PRESS RELEASE - Choirs are back!

​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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