Choirs are where The Sound Engine began, and they remain at the very heart of everything we do.
In 2016, Caroline started a small community choir with ten members and a simple belief: that singing together has the power to bring people closer, build confidence, and genuinely enrich lives. Today, the Choir Engine has 65 members, a waiting list, and a turnover rate of just 2%. The numbers speak for themselves - but it's the people behind them that really tell the story.
Singing in a choir isn't just enjoyable. It's scientifically proven to release endorphins, reduce stress and enhance a sense of belonging. It gives you a community to be part of, a goal to work towards, and a reason to look forward to your week. Week after week, year after year.
Whatever your age, your experience or your background - there is a place for you here.
Our choirs are welcoming to everyone. You don't need to be able to read music, have a perfect voice, or have sung a note since school. What matters is that you want to be here.
Music has a unique ability to bring different generations together. Our choirs celebrate that - creating spaces where people of different ages learn from, support and inspire each other.
Inclusive doesn't mean unambitious. Our choirs work towards real musical outcomes - performances, concerts, recordings and collaborations - because achieving something together is one of the most powerful experiences a group of people can share.
The atmosphere in our rehearsals is warm, supportive and genuinely fun - but always with a focus on musical growth. People come back week after week not just because of the singing, but because of how it makes them feel.
The Sound Engine is home to two permanent choirs, both part of the Choir Engine family. We will also be trialling a Chamber Choir in September, and more details will follow.
Our flagship community choir for adults - un-auditioned, multi-award winning, and one of the most welcoming musical communities near Christchurch. With 65 members, a decade of history and a waiting list that tells its own story, the Choir Engine is where community music making at The Sound Engine began.
Explore The Choir Engine
A friendly, auditioned choir for singers aged 10 to 16, offering young vocalists a structured, encouraging space to develop their voice, build confidence and perform. Part of the wider Choir Engine community, with all the warmth and ambition that comes with it.
Explore the Youth choirExplore the options below, or get in touch if you're not sure where to start - that's what I'm here for.
