Singing Sensations!

Community Choir

A community choir has formed in north Manchester after a special visit from pop star pensioners.

Last summer, the world famous Young @ Heart Chorus – a choir of rocking retirees from the US - took time out between their Manchester International Festival appearances to sing for our residents at Victoria Square.

Since then, inspired by the performance, residents from retirement housing schemes across north Manchester have united to form the Golden Voices Community Choir.

Encouraged by Ancoats and Clayton councillor Jim Battle, and backed by Northwards Housing, New East Manchester Arts and Cultural Officers, Adactus Housing, Mayes Gardens and the Generation Project, the choir was put together by the Valuing Older People (VOP) programme.
Tracey Annette from VOP said: “We weren't looking for professional singers but we wanted to positively encourage the older residents and started our search by holding taster sessions in the community rooms of schemes across Ancoats and Clayton.”

The group rehearsed at the Band on the Wall music venue over a period of only five weeks and on 16 December made their debut performance at St.Anne’s Primary School’s Christmas concert in Ancoats!

The choir members feature lots of Northwards residents, including Sheila and Christine Wozencroft, Linda Carver and Charles McDermott from Victoria Square, and Susan Casey, Sheila Chubsey, Marjorie Ingham and Gwen Richardson from Apprentice Court.

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