Singers forming vocal point of community
Local people in North Leamington are coming together every fortnight to practise songs and celebrate the bonding power of music.
The choir was set up by Warwickshire County Council’s Extended Services with the aim of bringing the community together with a common interest. Children, and their parents and grandparents, from schools in the North Leamington cluster are meeting at Our Lady and St Teresa’s Catholic Primary School, every other Tuesday.
Last term, the choir gathered and rehearsed at Telford Infant School. The plan to rotate the venue is aimed at picking up more and more families from all the schools within the cluster.
North Leamington cluster co-ordinator Michelle Hutton said: “Our goal is to make links between families of children from different schools which would not otherwise exist which will be of great benefit across the community. As we move through the community, we obviously hope to retain singers but also pick up more.”
The choir is working with the County Music Service and has already enjoyed great success having performed at the Choral Spectacular in Warwick Arts Centre’s Butterworth Hall at Christmas. This term’s songlist includes Windmills of Your Mind, Sound of Silence and Streets of London. Rehearsals include breathing routines and exercises designed at relaxing singers and improving vocal range.
Among the families enjoying the rehearsal was the Reade family from Lillington. Mother Jayne, who attended with sons Adam 11 and James 9, said: “We love singing at home so we thought we’d come along and give it a go. It’s great fun.”
Dan Powell of Telford Infant School was at the forefront of setting up the choir and whilst delighted with how the numbers have swelled to around the 70 mark, has ambitions to see it grow, specifically with more male voices.
He said: “The choir was a collaboration project, one of several between schools in the North Leamington cluster. By moving it from one school to another, we have been able to attract a wide range of people from the communities.
“However, whilst we have attracted many youngsters, mothers and grandmothers, we would still be delighted to see, and hear, a few more male voices. They don’t have to be musical, just willing to have a go and enjoy themselves so I would urge fathers and grandfathers to come along so that the choir is a more accurate cross section of our communities.”
Anybody from the North Leamington cluster of schools interested in joining the choir can contact Michelle Hutton on 01926 428416 on extension 336. Practices will take place at Our Lady and St Teresa’s School until Easter when they will then take place at another school within the cluster.