Basic information

The Primrose Hill Children’s Choir meets on Wednesdays, 4.20-5.20pm, during term-time (see What’s On for dates), at St Mary’s Church, London, NW3 3DJ (in the main church space) - enter via King Henry’s Road. Map here. The choir is for girls and boys aged 6-11 (12 and 13 year olds are welcome too as long as they get on with the group). All parents should contact us in advance, and then bring your child along whenever you like for a free trial. After the trial if your child wishes to join the cost will be £10 for each remaining rehearsal of term, paid in one go. Siblings get 25% off. If you have a problem affording the fees let us know.

How your child will benefit

Through singing and games and an exciting range of performances your child will have fun, gain confidence, improve their speech and language, memory, coordination and their ability to work as part of a team. The children learn to sing pop, Disney, musicals and songs from around the world and there are opportunities to sing solos. The choir is for fun, but we do like to sing well, so your child make an excellent start at acquiring the choral skills that they will need for the rest of their school and adult lives (such as good pitching and harmonising). The group is run by the prize-winning local conductor and singing and piano teacher Matthew Watts, who is experienced at working with children both in and out of schools.

The music

Songs have included the themes from James Bond and Sesame Street, Puff the Magic Dragon, Imagine, Do You Want To Build a Snowman?, Roar and Firework (Katy Perry), and the children have participated in concerts on the themes of Music from the Americas, Music from the Movies and Sing Africa. Listen to the children sing here and see Choir History below for some exciting videos.

Choir history

Ever since it was started by Matthew Watts in 2013 (see Press) PHCC has been providing children with exciting performance opportunities. These have included family-friendly Primrose Hill Choirs concerts with up to three other choirs, and singing at the Camden Town Hall, Victoria & Albert Museum, South Bank Centre and live on BBC Radio London. During the Covid-19 pandemic the kids had fun singing and playing games on Zoom. In 2019 the choir were joined by Let the Children Sing for a performance at LSO St Luke’s of Education by Bruno Mars, that raised £2 million for the Room to Read children’s charity (video here). In 2023 they sang Roar by Katy Perry at BAFTA HQ (video here, picture below), and in 2024 they sang at both the Children & Young People NOW Awards (video of Imagine here) and at Wembley Stadium (see reel here).