Location
Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire
Nature-based community choir, workshops, outdoor, families, festivals and wilderness camps.
I am an outdoor educator and passionate about singing in community and in nature.
During my training learning primitive skills and understanding how to be in balance with our natural surroundings, something sparked inside me. Singing has always been at the core of this work for me, our voices being our most ancient instrument we still carry with us. I am deeply inspired by the natural world to sing and serenade my respect and gratitude in return for its incredible gifts. I believe singing bonds us together and unites communities. When we bring our voices into harmony with each other, we support one another by listening and holding each other in full acceptance and love.
Singing has always been part of my life. I have been told that I never stopped singing as a child. I learned to play the piano and guitar into my teens as a way to accompany my singing. I am now a lead singer in a folk band, a blues band, a backing singer in The Hoolie band, a disco/Ceilidh fusion band, and in a cappella group with other Oxford choir leaders that formed during lockdown in the woods! The latter has inspired in me a passion for collaborative singing, and this has directed me towards leading groups as a singing leader.
I first started leading singing groups as part of an outdoor leadership programme Call of the Wild with Wildwise in 2017. I was profoundly moved by the connection it created between us and also the thrill of directing the singing and teaching the harmonies. From then on I have taken every opportunity to lead groups singing, teaching, holding, and bringing each persons voices out. Since then, I have led groups as large as 70 at Medicine festival in 2021 and 2022, in camps, retreats, and forest schools.
I am also very curious about circle singing and improvisation and have trained with Guillermo Rozenther in various courses.
Songs to ground you, to lift you, inspire and connect you. 💚
A nature-based community choir. I teach simple songs with 3 or 4 part harmonies and rounds, all with a nature-based theme. We’ll cover some songs that can be learnt in a single session, and some that we’ll build over a few weeks. All songs will be taught acapella and there is no sheet music, although occasionally I may provide word sheets for more lyric dense songs.
We gather weekly on a Wednesday evening in a beautiful ancient Tythe Barn with incredible acoustics. We are an inclusive and friendly community and all abilities are welcome. There is always plenty of tea and biscuits. We have a tiered pricing structure for all incomes, and block bookings and drop ins are both available.
Arrival from 7pm
Singing starts promptly at 7.30-9pm
Oxford Community Choir
We are a friendly, inclusive community singing group based in Oxford.
The choir is led by Elena Harris, a member of the Natural Voice Network (NVN). This means we work with a philosophy that singing is for everyone – no auditions, no pressure, no need to read music. We focus on healthy, joyful singing in a supportive environment, where every voice is valued.
We learn all our songs by ear, usually in three or more part harmony, and we sing unaccompanied. The songs are taught in simple, accessible ways and are easy to pick up, whether you’re new to singing or have years of experience.
Our repertoire changes with the seasons. Some sessions we work on a few short, simple songs; other times we take on longer, richer pieces that develop over several weeks. The songs are often nature-based, sometimes slow and emotive, sometimes lively and playful, and frequently explore themes of community, belonging, connection, and nature.
We usually share what we’ve learned in a few low-key, informal performances each year – nothing stressful, just opportunities to sing together and connect with others.
All are welcome. We sing in the main church, a beautiful space with wonderful acoustics.
So why not come along on a Tuesday evening and give it a try? You don’t need any experience – just a willingness to sing and be part of a welcoming community.
We meet every Tuesday evening during term time from 7:30–9:30pm
