Notorious has always done things a little differently compared to other, rather more conventional choirs. Whether it’s singing to revellers on Broad Street in the pouring rain, celebrating the centenary of the composer Benjamin Britten’s birth in St. Paul’s Church or filling sombre coffin-making factories with heavenly choruses, the choir will forever strive to offer a diverse and creative programme of musical events to the cultural life of Birmingham.To do that we need the support of our fans and audiences – practically, emotionally and financially. The Friends scheme allows Notorious to stay special. Over the years its members have popped up in videos produced for our horror cinema performance at The Electric, publicised the choir in the press and appeared in various publicity photographs. Seeing a familiar, friendly face at a gig is always a great aid for calming skittish nerves, whilst the money they’ve contributed has paid for rehearsal venues, professional accompanists and allowed us to take on yet more ambitious projects.

In return, Friends get:

• Free tickets for a year’s performances.
• Access to preferential seating (i.e. the best in the house).
• Advance news of gigs.
• A regular newsletter offering an insider’s view on the life of the choir, full of all the gory details of the triumphs and tribulations that make being part of Notorious special.
• The odd glass of complimentary wine!
• Friends also have the opportunity to hear new renditions of old favourites (Daft Punk’s Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger being a great example) as well as the chance to see the choir test itself musically in previously untried genres.

Members of the Friends scheme can also be rightly proud of the fact that they’re supporting a charity and a community choir that has been going from strength to strength for nearly two decades. Hundreds of people have been able to benefit from the joy of singing thanks to their commitment, and in that time the choir has been heard by thousands of people. Each and every Friend is credited for their support in our event programs, such is their importance to our ongoing success.

A single person membership costs just £30 for a year and a joint one £50. The relationship between the choir and its Friends is a special one, and will help us make sure that Notorious is still going strong in another twenty years’ time.

Email Julia at friends@notoriouschoir.org for more information.

Friends Manager: Julia Rosenbaum My first concert with Notorious, back in 2004, was the standing-room-only performance of Mozart’s Requiem at St Chad’s Cathedral and, in the eclectic style of Notorious, this was closely followed by Mamma Mia Mamma Mia – the Queen and Abba gig – at the James Brindley pub. I’ve performed a wonderful mixture of music with Notorious, some of my favourites being Morten Lauridsen’s O Magnum Mysterium, The Body by Ian Chapman and the Radiohead’s Paranoid Android.  I’ve also been lucky enough to perform in Notorious’ own horror film, The Viewing and at the 02 Arena with The Twang: both of which were incredibly nerve-wracking but very cool!  Best known for hounding choir members to write for the Notorious Friends’ Newsletter!