The Abinger D&G Choir started in 2006, when a local Abinger lady who had always wanted to sing, but had been put off as a child, laid down a challenge to Martin Hall, then Choir Master and Organist at St James Church, because he boldly claimed that “…absolutely anyone can be taught to sing”. The original idea was to offer a handful of local women, who had been told at some point in their life that they couldn’t sing, the opportunity to find their voice. The initial intention was to run a one off, ten week course called ‘How To Sing’. This small group of beginners chose to call themselves, self-effacingly but humorously, ‘The Duffers Choir’. Slowly growing in confidence and ability the ladies started to sing at carol services, weddings, christenings and funerals. Over the following years they began to pass singing and choral exams and in 2014, unbelievably, gained the ABRSM (Associated Board of The Royal School of Music) Advanced Choral exam. An extraordinary journey of musical rags to riches!
In 2015 the choir expanded to include male singers, who chose to name themselves, again jokingly, ‘The Gruffers’ and has since progressed to becoming a fully operational, four voice choir now boasting around 45 members and rapidly growing. The passion and commitment of the founding members and their talented Choir Master was fundamental to slowly building and growing a like-minded following. The generally understood, but unwritten, constitution was originally based on the premise that anyone would be welcome whether they could sing or not and auditions would never be required. This fundamental principle is still observed today.
The combined Duffers and Gruffers Choir has since been part of many local ‘Come and Sings’ and other charitable church events. They have performed for a number of worthy causes including, for example, the Queen Elizabeth Foundation, which supports severely disabled teenagers. At Christmas time they frequently visit care homes to entertain the elderly. Probably the most prestigious engagement to date was in 2016 when they supported the world acclaimed Hilliard Ensemble, performing Vivaldi’s Gloria. In 2018 the, now fully integrated, choir passed its ABRSM Advanced Choral Exam with a stunning Grade A, which was a very proud moment indeed for both the members and their inspirational Choir Master. At this point it was thought prudent to drop the jokey names ‘Duffers and Gruffers’, and rebrand with a more sophisticated title reflecting the unassailable achievement of becoming extremely competent singers and a real choir. This fired a rebellion! The choir fiercely defended its roots, and therefore today ‘The D&G Choir’ is used as an abbreviation for those original, highly cherished sobriquets.
The Abinger D&G Choir, from its inception, until recently, was inspired by the musical talent of Martin Hall, often fondly referred to as ‘El Maestro’. Martin led the choir through numerous exams and performances over the past twenty years. Following Martin’s retirement the choir currently has an Interim Musical Director – Elizabeth Fulleylove
Elizabeth read Music at the University of Southampton from whom she was awarded the Peter Evans Prize for outstanding achievement in performance. She completed her operatic training in London at Associated Studios and is now expanding her studies under Leontine Hass into singing for Musical Theatre. She was a finalist in Oxfordshire’s Dean and Chadlington Festival Singing Competition and has been noted for her singing ability in The Guardian newspaper. Performance highlights include the roles of Queen of the Night with Opera at Bearwood in The Magic Flute, Gilda in Park Opera’s production of Rigoletto, Mabel in the Pirates of Penzance at London’s Bridewell Theatre and opera scenes at the Actor’s Church in Covent Garden. Alongside performing, her Postgraduate Certificate in Education has led her into teaching where she prepares students for their graded singing and piano examinations and works with choirs in either a visiting capacity or as Musical Director. She enjoys working with the D&G choir and is delighted to have been invited back as Interim Musical Director in the period leading up to the commencement of the new permanent Musical Director Jody Robinson in June 2026.
The Ethos of the Choir
If not unique, the D&G Choir is certainly unusual.
Its defining characteristics are firstly from a musical perspective, it is a mixed ability choir comprising singers with different levels of experience, technical/graded skills and vocal quality. Secondly, the level of mutual support and collective endeavor demonstrated allows all choir members to collaborate in enjoying and sometimes performing music that can be both popular or more esoteric to a high standard.
In essence, the apparent contradiction between talent and outcome is achieved by sacrificing time in pursuit of quality. Choir members are typically older, successful people determined to do well. They will put in the effort. For those more technically able it is not uncommon for them to be members of other choirs as well. Music selection balances stretch for the choir with the need for some to learn by ear. This is especially the case for new members.
Current members of the choir look to the choir for four things:
- Friendship and fun. The choir is socially active. Our second home is the Abinger Hatch pub. We enjoy events, visits to the theatre and occasionally travel together.
- The opportunity to learn. Learning in the choir is key, but we also engage in masterclasses that are eclectic in nature, from the Hilliard Ensemble to The London Gospel Singers, from Voces 8 to Rock.
- To be part of our community. Via performing, we have worked with our local church and school, music charities and old folks’ homes.
- To be tested periodically. Be that by exams or performances, these activities provide focus for our learning and development. For example, the choir has performed Gilbert & Sullivan’s “Trial by Jury” and provided the chorus for Dido & Aeneas in addition to other more conventional performances.
With the choir under a new Musical Director, our challenge now is to demonstrate the relevance of, and attract a new generation of singers to, this remarkable choir.