Thank you for visiting Marygate Singers Web Site.

Marygate Singers is a group of singers who make music together every Summer for a week on the island of Lindisfarne, off the Northumberland coast. Originally run as a Summer Music Course by Marygate House (see Accommodation), for many years now the group has been an independent body, administrated by its members but retaining close links of friendship with Marygate House. Unfortunately the 2020 and 2021 courses were cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. We had hoped the 2021 course would go ahead, but unfortunately Marygate House were not taking groups, only individuals.

That was then!

Eventually we successfully ran a course from August 7th to 14th 2023 (Monday to Monday) based at Shepherds Dene retreat house near Hexham Northumberland. and that happened again last summer (2024) from 12th to 19th August. We had to pay a deposit of £100 per head and the overall cost of the accommodation was £556. So with the course fee the total cost of the holiday was almost £700. This of course is for 7 nights fully catered. It's a beautiful location (see the link above) and very well appointed. We sang Sunday services in the lovely St. Andrew's Church in Corbridge. In our free periods there was lots to do and see in the 'Hadrian's Wall' area!

News for 2025. We are back to Holy Island! Marygate House is available for the week Friday 8th to Friday 15th August. Most will be able to stay there, but for those who prefer to be independent there are numerous cottages available, many of which will accept Friday to Friday bookings. We expect the overall price for Marygate House to be similar to Shepherds Dene, but without the requirement for an early non-returnable deposit.

Musical Director.

After five most enjoyable years, our Musical Director Sarah Burston, had to leave us due to other commitments, and we welcomed our new Director, Chris Enticknap for the 2023 course. Chris has been singing since starting primary school in Harrogate. After a music degree at the University of Hull and a teaching qualification at Bretton Hall College at the University of Leeds, he worked in the media for several years, including spells at BBC Radio Three and Grove's Dictionaries of Music. After a career in marketing he started teaching music in secondary schools in the north east, and started playing the organ for several parish churches. He sings countertenor and bass professionally, and has had spells singing in the cathedral choirs at Newcastle and Durham. Recent engagements have included Director of Music at Berwick Parish Church and Musical Director of Berwick Male Voice Choir, Neville's Cross Community Choir in County Durham and Nidderdale Community Choir in North Yorkshire. He is delighted to be joining the Marygate Singers. We look forward very much to working with Chris again in 2025.