PRESS RELEASE Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. Wednesday, May 18, 2022 CHOIRS ARE BACK “This time last year I wondered if we would ever get our choirs across the UK back singing again.” So says Bath-based Grenville Jones who has the reputation of bringing people together through song. From the 1,000 people across the West of England who sing in his choirs, to the many 100s across England and Wales who are now returning to the daytime Fun singalongs from the Golden-Oldies Charity, founded by Grenville 15 years ago. Not only are Grenville’s choirs back rehearsing and performing they have already – since October 2021 – raised over £10,000 which has been distributed to charities and local community groups from Cheltenham to Cornwall, with more support to come in the months ahead. Says Grenville; “It was difficult for so many freelance choir leaders, accompanists as well as the singing members themselves. Of course we all turned to Zoom and Sofa-Singing and, in truth, it’s simply not the same, singing at home to yourself, albeit with an enthusiastic conductor beaming at you from your laptop. “The well-being benefits of singing and ‘belonging’ to a music group are well documented and we have yet to learn the true impact of Lockdown on the mental health of the nation. “18 months ago, I thought that Christmas 2020 might see us back. Not so; it was then Christmas last year (2021) and, in England, we could begin to plan concerts and ‘distanced’ rehearsals again. Then came Omicron with its devastating effect on the concerts we hoped might take place.” Grenville adds; “I remember my first post-Zoom rehearsal was the Wells Good Afternoon Choir on a cold Tuesday in October. I went not knowing if anyone would be there! This was a choir of over 80 singers, pre-Covid. I was amazed to find 50 people of which many were new joiners. That choir is now almost back to its membership of January 2020 and it is the same across all my 24 West Country choirs, afternoon or evening. “Yes at first many were naturally anxious, but as the Summer approaches and Covid rates continue to drop dramatically, singers old and new across the UK are getting back to their favourite hobby whether it be one the growing number of community choirs, a local choral society, Musical Theatre Group, Male Voice or a Ladies Choir… “There’s no doubt about it CHOIRS ARE BACK.” The organisations that have received OVER £10,000 in the last six months through Grenville’s choirs include; The Red Cross Ukrainian Appeal, Mencap in Keynsham, A Life for a Cure, Springboard Opportunity Group, JIGSAW Thornbury, Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, Great Western Air Ambulance, Dementia UK, South Western Ambulance Charity, Wells in Bloom, Keynsham & Saltford Dementia Action Alliance, Peggy Dodd Centre, Julia’s House Children’s Hospice, Freewheelers Blood Bikes, Devon/Taunton Freewheelers, Refugee Aid from Taunton, Children’s Hospice South West, Sue Ryder, The Space, Salisbury Hospice and Longfield Hospice. With regard to the Golden-Oldies Charity, Songs and Smiles at daytime singalong sessions in Church Halls, Libraries and Community Rooms, these are also being introduced again, many prompted by ‘We want Goldies,’ from age-support groups throughout England and in Wales as Goldies Cymru. Grenville is always quick to point out that Goldies is NOT about choir singing. “It’s about bringing people together who may lead lonely lives to sing the songs of our Patron Sir Cliff and other hits from the 60s onwards. A reason to get out.” Grenville plans more Goldies sessions including those for adults who suffer with dementia and their carer’s. He also plans to again introduce an Intergenerational Primary Schools programme, following on from the Golden-Oldies success in winning the Education Category of the National Lottery Awards’ prior to Lockdown. All his projects are listed on www.grenvillejones.biz ENDS Image Caption: Grenville conducts the much-travelled Last Choir Standing Bath Male Choir who celebrate their 15th birthday in the Guildhall Banqueting Room on Sunday October 9 and head for NASHVILLE in October.
