Rough Diamonds - how it all started:

In 2006 Hilary brought together a group of  24 singers from across all three of her choirs to spend two weeks in South Africa, visiting and singing with the Diamond Choir. The group enjoyed each others company so much that they decided they wanted to continue as a performing choir, building on what they learned from the Diamonds and developing a different repertoire from the main community choirs. The name ‘Rough Diamonds’ emerged as a reflection of the strong bonds of friendship forged between the members of the group and the Diamond Choir.

 

 

 

A choir of 24 enthusiastic friends, led by Hilary Davies, committed to developing and performing a wide repertoire of world song, particularly from South Africa and from the American Sacred Harp Traditions.

 

 

 

 

 

The choir are developing a strong repertoire of South African Songs sung in as authentic way as possible incorporating stepping and movement. They are also working on songs from the America Sacred Harp (shape note) tradition, that can be both both complicated and raw at the same time. The rest of their very varied repertoire is made up of  English and world music