Booking funeral singers at short notice
Most funerals reach us with one or two weeks’ notice, and we have covered services booked within forty-eight hours of the first call. If the service is days away and the music is not settled, this guide covers what we can arrange in the time available, what to have ready, and what happens after you get in touch.
Our singers performing Abide with Me, the most-requested funeral hymn. Hear more recordings.
How fast a booking can move
Funeral music does not run on wedding timescales; nobody chooses the date a year ahead. Our diary is built for that. We hold space for short-notice bookings, and when you ask about a date we confirm availability the same day.
The booking itself is short work. You tell us the date, the venue, and what you have in mind; we send a written quote with everything included; you say yes. Nothing more is needed from you before the day.
What the notice period changes
With two weeks or more, the full range is open: any ensemble from a soloist to a twelve-voice choir, and repertoire beyond our core list. A new arrangement of an unusual piece needs the most lead time, because we write it, rehearse it, and send you a recording before the day.
Inside a week, the ensemble sizes are usually still open, and the core funeral repertoire needs no extra rehearsal: Abide with Me, The Lord’s My Shepherd, Pie Jesu, Ave Maria, and the hymns and solo pieces we sing at funerals every week. Within two or three days, a soloist or a quartet singing from that repertoire is the option we usually suggest.
What to have ready
Three details settle most of a short-notice booking: the date and time of the service, the venue, and whether the music is already chosen. If it is not chosen, that need not slow anything down — our funeral music guide walks through the choices, and we will suggest a programme to fit the service you describe. If a funeral director or celebrant is arranging things, tell us who: we liaise with them directly on timings, cues, and the order of service.
What happens after you get in touch
Call 07356 042468, or send the form on our funerals page. We confirm availability the same day. If the funeral is this week, telephone first; the written quote and any recordings follow by email.
From acceptance onward, the music is off your list. We prepare the repertoire, coordinate with the venue and the funeral director, and arrive at least forty-five minutes before the service to warm up and settle the cues.
What it costs
A soloist starts from £250; a small choir of four from £1,150; a quintet from £1,400; a sextet from £1,600; a full choir of eight from £2,000. An organist or pianist added to a booking starts from £225. The quote is the full figure — fees, taxes, and travel within Greater London are included. Our funeral music costs guide breaks the figures down.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sing at a funeral this week?
Usually, yes. We hold diary space for short-notice bookings and confirm availability the same day you ask. Most funerals reach us with one or two weeks’ notice, and we have covered services booked within forty-eight hours of the first call.
Is there an extra charge for a short-notice funeral booking?
No. A short-notice booking is quoted from the same price list as any other: a soloist from £250, a small choir of four from £1,150. The written quote includes fees, taxes, and travel within Greater London.
What music can a choir prepare in a few days?
The hymns and solo pieces we sing most often need no extra preparation: Abide with Me, The Lord’s My Shepherd, Pie Jesu, Ave Maria, and the rest of the core funeral repertoire. A new arrangement of an unusual piece needs more lead time, because we write it, rehearse it, and send you a recording before the day.
Can our funeral director make the booking for us?
Yes. Funeral directors book us on behalf of families regularly. We liaise with them on timings, cues, and the order of service, and the invoice can go to the family or to the funeral home, whichever suits.
We’re here if you’d like a hand
If the service is close and the music is still unsettled, that is the position most families are in when they first call us. There is no charge for the conversation and no obligation.
Tell us about the service you’re planning
Text us on WhatsApp for the fastest reply, or call us on 07356 042468.