Rock classics a hit with the choirs for everyone

Joining a choir used to mean singing madrigals in a draughty church hall, but how times have changed.

Now a new style of pop choir is taking village halls by storm. Members of a choir these days are more likely to rattle out the chorus of Coldplay’s Viva La Vida than any type of classical oratorio.

As a new ITV documentary will show tomorrow night, Rock Choirs are a community phenomenon sweeping the amateur stage. The three-part series, The Choir That Rocks follows the fortunes of two Yorkshire choir leaders as they recruit new members to join their pop choirs across the region.

Rock Choir leader Nic Slack, who launched Rock Choirs in Leeds, Selby and Wakefield five months ago, says: “I think it’s a complete polar opposite of what people expect from a choir.

“Singing in a choir used to be associated with the church and with choral-based music, which was quite stuffy. We are very much the opposite of that. We sing upbeat music such as gospel, rock and Motown. People come along for the social occasion as much as to sing.”

Filmed over five months, the cameras follow Nic, a former professional keyboard player, and fellow Rock Choir leader Stef Conner as they establish their Yorkshire pop choirs.

Rock Choir is now the most popular in the UK with more than 8,000 members in 90 towns across the country. The choir is also launching in Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield and Dewsbury this month. Established in 2005 by Caroline Redman Lusher, Rock Choir is not a franchise but a family-led organisation. Rock Choir captured the attention of record company Universal in 2009 when “The People’s Choir’ were offered their own four-album record deal.

Meanwhile, another of the region’s fastest growing contemporary choirs, Rock Up, is in the final rehearsals for a huge concert this weekend.

The 300-strong combined Rock Up choir is embarking on its biggest event yet when all four choirs come together for a musical extravaganza at the Yorkshire Event Centre on Saturday and Sunday in aid of children’s cancer charity, Candlelighters.

The concert follows last year’s sell-out event at the Royal Hall in Harrogate and organisers hope this year’s event will be just as popular. The choir has also just finished performing at Cancer Research UK Race for Life events throughout Yorkshire.

What all these choirs have in common is that they welcome everyone.

An inability to sing in tune is no barrier to taking part. There is no audition, no requirement to read music and no need for prior singing experience.

Founder of Rock Up choir, professional soprano, Rhiannon Gayle, says she still can’t believe how popular the all-encompassing choirs have become.

It’s just two years since she advertised for members to join a new type of choir starting in Harrogate.

She had an inkling that there would be interest in a rock and gospel choir, but was stunned by the number of people who turned up.

“It was amazing because I’d sent a few texts and I think I took out one advert, and on the first night we had 84 people walk through the door. It’s just grown and grown. Every day we get people asking to join. It’s lovely.”

There are now Rock Up and Sing choirs in Harrogate and Skipton, plus a ladies-only choir called Rock Up and Swing which sings music from the 40s and 50s, and a Rock Up and Sing Choir Just for Girls, which meets at Harrogate High School. “When one choir becomes too big I start another one but there’s going to be a limit to that because there’s only one of me,” says Rhiannon. “Though I have got another conductor that I’m hoping to use to start a men’s only Rock Up and Sing Choir.”

Though her background is in classical music, having trained at the Royal Academy of Music before spending 18 years as a professional soprano in oratorio and recitals, Rhiannon can see why classical music is not to everyone’s taste.

“The trouble with traditional choirs, and I’ve sung as a soloist in traditional choirs all my life, is that they want music readers and people to audition and they do a certain type of music that I personally think is stunning and wonderful, but not everybody wants that.

“This came about because people were saying to me they wanted a different kind of choir.

“People want to sing the stuff that they’re singing in the car and in the shower and they want to do it together.”

Rock Up sings a mixture of pop, rock, gospel and swing, including songs by Coldplay, U2, Bill Withers and Queen, as well as African-inspired music with songs such as Baba Yetu.

“We don’t just do pop. We do a lot of African-style music, but the style is more up-beat and more fun. It works well with audiences,” says Rhiannon.

The ethos of the choir is that it is open to everyone, no matter your talent or your age. There are singers aged from 14 to 74.

“Rock up and Sing does what it says on the packet – anyone can come and no-one has to audition or be able to read music,” explains choir member Jane Finnegan.

“The choir attracts people from all walks of life and all ages and is unique in boasting many family groups who come to sing together.

“Many teenagers come to sing with their parents. How many teenagers sit down to eat with their parents these days? In our choir they come and sing together! This is very unusual for choirs.”

At a recent rehearsal in Harrogate, the families were out in force, including one family of three generations.

Barbara Brown, 47, arrived with her daughter, Sorrel, 16 and her mother Celia Hall, 74.

“I’m bass, Sorrel is a soprano and Barbara is alto,” says Celia. “So we have a three-part harmony going. It’s a great stress buster.

“It’s really nice to have something in common that we can all do regardless of age.”

Barbara adds: “It’s a brilliant choir, Rhiannon is very ambitious. It’s a challenge but it’s really fun. The choir has energy of its own. The nights that you don’t feel like coming to choir are the nights that you really should come because you leave feeling so much better.”

Phil Ellis, 56, arrives with his son, Alex, 24. He says: “I always remember reading that you cannot be miserable and sing. Halfway through the night you realize you have this big smile on your face.”

And contemporary pop choirs are not only lifting members’ spirits; they are helping to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

Having donated to Children in Need, Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life and Saint Michael’s Hospice, Rock Up is now performing in aid of Yorkshire children’s cancer charity Candlelighters.

Rock Choir meanwhile, is singing in aid of the charities, Refuge and Missing People.

Simply Rock Up and Sing is on Saturday, June 18, at 7.30pm and Sunday, June 19, at 2.30pm at the Yorkshire Event Centre. Tickets cost £18 (£14 concessions). Children under six are free and family and group discounts are available. For tickets call 07722 447342 or visit www.rockupandsing.com.

The first episode of The Choir That Rocks is on ITV1 at 9pm tomorrow www.rockchoir.com

WHY SINGING’S A NATURAL HIGH

People who sing in a choir have long sung its praises and now there is scientific evidence to back this up.

Professor Graham Welch, who has been researching the benefits of singing for more than 30 years, and is professor of music education at the Institute of Education, London, says: “In terms of physical and mental health we know that singing improves mood. You get a positive sense out of singing. It releases endorphins and reduces stress. Singing also improves the immune system.” Researchers also found that singing can improve your cardiovascular activity.