Steve McGarvie Music
Darlington, UK
Welcome to the site! This is the place to find details of all of Steve's projects, including community choirs, private instrumental teaching and musical arrangements for a range of ensembles.
Who are we?
Sound Waves Community Choir are based in Bishop Auckland,
Co. Durham and formed in September 2011. The choir is ever-growing and currently has around 50 members on its books. The choir has performed many public concerts, raising around £10,000 for local and national charities. The choir also performed during the Bishop Auckland leg of the Olympic Torch Relay in 2012 and has been broadcast several times on Auckland Hospital Radio, reaching an online global audience from the UK to New Zealand.
More recently, on July 6th 2016 we performed alongside our sister choir Vocal Soul Community Choir, again at the King's Centre, raising £550 for charity, whilst being broadcast by Auckland Hospital Radio.
Having got back to relative normality after Covid restrictions, we recently performed at the Majestic Theatre in Darlington, once again alongside our sister choir Vocal Soul for our first public performance in three years. The next performance will be less of a wait however, as we are performing yet again with Vocal Soul at Bishop Auckland Methodist Church on Saturday 10th December 2022.
What do we do? Where are we based?
We rehearse each Thursday evening from 7.30-9.30 in our NEW venue, Bishop Auckland Methodist Church Hall, Cockton Hill Road, Bishop Auckland DL14 7NP (Opposite the Hospital). As well as rehearsing our current programme there is an opportunity to promote local gigs and events involving our members and a chance to socialise with friends old and new. The sessions are always fun and light-hearted and members leave with a broad smile and a feeling of self-worth.
What does it cost? Do I need to audition?
We are an all-inclusive choir and we do not audition members.
The choir has a wide range of ages, abilities and singing experience
but all levels are catered for.
The cost is £5 cash, or £5.25 via a contactless card or smartphone app per session with no up-front membership fee; you just turn up, pay and sing. *Please note, fees are rising to £7 cash/£7.25 contactless from 1st February 2023, our first price rise in over six years, due to increasing costs.* As the music used is all written especially for the choir there is no charge for expensive sheet music either.
What do current members say about the choir?
Here are some comments made by current members of their experiences
of Sound Waves Community Choir:
Anne Nixon
"I have been a member of Sound Waves Community Choir for eighteen months and have found it totally engaging and very enjoyable. As a choir master, Steve is genial, affable, patient and encouraging but, most of all, makes choir practice fun! As a result of Sound Waves I appreciate music so much more, acknowledge different styles of music and listen to other choral work. It is apparent the Steve McGarvie is passionate about music and we are, I’m sure, all grateful for his guidance and expertise."
Kath Yeomans
"I joined Sound Waves Community Choir after speaking to a friend who was a member. I can’t sing on my own but feel comfortable singing with a group of people.
Sound Waves gave me what I was looking for. The music is contemporary and very up beat. The choir has given concerts for Charity; by doing this I have gained confidence and feel uplifted when singing."
Jenny Wigham
"Steve McGarvie has a superior knowledge of music and understands all aspects of the art. He has a natural ability to relate to individuals and groups of people in a friendly but openly assertive way, which inspires confidence and ease. He is dedicated and reliable both in management and organisation and always professional."
Michelle Brown
"I’ve wanted to join a choir for ages but was too intimidated by auditions. There’s nothing intimidating about Sound Waves – just a lovely bunch of people who enjoy singing and a bit of a giggle. I need no persuasion to come to choir, even on cold, dark winter nights. I love it and always go home with a buzz."
Joy Howson
S – Scintillating, special, superb saxophonist
T – Talented, trustworthy, tremendous arrangements!
E – Entertaining, endearing, encouraging educator
V – Vocally pitch perfect, positive, professional
E – Endless hours of enjoyment in music.
We are truly blessed to have Steve as our Sound Waves Choirmaster.
Helen Matthews
"The choir is great fun. I really look forward to Thursdays. I always feel good after choir practice. None of us are professional but we learn to sing all sorts of music, in tune and in harmony! I also like the weird warm-ups and Steve’s terrible jokes!"
Anne Nixon (Again!)
Music Night
Leave behind the stuffy TV
Sound Waves is the place to be.
For 2 hours each Thursday night
Sing along with all your might!
Our choirmaster likes all folk
He’ll even treat you to a joke!
Somes jokes receive rousing groans,
Others just despairing moans!
Steve’s music keeps us in good cheer
His ‘Happiest’ choir – so we hear.
So: Monica, Mary, Joe or Harvey
Enjoy a choir with Steve McGarvie!
So how do I join?
Fill in the contact form on the main Choir page and we'll give you all the details. Rehearsals are every Thursday evening but please check, especially during main holiday periods.