The Swindon Good Afternoon Choir will hold its first rehearsal at Freshbrook Church on Thursday, 26 August.
Mr Jones conducting a performance
There will be no auditions and all are welcome to come along and meet conductor John Sandford, and the choir will meet every Thursday afterwards.
Swindon's newest choir will join 19 Good Afternoon Choirs across the region founded by choir advocate Grenville Jones, whose past work includes starting the Golden Oldies community singing organisation.
Mr Jones said: “It’s been such a hard time for the members of our choirs who have desperately missed the singing and social friendships, but at last, we can look forward to being together again, singing, smiling and planning concerts which will support many local organisations and charities.
“We introduced Zoom rehearsals as well as popular YouTube sofa singing during 2020/2021, but it’s just wonderful to be back ‘live’ again.”
As the Government lifts Lockdown from next Monday July 19 the relaxation on indoor groups gives a green light to singing and choirs across the UK.
Recognised as one of the leaders in choral singing, Bath-based, Grenville Jones will be restarting and launching a number of new choirs across the West of England in the weeks ahead.
He said: “We certainly have not been idle during these last few months and plans are in place. My popular Good Afternoon Choirs in Devizes, Wells, Keynsham and Bath as well as South Gloucestershire, Frome, Yeovil, Bristol, Thornbury, North Somerset and Yate and Chipping Sodbury were all forced to stop.
"They will all restart with the addition of nine new Good Afternoon Choirs for folks in Cheltenham, Swindon, Cirencester and Stroud, Salisbury, Taunton, Cheddar Valley, Truro and Falmouth."
There will be no charge to attend the first rehearsal of the Swindon Good Afternoon Choir, and afterwards rehearsals will be in four terms of 10 weeks with members paying a fee per term which covers all room and piano hire, music, administration and musicians' fees.
Conductor John Sandford holds a Certificate of Teaching from the Royal School of Music, specialising in voice training, and loves to work with individuals and groups to improve their singing technique and vocal health.
He is also a member of the Association of British Choral Directors and has taken part in workshops led by leading composers such as John Rutter, Eric Whitacre and Bob Chilcott.
The Good Afternoon Choirs support local charities, chosen by members.
More information is available at [email protected] and on 01761 472468.
Full details of the Good Afternoon Choirs their venues and schedules, can be found at www.goodafternoonchoir.org
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