The Choir Engine
The Choir Engine is where it all began.
Founded in 2016 with just ten members and a vision of what community music making could look like, the Choir Engine has grown into something genuinely special - a multi-award winning, un-auditioned choir of 65 members near Christchurch, with a waiting list and a member turnover rate of just 2%.
That last figure is the one we're most proud of. People join the Choir Engine and they stay - not because they feel they have to, but because they genuinely don't want to leave. When you experience it, you'll understand why.
This is a choir for adults of all ages and all abilities. You don't need to be able to read music. You don't need formal training or previous experience. You just need to want to sing - and to be part of something that matters.
The Choir Engine Experience
Every rehearsal begins lightly - warmly, with a sense of fun - before settling into focused, structured work. The balance between the two is something we're very deliberate about, because we know that people sing better, learn faster and enjoy it more when they feel relaxed and welcomed.
Rehearsals take place every Thursday evening from 7:15 to 9.00pm at Barton on Sea Methodist Church, Cliffe Rd, Barton on Sea, New Milton BH25 7PA.
Midway through each session, there's a break for socialising - because the connections formed over a cup of tea are just as much a part of what makes this choir what it is as the music itself.
The Choir Engine is a full SATB choir - soprano, alto, tenor and bass - with all vocal ranges represented. Around 40% of our members are male, which is genuinely unusual for a community choir and something we're extremely proud of. It means the sound is rich, balanced and full - and it means that men who want to sing have a genuine, welcoming home here.
We have our own piano accompanist, and we regularly perform with external ensembles including the Southbourne Orchestra. We also welcome trainee conductors looking to gain experience - because we believe in supporting the wider musical community, not just our own.
Repertoire
One of the things members consistently love about the Choir Engine is the sheer variety of what we sing.
Our repertoire spans jazz, classical, musical theatre, pop, folk and everything in between. In any given term you might find yourself singing Mozart or Palestrina alongside Sondheim, Coldplay, Hamilton, Les Misérables or a rousing sea shanty. We take the music seriously - but we never take ourselves too seriously.
We also love to collaborate. We regularly partner with other choirs - Caroline has always believed in learning from and working alongside fellow musicians - with recent partnerships including the New Maidenhead Ensemble. Performances have taken us to local venues and further afield, including Norden Farm.
The Choir Engine Community
Joining the Choir Engine means becoming part of something with real depth and real purpose.
Over the past decade, the Choir Engine has become a Macmillan Caring Locally Gold Partner, having raised thousands of pounds for this vital charity. We have also raised significant funds for the RNLI.
Charity work, community concerts and collaborative events are woven into the fabric of what we do - because we believe that a choir should give back, not just perform.
The Choir Engine was nominated for a community award in 2026 - recognition that speaks to the impact this group has had far beyond the rehearsal room.
Members of the Choir Engine describe feeling genuinely supported, heard and valued. The retention rate of 2% isn't an accident - it's the result of a culture that Caroline has built deliberately and carefully over ten years. A culture where everyone belongs, everyone contributes, and nobody is left on the outside.
This is what community music making looks like when it's done well.
Pricing
Membership of the Choir Engine is by a simple monthly fee.
Ready To Join Us?
Places in the Choir Engine are in high demand. Get in touch to find out more, or join the waitlist to be notified as soon as a place becomes available.