Wassail Songsheet2025We sing on Weds evenings in the small hall at Portobello Baptist Church, 189 Portobello High Street, EH15 1EA (enter through the side passage to the right of the main church door) and sessions will run from 7.30 – 9.15PM with a break for tea and coffee (please bring £1 cash for a donation for tea/coffee/biscuit!). Please note there is a pilates class in the hall directly before choir, so we have access to the hall from just after 7.15PM or when they finish.
We invite new members to come for a free trial taster session to see if you like it. Feel free just to turn up and you will be warmly welcomed!
Dates for 2025
WINTER TERM
1st block: Jan 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th, Feb 5th (5 sessions – £40/25)
No session 12th Feb
2nd block: Feb 19th, 26th, Mar 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th, Apr 2nd (7 sessions – £56/35)
We ask you to pay for a block of sessions if you can. If you are unable to do this you can pay per session – £8/5. We also invite those who can afford it to pay an enhanced rate of £10 per session, whereby you help subsidise a place at choir for someone on a low income.
Donkeyfield Community Orchard Wassail: January 18th 2025 2.00 -4.00PM
Come and join us in singing some hearty songs to the trees to thank them for the fruit they gave us last year and to encourage fruitfulness this year.
Please bring:
- a hat (for one of the songs)
- pots and pans to bang and make some noise
- toast to hang on the trees
- an Ivy crown (just a loop of Ivy to wear on your head) if you have access to any Ivy. There will be some available on the day.
Please print a songsheet if you can – there will also be some available at the event: Wassail Songsheet2025
SPRING/SUMMER TERM
1st block: April 23rd , 30th, May 7th, 14th, 21st (5 sessions – £40/25)
2nd block: May 28th, June 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th (5 sessions – £40/25)
AUTUM/WINTER TERM
1st block: Sept 10th, 17th, 24th, Oct 1st, 8th (5 sessions – £40/25)
No session Oct 15th
2nd block: Oct 22nd, 29th, Nov 5th, 12th, 19th (5 sessions – £40/25)
3rd block: Nov 26th, Dec 3rd, 10th, 4th, 17th (4 sessions – £40/25)
Dates for 2024
AUTUM/WINTER TERM
1st block: Sept 11th, 18th, 25th, Oct 2nd (4 sessions – £32/20)
No session Oct 9th
2nd block: Oct 16th, 23rd, 30th, Nov 6th, 13th (5 sessions – £40/25)
3rd block: Nov 2oth, 27th, Dec 4th, 11th, 18th (5 sessions – £40/25)
Sea Songs
Weds 14th August 2024 7.30 – 9.15PM on Portobello Beach at the foot of Marlborough Street
Portobello Community Choir invite you to come and learn some harmony songs to celebrate the sea, and plants and animals that live along Edinburgh’s Shoreline with the sound of the waves as a backdrop. Bring a folding chair if you think you might need one, some wood for the fire if you have any, warm clothes, water to lubricate your voice and your swimmers for after if you wish! I will bring mine. All welcome – all songs are taught by ear – no previous experience needed.
We are not charging for the workshop but will be collecting donations for Surfers Against Sewage – please bring cash, and we will post details of how to donate online.
https://www.facebook.com/share/xbYViKLmo9PTbPCM/
SPRING/SUMMER TERM
1st block: April 17th , 24th, May 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd (6 sessions – £48/30)
2nd block: May 29th, June 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th (5 sessions – £40/25)
Portobello Community Choir Day of Song
Sat 23rd March 2024 10am – 4PM.
St. Mark’s Church, 287 Portobello High Street, Portobello EH15 2AR
You are invited to come and celebrate 10 years of Portobello Community Choir with a free day of song. We will be revisiting some favourite songs from our first decade of singing together and also learning a few new songs. The singing will be led by Jane Lewis and Chandra Mather – Chandra and Jane set up the choir together in 2014.
Lunch will be provided together with tea and coffee. Please bring some home baking to share together with your memories!
Please book early to avoid disappointment! The event is open to all – anyone who has ever sung with us either at a regular session, a wassail or a workshop on the beach, anyone who would like to sing with us – and anyone else who loves to sing!
To book please email Anne Budo on a.budo@ed.ac.uk. If you have any favourite choir songs you would like us to revisit on the day please include in your booking email to Anne.