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PRESS RELEASE Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. Wednesday April 13, 2022 Choirs raise £8,000 for local good causes From Cheltenham to Falmouth and all points in-between, the Good Afternoon community choirs give over 800 people each week the opportunity to ‘Sing in the Afternoon!’. Founder of the Choirs is Bath-based music man Grenville Jones. Fourteen years ago, he started his first Good Afternoon Choir in Bath and by the end of this year - 2022, there will be 25 across the West Country. There are no auditions to belong to a Good Afternoon Choir and the members themselves choose a local organisation to benefit from their fundraising and concerts. The accent is on fun through music making with concerts and social events. Following lockdown, the choirs started singing again in October. They have already raised over £8,000 which will go to benefit organisations across the region. These include, Peggy Dodd Centre, (Bath GAC); A Life for a Cure, (Bristol GAC); The Space, (Cheddar Valley GAC); Sue Ryder, (Cheltenham GAC); Longfield Hospice, (Cirencester & Stroud GAC); Julia’s House Children’s Hospice, (Devizes GAC); Children’s Hospice South West, (Falmouth GAC & Truro GAC); Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance (Frome GAC & Yeovil GAC); Keynsham & Saltford Dementia Action Alliance and Mencap, (Keynsham GAC); Springboard Opportunity Group (North Somerset GAC); Salisbury Hospice, (Salisbury GAC); Dementia UK, (South Gloucestershire GAC); Freewheelers Blood Bikes & Refugee Aid from Taunton (RAFT), (Taunton GAC); JIGSAW Thornbury, (Thornbury GAC); Southwestern Ambulance Charity & Wells in Bloom, (Wells GAC); Great Western Ambulance, (Yate & Chipping Sodbury GAC). Grenville said; “The members nominate and vote for the local charity or group they choose to support and with a number of concerts on the horizon I am hoping that by the end of this year, we will be able to distribute at least £15,000 to many deserving causes.” Fundraising concerts are always listed on the individual choir sites on www.goodafternoonchoir.org ENDS Contact Grenville on 07778 282934. Image shows : The Keynsham and South Gloucestershire Good Afternoon Choirs at a concert supporting the local Dementia Alliance group in March. PRESS RELEASE
Monday 4 April 2022 Yate & Chipping Sodbury’s popular Good Afternoon Choir will present their first concert of the year at St Mary’s Church, Yate, on Saturday April 30. The choir is led by Sian Walters with over 50 enthusiastic members who are busy preparing their programme for the concert which will support the Great Western Air Ambulance, a charity chosen by the members of the choir. The Good Afternoon Choirs were started by Bath-based Grenville Jones 12 years ago and there are now 19 across the South West of England with over 800 members ‘Singing in the Afternoon’. There are no auditions to join and members of the Yate & Chipping Sodbury Good Afternoon Choir come from in and around the town, they meet every Wednesday afternoon from 2pm-4pm at St Mary’s Church. Everyone is welcome to come along and meet Sian and the choir. Special guests for the concert will be the Apollo Wind Band, a Yate-based band formed in 2014 for beginners and returning players. They play a variety of music genres and are part of the Avon Wind Band Association. Tickets priced £10 are on sale from members of Yate & Chipping Sodbury Good Afternoon Choir or will be available on the door on the night of the concert. Sian Walters said; “It is going to be a great night of music and of course this will be the first time that the Yate & Chipping Sodbury Good Afternoon Choir have performed at a public concert in over two years. We are absolutely delighted to be back singing again!” ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. PRESS RELEASE
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. Monday, March 28, 2022 Two of Bath’s leading choirs will be performing at a FREE ADMISSION concert on Saturday April 9. The concert starts at 7.30pm, with doors opening at 7.00pm, taking place at the Freedom Centre concert hall on the Lower Bristol Road in Bath where there is ample car parking on site. The Celebrated City of Bath Male Choir and the mixed-voice Bath WelcomeChorus will perform, both choirs being conducted by Bath music man Grenville Jones. Grenville said; “It is going to be a great evening of music with free admission, although there will be a bucket collection at the end of the evening to support Bath-based organisations who work with those living with dementia and their carers. We hope to raise a substantial amount for this valuable work.” Both choirs have busy concert schedules ahead with the WelcomeChorus singing at Malmesbury Abbey on Saturday July 2. The City of Bath Male Choir will celebrate their 15th birthday with a concert in the Banqueting Room in the Guildhall on Sunday October 9 and a visit to America’s ‘home of music’ Nashville at the end of