About us
University Hospital Choir started in 2010 as an antidote to the stresses of working life in the NHS. It became a ladies choir only because we couldn’t persuade enough men to take part. However through rehearsals we had so much fun together, we decided to develop as an ‘upper voices’ choir because we liked it that way!
The choir currently has over 50 active members made up of current and retired NHS staff and friends. We rehearse at the Royal Stoke Hospital on Tuesday evenings from 6 until 8pm, but on the run up to concerts we will often stay later to perfect our repertoire. The choir is financially self-supporting, mainly through members’ subscriptions but occasionally with payments for performance.
UHC has an active social life, from theatre trips arranged by our committee to members meeting up for drinks after a rehearsal. We are a friendly, supportive choir who recognise that the social side of being part of a choir is just as important as the singing!
Mission & values
University Hospital Choir aims to develop its members’ singing in a social, fun and supportive environment and perform a wide concert repertoire to the best of its ability.
Our repertoire
We have a wide and varied repertoire, singing both accompanied and unaccompanied. We sing pop and rock numbers, songs from musicals of all eras, folk and traditional songs, classical and sacred music, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Some recent pieces are Faure’s Requiem, Songs of a Disney Hero, and Dolly Parton’s Nine to Five and Carole King’s You’ve Got a Friend.
“We loved your choir, a beautiful, tight, warm feeling sound. Excellent harmonies. Great song choice.”
Our performances
Our annual concerts are in the summer and at Christmas but we perform at various events through the year. We have sung at weddings, at the Penkhull Mysteries Musical Morning, at Royal Stoke Hospital, the New Vic Theatre, the Victoria Hall and at various venues in support of fundraising events. We have collaborated with Audley Male Voice Choir, Penkhull Village Brass, Audley Brass and AG3 to perform joint concerts.
UHC has entered the Newcastle-Under-Lyme Festival for Music, Speech and Drama four times, being awarded first place in 2017 and 2023, second place in 2018 and third in 2024.
We often donate the proceeds from our main concerts to our hospital’s charitable fund – UHNM Charity.
For more details of our upcoming performances click here.
Musical director
Katharine Slater is passionate about the performing arts and has been involved with local music-making in Staffordshire since moving to the area after graduating from university. The choir was delighted to welcome Katharine as MD in January 2026 and is excited for what the future holds.
Katharine encompasses humour, vocal technique, and wellbeing into rehearsals by bringing a weekly joke or quote, ‘word of the week’ for inspiration, and fun a cappella rounds such as ‘Gin & Tonic’, all with music, friendship, and fun at the heart.
Accompanist
The choir is accompanied and supported by Aidan Goldstraw, a most accomplished pianist and musician and incredibly sensitive accompanist. Aidan always gives the choir the confidence to perform at its best.