Singers from across Cumbria are preparing for an event to celebrate the county’s choirs.
Carlisle’s award-winning Community Choir is holding its second Summer Sing Day, following the success from its first event held last summer.
The diverse and inclusive event is to be held on June 15 in the conference centre at the Keswick Pencil Factory starting at 10am until 4pm.
The event has been made possible through the sponsorship of the Hadfield Trust, a trust that supports community projects that meet the needs of the Cumbrian community and make a real difference to the quality of life of those living in the county.
Carlisle Community Choir has engaged Bruce Ncube, a leading Zimbabwean musician, to lead the singing day.
He has over 15 years of experience touring and travelling the UK teaching and performing in some of the world’s biggest platforms such as WOMAD, the African Drum Village, Edinburgh International Festival and the World Music Workshop Festival.
Bruce specialises in teaching traditional songs from his native country reminiscent of long ago when people would gather around a fire in the evenings after working in the fields to start singing and weaving the harmonies of Africa folk-lore songs.
The day will include performances from some of the singing groups in attendance.
Choirs taking part will be Carlisle Community Choir, West Cumbria’s Sing Owt, Wild Chorus, a new performance choir in the Lake District, Eden Wild Goose Choir from Wetheral, Giocoso from Wigton, and individual choir members from Zing, Carlisle’s pop choir, and across the county together with singers from Lancaster.
Lindas Howard, chair of Carlisle Community Choir, said: “Cumbria is so rich in choirs where people gather to sing and enjoy music and many are like us, they do not require auditions or people to read music. We just love to sing and enjoy all the benefits it brings, good mental health and companionship!
“We are thrilled to be hosting another summer sing event to draw all our choirs together and have lots of fun. It was so successful last year and we are so grateful for the support of the Hadfield Trust and Bruce Ncube in helping us to hold our second event.”
There is still time for choirs and individuals to join the event on June 15. Email carlislecommunitychoir@hotmail.com to secure a place. Anyone can join in and spaces are just £5 per person.
