A year in the People’s Show Choir – ‘everyone has become great mates’
Elliot Mercer was a Birmingham University student when he was enticed into the world of The People’s Orchestra and Show Choirs. He started off conducting the newly formed Birmingham Show Choir and kept it up even during lockdowns, doing rehearsals over video calls.
Fast forward a few years and 27-year-old Elliot, originally from Essex, is now leading the People’s Show Choir for Wimbledon. After moving back to London, he helped start the community group from scratch in January 2024 as the latest in the People’s Show Choir network across the UK.
As the Wimbledon People’s Show Choir reaches its first anniversary, we take a look at how far it has come under his leadership – already attracting a regular chorus of 25 singers every week.
By day, Elliot is Head of Music at a school in central London, but by night he’s helping people of all ages reignite their love of music and singing. For Elliot’s energy is boundless as he runs community and youth choirs each week.
“The People’s Show Choir in Wimbledon has done really well in just a year as there’s quite a bit of competition in London for choirs,” explains Elliot.
“I realise people are very busy so appreciate that within a year, we’ve got a community of singers that love coming. It’s a mixed bunch of people and everyone is great mates now.”
That ranges from working mums to pensioners and people wanting to de-stress after a busy day at work.
The group meets in Wimbledon’s Holy Trinity Church in The Broadway, which Elliot raves about for its “great acoustics” when the choir fill the high ceilings and big space with their voices, accompanied by pianist Maria Tataru.
He always makes sure there’s time for a natter to socialise and a cuppa too when the choir meets every Wednesday at 7.30pm. It’s got people coming from further afield as the Church is easy to reach by bus and train for those living in other London suburbs.
“My ethos for the group has always been that although it’s about teamwork and listening to each other, the most important thing is that we have fun,” adds Elliot. “I start off with something silly for a warm-up to get people laughing and moving.
“We do work hard too as it’s very much about focusing on vocal production and to feel like we are improving week on week with the notes. It just isn’t too serious or stuffy.
“Yet the level of singing has gone up exponentially over the last year.
“In London, everything is go, go, go but at our choir, it’s a completely human-led meeting where all we need is our voices. A time to play, sing and have fun with other people – and feel socially connected.”
Show Choir members include mum-of-two Fiona Cross-Chowdhury, who joined to give herself more ‘me-time’ from her busy life and you can read more on the benefits she’s felt from singing in the choir here.
Elliot’s partner Martha Littlehales, who’s well versed in the Show Choirs as she set up the Wolverhampton branch, has moved down to London too. Going forward the pair will be co-running the Wimbledon Show Choir as they hope to build up the membership further.
“There’s lots of things that set us apart from other choirs,” Elliot tells me. “There’s the types of well-known, fun songs we sing and also a real sense of togetherness and being part of something bigger.
“The choir got the chance to perform in Duke’s Hall at the Royal Academy of Music within its first year and they were incredibly nervous but were thrilled at the experience.
“There’s different People’s Show Choirs across the country and we are linked with The People’s Orchestra, so when they all get together to perform concerts like that at big and renowned venues, it’s such a rush.”
Anyone interested in joining The People’s Show Choir in Wimbledon can see more information at the website here. Newcomers can turn up to a rehearsal at 7.30pm on Wednesdays at Wimbledon’s Holy Trinity Church, The Broadway, London, SW19 1RY or email [email protected].