October. For full details call 01761 472468 or see www.grenvillejones.biz ENDS PRESS RELEASE Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. Thursday, March 17, 2022 Bath music man Grenville Jones has been presented with an award recognizing his ‘great and valuable service to the community, by the High Sheriff of Somerset, Thomas Sheppard. Mr Sheppard said: “Grenville has always been involved with choirs and singing; he is well-known for his appearance on radio and television across the world through his choirs and work with the Golden-Oldies Charity that he founded in 2007 and for his reputation of getting people of all ages to sing! “He has raised thousands of pounds for both national and local charities and in July 2012 received an honorary doctorate from Bath Spa University in recognition of his reputation for bringing music to all age groups in communities across the West and Wales. “Grenville started Goldies in 2008 and it now has a team of over 50 talented session leaders and numbers of sessions approaching 160 across England and Wales. Many are now re-starting after Covid. “He also leads 25 choir projects including the famous City of Bath Male Choir, which received national acclaim in the popular BBC's ‘Last Choir Standing’ series. There are over 800 people enjoying singing in his various choirs; many of which raise funds for their locally selected charities. “Larger than life, but always focusing on bringing people together to enjoy the companionship and company of singing whatever their ability.” ENDS PRESS RELEASE Tuesday 15 March 2022 The popular Bristol Good Afternoon Choir will present their first concert of the year at St Monica Trust’s Oatley House Hall on Friday evening April 8 at 7.30pm The choir is led by John Sandford with over 70 enthusiastic members who are busy preparing their programme for the concert which will support A Life For A Cure, a charity chosen by the members of the choir. The Good Afternoon Choirs were started by Bath-based Grenville Jones 12 years ago and there are now 19 across the South West of England with over 800 members ‘Singing in the Afternoon’. There are no auditions to join and members of the Bristol Good Afternoon Choir come from in and around the area, they meet every Monday afternoon from 2pm-4pm at St Monica Trust’s Oatley House Hall. Everyone is welcome to come along and meet John and the members of the choir. The special guest for the concert will be world travelled solo violinist Lizz Lipscombe. Her most prestigious moments in previous years include performing and recording with Smokey Robinson, Richard Hawley, Newton Faulkner and Peter Gabriel. Playing live on BBC2 radio with Bob Harris and on TV for ‘Songs of Praise’ and ‘Later . . . with Jools Holland’. Tickets priced £10 are on sale from members of Bristol Good Afternoon Choir or by calling 01761 472468 – they will also be available on the door on the night of the concert. John Sandford said; “It is going to be a great night of music and of course this will be the first time that the Bristol Good Afternoon Choir have performed at a public concert in over two years. We are absolutely delighted to be back singing again!” ENDS Picture shows : Lizz Lispcombe. Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. PRESS RELEASE Tuesday 8 March 2022 The popular North Somerset Good Afternoon Choir will present their first concert of the year at Nailsea Methodist Church on Saturday evening April 2 at 7.30pm The choir is led by Ruth Jenkins with over 70 enthusiastic members who are busy preparing their programme for the concert which will support the Springboard Opportunity Group, a charity chosen by the members of the choir. The Good Afternoon Choirs were started by Bath-based Grenville Jones 12 years ago and there are now 19 across the South West of England with over 800 members ‘Singing in the Afternoon’. There are no auditions to join and members of the North Somerset Good Afternoon Choir come from in and around the area, they meet every Wednesday afternoon from 1pm-3pm at Nailsea Methodist Church. Everyone is welcome to come along and meet Ruth and the members of the choir. The special guest for the concert will be world travelled solo violinist Lizz Lipscombe. Her most prestigious moments in previous years include performing and recording with Smokey Robinson, Richard Hawley, Newton Faulkner and Peter Gabriel. Playing live on BBC2 radio with Bob Harris and on TV for ‘Songs of Praise’ and ‘Later . . . with Jools Holland’. Tickets priced £10 are on sale from members of North Somerset Good Afternoon Choir or by calling 01761 472468 – they will also be available on the door on the night of the concert. Ruth Jenkins said; “It is going to be a great night of music and of course this will be the first time that the North Somerset Good Afternoon Choir have performed at a public concert in over two years. We are absolutely delighted to be back singing again!” ENDS Picture shows : Lizz Lispcombe. Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. PRESS RELEASE