We look forward to celebrating with you
WINTER TERM
1st block: Jan 17th, 24th, 31st, Feb 7th (4 sessions – £32/20)
No session 14th Feb
2nd block: Feb 21st, 28th, Mar 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th (6 sessions – £48/30)
We ask you to pay for a block of sessions if you can. If you are unable to do this you can pay per session – £8/5. We also invite those who can afford it to pay an enhanced rate of £10 per session, whereby you help subsidise a place at choir for someone on a low income.
Donkeyfield Community Orchard Wassail: February 24th 2024 2.00 -4.00PM
Come and join us in singing some hearty songs to the trees to thank them for the fruit they gave us last year and to encourage fruitfulness this year.
Please bring:
- a hat (for one of the songs)
- pots and pans to bang and make some noise
- toast to hang on the trees
- an Ivy crown (just a loop of Ivy to wear on your head) if you have access to any Ivy. There will be some available on the day.
Please print a songsheet if you can – there will also be some available at the event: Wassail Songsheet2024
Dates for 2023
Midwinter Songs on Porty Beach Weds 20th Dec
19.30 – 20.30 Portobello Beach at the foot of Marlborough Street. Come and gather around the fire and learn some songs for the winter solstice. All welcome – no singing experience needed. Free – donations to Medical Aid for Palestinians welcome. Please donate directly so you can add Gift Aid. Dress warmly and please bring wood for the fire if you are able.
AUTUMN TERM
1st block: Sept 6th, 13th, 20th, 27th, Oct 4th (5 sessions – £40/25)
2nd block: Oct 11th, (No session Oct 18th) Oct 25th, Nov 1st, 8th, 15th (5 sessions – £40/25)
3rd block: Nov 22nd, 29th, Dec 6th, 13th (4 sessions – £32/20)
SPRING TERM
1st block: April 19th , 26th, May 3rd, 10th, 17th (5 sessions – £40/25)
2nd block: May 24th, 31st, June 7th, 14th, 21st (5 sessions – £40/25)
WINTER TERM
1st block: Jan 11th, 18th, 25th, Feb 1st, 8th (5 sessions – £40/25)
No session 15th Feb
2nd block: Feb 22nd, Mar 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th (6 sessions – £48/30)
We ask you to pay for a block of sessions if you can. If you are unable to do this you can pay per session – £8/5. We also invite those who can afford it to pay an enhanced rate of £10 per session, whereby you help subsidise a place at choir for someone on a low income.
Sea Songs
Weds 16th August 2023 7.30 – 9.15PM on Portobello Beach at the foot of Marlborough Street
Portobello Community Choir invite you to come and learn some harmony songs to celebrate the plants and animals that live along Edinburgh’s Shoreline, including a new song ‘Dabberlocks Kelp’, written as part of the Edinburgh Shoreline 100 Species Project Edinburgh Shorelines 100 Species project was introduced to compliment the Restoration Forth Project. Previous projects saw a focus on the amazing coast around the Forth, they are now focused on the wildlife in and on it. They are delighted to collaborate with RF working to restore seagrass habitats and oyster populations in the Firth of Forth as a way of improving the local marine ecosystem and helping to tackle climate change.
Please bring some water to drink, wood for the fire, warm clothes and your swimmers if you might like to join us for a dip in the sea after the workshop.
We are not charging for the workshop but will be collecting donations for Surfers Against Sewage – please bring cash, or we will post details of how to donate online.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1215298519140551
Donkeyfield Community Orchard Wassail: January 21st 2022 2.30 -4.30PM
Come and join us in singing some hearty songs to the trees to thank them for the fruit they gave us last year and to encourage fruitfulness this year.
Please bring:
- a hat (for one of the songs)
- pots and pans to bang and make some noise
- toast to hang on the trees
- an Ivy crown (just a loop of Ivy to wear on your head) if you have access to any Ivy. There will be some available on the day.
Please print a songsheet if you can – there will also be some available at the event: Songsheet 2023
Dates for 2022
Midwinter Songs on Porty Beach
19.30 – 20.30 Portobello Beach at the foot of Marlborough Street. Come and gather around the fire and learn some songs for the winter solstice. All welcome – no singing experience needed. Free – cash donations to the Wilson Memorial Church foodbank welcome. Dress warmly and please bring wood for the fire if you are able.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1117121002294522
AUTUMN TERM
We will be moving back into the small hall at Portobello Baptist Church, 189 Portobello High Street, EH15 1EA (enter through the side passage to the right of the main church door) and sessions will run from 7.30 – 9.30PM with a break for tea and coffee (please bring £1 cash for a donation for tea/coffee/biscuit!)
