New “uplifting” People’s Show Choir launching in Cardiff building on Newport success
The People’s Show Choir is expanding into Cardiff with a new singing group to make people “feel uplifted and valued”. It is set to be the second of its kind in Wales. Jo Leighton, leading the new choir for Cardiff, said “people would come first” in the community being created, even more so than the music. It follows on from the success of The People’s Show Choir in Newport – a singing group that Jo also conducts.
Around 70 keen singers have already signed up to take part in the new choir that is all about friendship, fun plus light-hearted pop and show tunes. The new Cardiff People’s Show Choir launches on Tuesday, September 16, and anyone from keen singers to those who have never been in a choir still has time to sign up here. Expect to do bright and cheerful renditions of Abba songs, disco hits and a Disney medley rather than traditional choral music.
Weekly meetings will be at Bethel Baptist Church Hall, in Penlline Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff, every Tuesday during term time from 7.30 pm to 9pm. The People’s Show Choir is now in towns UK wide and part of The People’s Orchestra family, which aims to help more people feel the health and social benefits of playing or singing music. The choir also hopes to reduce loneliness and social isolation for those living alone.
Jo described what newcomers can expect from the choir. “For me, it’s important that people coming along feel valued and uplifted. It’s all about creating a lovely community where people can get together, so expect a warm welcome. “There will be a few warm-ups first and singing before a break about halfway through. That gives us time for snacks, drinks, and some chat.
“Then we have a lot more singing before everyone goes on their merry way. It’s going to be fun and very friendly. “This choir is all about enjoying ourselves. I like to have a laugh and keep things light-hearted. People have a lot of stresses and responsibilities, so this is a time when you can leave all those stresses behind.
“I like to think I draw out the best in people. You can go to rehearsals where conductors take it far too seriously and it’s all about the music first, but at The People’s Show Choir, we are all about the people first.”
Singers will also have the chance to work towards an end of term concert in a local venue and even bigger massed joint concerts with other The People’s Show Choir members nationwide and The People’s Orchestra. Previous concerts have been in world renowned concert halls, including London’s The Duke’s Hall in The Royal Academy of Music, Birmingham Symphony Hall, and Inverness Cathedral. They have also done tours to Krakow in Poland and the Scottish Highlands to sing.
The new Cardiff choir comes after the success of Jo’s other The People’s Show Choir group in Wales at Newport. The Newport branch of The People’s Show Choir started around 18 months ago and has attracted 40 regular members, many of whom are generations within the same family. Singers range from a nine-year-old who comes with her mum and grandmother to pensioners and others aged in their 30s and 40s, looking for time to destress and have “me time”.
“It’s been so much fun as the members are just the most lovely people and we have a real community now,” added Jo. “When we launched in Newport, there were people queuing out of the door at the first rehearsal, so I don’t know what to expect for Cardiff. It will be good for The People’s Show Choir to have more of a presence in South Wales. “Everyone comes for different reasons and to hear their stories and circumstances, it inspires me.
“There’s a few children with their parents, including three generations of one family. Everyone pulls together and sets everything up when they arrive, so if there’s a new person, I can chat to them.” Jo, who is a mum-of-four, said she feels the benefit of being involved in choirs is to have time out from her “mum mode”.
“I say to people in the choir, leave all your troubles in the car park outside and forget about the stresses of your day,” said Jo. “I leave my ‘mum hat’ at home too. “It’s all about enjoying yourself and improving your wellbeing through singing.”
The People’s Orchestra is a charity that along with supporting people to use music to help tackle loneliness and poor mental health, also uses money raised to help people get back into work. They run employment programmes, work experience schemes and a benefits advice line. The charity also gained funding to run a fitness singing scheme to help people lose weight in the Midlands. Read more on its many worthy projects here.
The new Cardiff People’s Show Choir will meet at Bethel Baptist Church Hall in Penlline Road, Whitchurch, Cardiff, on Tuesdays during term time from 7.30pm to 9pm. Sign up or find out more here, including free taster sessions to see if you like it. The People’s Show Choir for Newport meets for weekly rehearsals at Stow Park Community Centre in Brynhyfryd Road, Newport, every Wednesday in term time from 7.45pm to 9.15pm.