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. Tuesday 8 March 2022 They have performed to sell-out audiences around the World and on Saturday evening March 19th The City of Bath Male Choir will be at Temple Methodist Church in Taunton. The Bath Male Choir was founded by Grenville Jones in 2007 and they hit the headlines when they reached the finals of the popular Saturday night BBC series ‘Last Choir Standing’. Since that time the choir have taken part in a number of tours around the World. They have sung at concerts across the UK and Europe, took part in a hugely successful visit to Japan in 2014, with their most recent tour being to Boston, USA, in 2019. They sang as guests at the Menin Gate on Remembrance Sunday 2018. Later this year they will visit Nashville. Tickets priced £10 are on sale from members of Taunton Good Afternoon Choir or by calling 01761 472468 – they will be available on the door on the night of the concert, from 7.00pm. Taunton’s popular Good Afternoon Choir will host the concert at Temple Methodist Church. They are led by Chris Grabham with over 60 enthusiastic members who are busy preparing their programme for the concert. It will support the Freewheelers Blood Bikes and Refugee Aid From Taunton, charities chosen by the members of the choir. There are no auditions to join and members of the Taunton Good Afternoon Choir come from in and around the town, they meet every Tuesday afternoon from 2pm-4pm at Temple Methodist Church. Everyone is welcome to come along and meet Chris and the members of the choir. There are 20 Good Afternoon Choirs across the West of England. ENDS PRESS RELEASE Tuesday 8 March 2022 The popular Thornbury Good Afternoon Choir will present their first FREE ADMISSION concert of the year at St Mary’s Church, Thornbury, on Friday evening April 1 at 7.30pm. The choir is led by Brendan Casey with over 70 enthusiastic members who are busy preparing their programme for the concert which will support JIGSAW Thornbury, a charity chosen by the members of the choir. The Good Afternoon Choirs were started by Bath-based Grenville Jones 12 years ago and there are now 19 across the South West of England with over 800 members ‘Singing in the Afternoon’. There are no auditions to join and members of the Thornbury Good Afternoon Choir come from in and around the area, they meet every Thursday afternoon from 1pm-3pm at the Turnberries Community Centre. Everyone is welcome to come along and meet Brendan and the members of the choir. The special guests for the concert will be The Thornbury Ukeaholics. After attending weekly lessons, the members wanted to continue so retired to the local pub to continue playing. They still meet every week for a lively practice session and the addictive nature of the ukulele led to the name. This is a FREE ADMISSION concert with a retiring collection for JIGSAW Thornbury, doors opening at 7.00pm. Brendan Casey said; “It is going to be a great night of music and of course this will be the first time that the Thornbury Good Afternoon Choir have performed at a public concert in over two years. We are absolutely delighted to be back singing again!” ENDS Picture shows : The Thornbury Ukeaholics. Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. PRESS RELEASE Tuesday 8 February 2022 Frome’s popular Good Afternoon Choir will present their first concert of the year at Holy Trinity Church on Saturday March 5. The choir is led by Matt Finch with over 70 enthusiastic members who are busy preparing their programme for the concert which will support the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance, a charity chosen by the members of the choir. The Good Afternoon Choirs were started by Bath-based Grenville Jones 12 years ago and there are now 19 across the South West of England with over 800 members ‘Singing in the Afternoon’. There are no auditions to join and members of the Frome Good Afternoon Choir come from in and around the town, they meet every Monday afternoon from 2pm-4pm at Holy Trinity Church. Everyone is welcome to come along and meet Matt and the members of the choir. The special guest for the concert will be baritone Brendan Casey who performed in leading musical theatre groups in New Zealand before moving to England. He combines being an in-demand soloist with also leading the Thornbury Good Afternoon Choir every Thursday. Tickets priced £10 are on sale from members of Frome Good Afternoon Choir or by calling 01761 472468 – they will also be available on the door on the night of the concert. Matt Finch said; “It is going to be a great night of music and of course this will be the first time that the Frome Good Afternoon Choir have performed at a public concert in over two years. We are absolutely delighted to be back singing again!” ENDS Picture shows : We love to sing… the Frome Good Afternoon Choir who meet every Monday from 2pm-4pm at Holy Trinity Church, Frome. Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. |