CHOIRS Connected in Redditch are literally singing with joy after holding their first Catch Up Choir workshops in 15 months due to Covid.
Music director Maria Brannelly said: “To say it was a huge relief and joy to run these is an understatement!
“We had hoped to start a large Children’s Catch Up Choir in an out of school setting but it quickly became clear that due to the government’s sudden changes to step 3 out of lockdown on May 17 we could only have a maximum of six children from two families in an indoor choir!”
These weren’t quite the numbers Choirs Connected had planned for so the team quickly reshaped what they could offer and launched the Catch Up Choir outdoors, in a school setting.
Backed by generous funding from Church Hill Big Local this extraordinary event, featuring 30 children from Abbeywood First School, saw the youngsters enjoy catching up on ‘choir happiness’ over 10 weeks.
“One eight year old lad said how, because of Catch Up Choir, he had started singing at home when he felt angry and how this has really helped him and he is going to continue to ‘sing his anger out!’” said Maria.
“We cannot thank Church Hill Big Local enough!”
Ian Johnson, vice chair of CHBL, said: “With mental health and well being top of the agenda as our children and youths navigate this pandemic Choirs Connected use the power of music and song as a much needed mood booster, to raise confidence and to develop a sense of connection.”
Catch Up Choir for Schools starts at Moons Moat First School in the autumn and Choirs Connected would welcome invitations from other schools.
There are still plans for a large 100 voice children’s Catch Up Choir to be held at Willow Trees Community Centre which will be open for all children aged eight to 16 starting in mid-September – dependent on Covid.
For more details and to register interest see www.choirsconnected.org.uk
