Well, I somehow didn’t get round to doing one since April, so welcome to my late summer/Autumn blog!
Am on a high having just had a fabulous week leading the daily singing workshops at the Sun and Moon Festival. Lovely heart opening singing all week with lovely people at a lovely festival and I can’t wait to do it all again next year :
https://sunandmoonfestival.com/
See my Diary (singing workshops and events) page for info about new workshops coming up in Autumn this year 🙂
Monthly Highlights
In April I traveled with my Open Voice Community Choir to Malaga to visit ‘Coral El Castillo’, a Spanish choir, and we did one concert in beautiful sea caves! Here’s the poster.
In May I had a real treat when I sang Taize songs at 8am with a group in this beautiful ‘hobbit house’ in Findhorn . Findhorn is a difficult place to leave – it’s heavenly!
In June, I was on BBC Radio Manchester with Mike Sweeney promoting a fundraising gig at Salford Lads Club with my ‘Rhythm of Life’ Christie and Maggies choir, singing with Rowetta of Happy Monday’s fame.
Rowetta has a BIG voice, a big personality and an even bigger heart – what a charismatic woman! Donated her time to work with us and raise money for the Christie and Salford Lads Club, where we filmed ‘Cold Feet’.
https://www.facebook.com/ros.fox1/videos/10157429350187300/
July was when ‘Open Voice’ got together with Boff Whalley’s Commoners choir, 4 other choirs and all sang his specially written song to commemorate 200 years since Peterloo. Boff used to be in Chumbawumba, is a great guy and has written a brilliant song based on the words written on the Skelmanthorpe Flag. We sang it in concert at the People’s History Museum, and around Manchester and the Peterloo Memorial site.
July also brought National Street Choirs to Manchester where over 1,000 voices gathered in song – over 40 community choirs from around the country, busking all round Manchester hosted by Manchester Community Choir – glorious! I was wrangling my 3 community choirs all day and eve then did 2 ‘From Discord to Harmony’ heart opening singing workshops for the Street Fest on the Sunday, so had a rest after that!
Here’s Open Voice busking
Also my Wrexham One World Community Choir did an end of term concert along with a local choir set up for those affected by homelessness and mental health issues -Wrexham One Love Choir. We shared a feast of delicious food then shared a feast of delicious songs, ending the evening singing together and raising the roof and raising £400 for Wrexham Foodbank and UAREUK refugee charity.
Oh, the power of singing together – it breaks down prejudices and creates UNITY!
‘We have more in common than divides us’.
Love, Carol