New Coventry show choir launching and aims to “get the best out of people”
The People’s Show Choir (TPSC) is expanding into Coventry with beginners and seasoned singers urged to get involved. The new Show Choir launches in September and will meet weekly during term time.
TPSC Coventry’s new Choir Leader is enthusiastic music lover Andrew Johnson, who said that along with singing, the priority will be having fun and getting to make new friends.
Even if people haven’t been in a choir before or don’t know how to read music, it won’t matter as Andrew will be able to help.
The People’s Show Choir is part of national charity The People’s Orchestra, based in West Bromwich, which helps enrich lives and reduce social isolation through music. It also uses money to support the unemployed and those on benefits, helping to retrain people to get them back into work.
Singers even get the chance to perform at mass concerts involving TPSC with its sister group, The People’s Orchestra, at some of the grandest venues in the UK where professionals usually sell-out, like Birmingham’s Symphony Hall.
“Music is my passion,” said Andrew. “It’s all I do. I like songs from the musicals like Les Miserables and easy listening pop hits, which is the type of music we’ll sing at The People’s Show Choir.
“TPSC is fun and sociable, which everyone joining in Coventry is about to find out.
“Getting to know each other in the choir is important because everyone becomes more confident to sing out and I get the best out of people.
“The new choir has some great show tunes the members will be learning in the months ahead along with Christmas tunes for a special concert.
“The music is important but it’s also important that the show choir is fun and people are having a laugh.”
Andrew, a 45-year-old music teacher at Langley Secondary School in Solihull, has been an experienced hand in leading concerts for more than 20 years.
Developing a passion for singing and acting, Andrew started dabbling in amateur dramatics when a teenager at Alderbrook School in Solihull. He soon progressed from performing on stage to the orchestra pit to conduct the musicians.
He then formally trained as a conductor while studying a Music degree at Nottingham University and hasn’t looked back since.
“I heard about TPSC as I’ve got friends in TPSC Dorridge who tole me ‘you need to get in with this crowd of people as it’s your sort of thing’ and they were right,” chuckled Andrew.
Andrew has form for successfully developing community choirs. When he lived in Evesham, he set up a choir from scratch and saw 50 people turn up for the first rehearsal.
That choir grew to 90 members over three years before he moved away to a new area and left a new leader to continue his good work.
Andrew is hoping for the same to happen at this new TPSC in Coventry.
For those that are new to TPSC, it’s a network of choirs nationwide that welcome people from all walks of life. Some are busy mothers who come to have a few hours “me time” a week, others are retired or empty nesters who get a regular uplift from the camaraderie and friendships they find amongst the community choir.
Lucy Ford, a member of TPSC West Bromwich, described how TPSC has changed her life for the better, saying: “Sometimes, if I’ve had a really rubbish week and I think I’m not sure I want to go, I get there and everyone is like family. It’s such a lovely atmosphere.”
She added: “It’s nice to be able to belt out a song, even if you’re not that good a singer. TPSC is all about you just enjoying yourself.”
TPSC Coventry rehearses on Wednesday evenings from 7:30pm to 9:00pm at Allesley Park Community Centre, 199 Winsford Avenue, Allesley Park, Coventry, CV5 9NG. Anyone interested can sign-up for two free taster sessions here before making a decision.
READ MORE: What The People’s Show Choir has in store throughout the year
READ MORE: How joining a choir supported Lucy’s mental wellbeing