We invite new members to come for a free trial taster session to see if you like it. Feel free just to turn up and you will be warmly welcomed!
1st block: 7 September to 12 October (6 sessions – £48/30)
No session 19th October
2nd block: 26 October to 14 December (8 sessions £64/40)
We ask you to pay for a block of sessions if you can. We have had to increase our fees slightly this term for the first time in many years to £8/5 per session to cover our costs. We also invite those who can afford it to pay an enhanced rate of £10 per session, whereby you help subsidise a place at choir for someone on a low income.
Sea Songs session on Portobello Beach
Portobello Community Choir is running another Sea Songs workshop on Porty Beach on Weds 17th August 7.00 -8.30pm by the cakestand (foot of Marlborough St). Come and sing some songs about and to the sea, with the sound of the waves as a backdrop. Bring a folding chair if you think you might need one, some wood for the fire if you have any, water to lubricate your voice and your swimmers for after if you wish! I will bring mine. All welcome – all songs are taught by ear – no previous experience needed. Cost: £8/5.
The songsheet is below – please print yourself a copy if you can!
Sea songs 2022 song sheet
️ Portobello Community Choir: Singing For Our Lives
Porty Pride
Friday 17 June at 7pm – 8pm, The Cake Stand, The Prom
Come and learn some harmony songs with a focus on equality and rights for LGBTQ+ people, and to celebrate rights won.
All welcome – no singing experience needed.
Portobello Community Choir is open to anyone who likes to sing. We aim to joyfully connect with each other, the earth and the world around us through song.
SPRING TERM
Indoors at Baptist Church, 189 Portobello High St, Portobello, Edinburgh EH15 1EA. We will be meeting in the upstairs church building rather than the back hall, so entry is through the large door rather than the back passage. If you are late please ring the doorbell and someone will come down to let you in – but please try to arrive on time if you can!
1st block: 27th April, 4th, 11th, 18th, May (4 sessions – £28/20)
2nd block: 25th May, 1st, 8th, 15th June (4 sessions – £28/20)
Porty Sings For Ukraine And All Refugees: Sunday 3rd April 2-3.30 Joppa Steps
Come and learn some easy Ukrainian folk songs and peace songs to sing together and in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and all refugees. This event is hosted by Portobello Community Choir as a community fundraiser. Please donate whatever you can to DEC or similar online or bring some cash to the event. All welcome!
https://www.facebook.com/events/2757912574353908
Porty Sings for Ukraine and all Refugees – song sheet
Donkeyfield Community Orchard Wassail: January 29th 2-4PM
Come and join us in singing some hearty songs to the trees to thank them for the fruit they gave us last year and to encourage fruitfulness this year.
Please bring:
- a hat (for one of the songs)
- pots and pans to bang and make some noise
- toast to hang on the trees
- an Ivy crown (just a loop of Ivy to wear on your head) if you have access to any Ivy. There will be some available on the day.
Please print a songsheet if you can to minimise passing round paper: Wassail Songsheet 2022
WINTER TERM
Indoors at Baptist Church, 189 Portobello High St, Portobello, Edinburgh EH15 1EA. We will be meeting in the upstairs church building rather than the back hall, so entry is through the large door rather than the back passage. If you are late please ring the doorbell and someone will come down to let you in.
1st block: 12th, 19th, 26th Jan, 2nd, 9th Feb (5 sessions – £35/25)
2nd block: 23rd Feb, 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th March, 6th April (7 sessions – £49/35)
Dates for 2021
AUTUMN TERM
Outdoors in Bellfield Garden, 16B Bellfield St, Portobello, Edinburgh EH15 2BP
8th September – 29th September 7.15PM – 8.15PM (4 sessions) £20
Indoors at Baptist Church, 189 Portobello High St, Portobello, Edinburgh EH15 1EA. We will be meeting in the upstairs church building rather than the back hall, so entry is through the large door rather than the back passage.
1st block: 6th, 13th, 27th Oct (no session 20th Oct) and 3rd, 10th Nov (5 sessions) 7.15 – 8.15PM
2nd block: 17th, 24th Nov and 1st, 8th, 15th Dec (5 sessions) 7.15 – 8.15PM
All sessions must be booked in advance and we need to have your contact details for track and trace. If you are new to the choir please contact us and we will send you a copy of the latest risk assessment which you need to read before attending.