours?
While we don’t go on any specific tours, Rainbow Voices attend a variety of public performance events.
In 2024 we attended Hand in Hand – a three day event hosted in Bristol. Hand in Hand is one of the biggest LGBTQ+ collective festivals that celebrates, unites and reflects the many diverse choirs within the UK.
We formed part of the community choir which sang at the opening ceremony of Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games in 2022, and we provide performances for significant publicly funded events in the LGBTQ+ calender such as Birmingham Pride, and World Aids Day to name but a few.
We have signed up to join Various Voices, the European LGBT+ Choirs’ Festival in Brussels in June 2026. This event takes place in a different host city every four years and attracts hundreds of choirs and thousands of singers.
I can’t sing, but can I still get involved?
Our choir is non-audition so you dont have to sing like Pavarotti to get in.
Instead our choir welcomes everyone from the LGBTQ+ community along with friends and allies who are intersted in music and singing. The choir is as much a social group as it is a musical group. If you feel confident enough you can put yourself foward to sing a solo!
If you can’t commit to joining, but still want to support the choir, there are lots of opportunities to help, from selling raffle tickets, making cakes and helping to set up the stage at our concerts.