Two acapella choirs are looking for new members and are offering the chance to sing at a special fundraising event on Saturday September 24 at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield.
Jenny Goodman, musical director of Huddersfield-based Far Cry Acapella and Holmfirth-based Amazing Acapella, said: “We are currently looking for singers who might want to join one of our groups so this is a great opportunity to come and hear what we sound like. Or why not come to some of our open sessions in September and join in on the 24th?
“Our repertoire is varied, anything from Moon River to a rousing Luddite anthem, Georgian lullabies, African work songs and Christmas folk carols.”
There are opportunities to practice with either choir until the end of the month and join in a special fundraising event, Sing for Water, organised by Slaithwaite-based musical director Gill Bond.
“We love taking part in Sing for Water. The date is fixed on our calendar every year because it’s a chance to get together with other choirs, have a communal sing and listen to each other’s songs,” said Jenny.
Dozens of singers from local choirs across Huddersfield will join together in celebration for Sing for Water, which takes place in the courtyard of the Lawrence Batley Theatre on Queen Street from 11am to 1pm, singing songs from across the world.
Jenny is a founder member of The Natural Voice Network and she teaches entirely by ear – so it is not essential to read music to join.
To be a member of Far Cry you must be able to hold your part in a small group and be committed to working hard to create a great sound for performance.
But, throughout this month, sessions are open to all to get a feel for what the group sounds like. Amazing Acapella is open to all with no previous experience needed.
Far Cry’s remaining September sessions, which are every Thursday 7.30pm-9.30pm at the Lawrence Batley Theatre, will combine new material and some existing Far Cry songs – especially focused on songs for Sing for Water.
There will also be a session for potential new members from 2.30pm-4.30pm on Saturday September 24 at the LBT.
Amazing Acapella meets every Friday morning upstairs in the gallery of the Parish Church in Holmfirth from 10am to 12 noon and is always open to new members.
When Sing for Water first started its dream was to raise £1,000. Over the last 15 years the combined efforts of hundreds of individuals and choirs from across the UK has turned that into over £1 million for clean water projects in Burkina Faso, Malawi, Ghana, India, Timor-Leste, Ethiopia and Rwanda.”
Co-founder Helen Chadwick said: “It’s wonderful that so many choirs, festivals and individuals are now involved in Sing for Water.”
For more information about singing with one of Jenny’s groups contact her on singing.jennyg@googlemail.com
