Children's Choir - Minpins
The Minpins was formed in 2015 with the support of a number of benefactors: the Roald Dahl Literary Estate, Felicity Dahl, Roald’s widow, and a legacy left to Ruth Fraser by Barbara Parrott (her cousin who taught music to primary school children for many years). The children's choir is named after Roald’s final book in which the Minpins are a ‘city of little people’.
Felicity Dahl, together with Ruth Fraser, are Patrons of this talented and enthusiastic group which is directed by Zoë Hynes. Simon Bell (Stroud Choral Society Music Director and Musical Director for the Schola Cantorum, Tewkesbury Abbey) is their President and advisor.
The Minpins go from strength to strength and in March 2017 took on their biggest challenge yet when they performed in the world premiere of a specially commissioned work, The Pelicantata, alongside Stroud Choral Society. Pelicantata is a setting of Roald Dahl’s book “The Giraffe and the Pelly and Me”. They also premiered the specially adapted Children Choruses from The Pelicantata in March 2019.
In October 2022 the Minpins were involved in the premiere of Peter Pan - a musical, with words by Pam Ayres and music by Louis Mander. The choir performs at least four times a year and 'Songs for Springtime', with the Stroud Choral Society Youth Choir, is their annual fundraiser.
The choir currently has 34 members, aged 8-13 years. The choir meets during term time on a Tuesday evening 5.45-7.15pm in Nailsworth. They make many public performances, both on their own and with the adult choir.
Youth Choir
In September 2017, in order to accommodate children who had outgrown The Minpins, we branched out and formed a new youth choir - Stroud Choral Youth Choir (SCYC) . Currently comprising 14 talented 11-18 year olds, we would welcome any 'teens' with a passion for singing a variety of music, including classical, choral, spiritual and pop. Rehearsals are after The Minpins on a Tuesday, during term time from 7.30-8.30pm.
As well as performing in the annual Songs for Springtime concert in St Laurence's Church Stroud, the Youth choir have given concerts at the Stroud Show, Woodchester Retirement Village and joined the Stroud Choral Society for their summer concerts.
Contact:
For more information about performances or how to join either choir, find them on Facebook: SCYC&The Minpins , Twitter or contact minpinschoir@gmail.com.
