Choirs unite in aid of learning disabilities charity

Swindon nurse Lynette Corengia, a member of the GWH Choir, decided to collect together various choirs to perform in the Old Town Bowl in Swindon on Sunday, July 12.

And proceeds from the Gala Community Choir Festival will go to the Open Door Centre in Swindon, which aims to make positive difference in the lives of adults with learning disabilities.

Open Door is based in the St Barnabus Church Hall, Gorse Hill.

Lynette said: "I have a daughter who attends Open Door and this year it lost its funding so I wanted to do something to help. Natalie is 33 and her disabilities were caused at birth.

"She is delightful, she loves clothes, food and our dogs and she enjoys Open Door immensely as it is her way of making and enjoying friendship.

"Often, disabled people feel isolated but Open Door is in a protective environment as she is so innocent and does not understand danger.''

The Open Door Choir will launch the festival, in the Town Gardens, at 2pm, followed by A Splash of Red, Lynette's Great Western Hospital Choir, the Pewsey Belles, Uplands Choir, The Blue Belles, The Songbirds, Swindon Community Choir, Big Sing Thing, Ten In a Bar, Robert Buckland and a grand finale from the Kentwood Show Choir.

Sheila Harrod, founder and musical director of Kentwood, is patron of Open Door and she will be compering the festival.

Kentwood celebrated its golden anniversary last year. The choir began in 1964 and is now one of this country's leading show choirs, having performed all over Europe, including a prestigious concert with Dame Cleo Laine and Sir John Dankworth in the Royal Albert Hall.

At the choirs festival, Kentwood will choose from their vast repertoire of showstoppers, blues, ballads, modern and swing classics as well as songs arranged specially for them by West End musical director Paul Maguire, former Kings singer Bob Chilcott and John Dankworth.

Lynette's GWH Choir was formed by Jules Addison last year, and its 30 members are all hospital staff.

Lynette said: "The aim of the GWH Choir is primarily to fundraise for local charities and organisations sponsored by the NHS Trust in Swindon.''

Swindon Community Choir became well known in the town as the Swindon Scratch Choir. The idea was to create a choir for anyone who wanted to sing, no need for experience or to read music. They meet in the Central Community Hall on a Monday.

Lynette said: "It is the joy of singing in harmony with others under the guidance of experienced leaders.''

Ten In A Bar are a close harmony group with a penchant for humour. Musical director Jill Hodge began the choir in 1992 and the 12 singers soon made a name of themselves both at their annual show in the Arts Centre, and at various charity concerts.

Lynette said: "Many of their fans have come to appreciate the zany humour of their comic musical sketches, a genre created by Jill.''

The Cirencester Male Voice Choir will add some man power to proceedings with a song selection that ranges from favourite classical pieces to pop, folk and world music. They are based in St John The Baptist Church in Cirencester and practice on a Monday evening. There is also a social side to the choir and each new member is mentored by fellow choir members.

As for the girls, the BlueBelles are an all-girl troupe of singers performing close harmony and acapella. Again Jules Addison is the prime mover in the choir getting the Belles together last year. The BlueBelles are also performing at the Marlborough International Jazz Festival this year.

The Pewsey Belles are also joining the choir festival, bringing their special choral singing from a membership numbering 48 ladies from all over Wiltshire. The choir was formed in 2011 by Lesley-Anne Hornbogen and Felicity Dainton.

The Big Sing was also launched in 2011 by Jen Fisher and Helen Asprey with the idea of creating an informal community choir. It now has 120 members.

The choir festival will run until 8pm. For more details call 01793 531597.