The choir began in March 2009 as a result of a chance conversation between Jan Harney (who loves to sing) and Nicola Butterworth (who is a great musician and works as a piano teacher). They were both missing the choirs that they had been involved in and one half-jokingly suggested that they should start a choir and was encouraged by the reaction of the other. Neither of them can remember who said it, but anyway they decided to 'give it a go.'
The local newspaper ran a news item and 22 people turned up on the first night, with many expressing that they had been looking for this for years! We now have more than double that number meeting every week (with 60 live memberships). Our ages range from 10 - 70+ (hence the name) and we try and sing a mixture of material to appeal to the variety of characters who sing with us. Nicola is great at finding new music and invests a lot of time making sure everyone has a folder full of words and dots. We've tackled Musicals, folk music, Rutter classics, Sinatra, Reggae and lots in between. Some harmony, some unison.
Above all we meet to have fun. No pressure, no auditions - everyone welcome. No charge - but donations go towards the cost of music and our lovely warm venue at the Independent Methodist Church - who have made us very welcome. The atmosphere is lighthearted with lots of banter and laughter. Some great friendships have sprung up along the way and members are very willing to offer up a brief prayer of thanks for our community life and particularly to support any concerns that others might express.
We major on 'Singing for fun and wellbeing'. so why not join us on Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm at Mill Lane Independent Methodist Church (off Chapel Street in Leigh). We sing till 8.45pm and then everyone is welcome to stay on for a cuppa and a chat.
All Singers great and small welcomed.
NB: CHOIR HAS NOW STOPPED MEETING FOR SUMMER BREAK - we'll restart on September 1st at 7.30pm
