A CHOIR is finding its voice again as it is set to perform one of its first concerts since the prolonged break due to the Covid pandemic.
Pilkington Choir have relished getting back to meeting every week for rehearsals and are inviting people to come along and get involved.
The choir’s origins date back to 1956, when a group of men from Pilkington Glass Home Sales and other departments, assembled to rehearse, becoming a mixed voice choir the following year.
Today it is a group of around 30 people who sing for pleasure.
Those wanting to join do not have to audition or be able to sight read music, and support and training can be given.
“When Covid came along we just shut down and we decided to do Zoom to keep things together as a community,” said promotions committee member Jenny Southward.
“It was one of the best things we did, with a group of us every Tuesday doing a Zoom.
“It was a bit strange, you could only hear yourself sing.”
After getting through the difficulties of the pandemic, the group had to find and settle into a new base, moving from Ruskin Drive to the Willowbrook Living Well building on Borough Road.
“We did lose some members due to ill health,” said Jenny.
“When we started going back, we hadn’t got a venue and we were still looking, and our MD plays the organ at St Teresa’s Church in Devon Street, and we managed to some rehearsing there for a while before we got Willowbrook.
“It is excellent, a good venue and we like to be there, we’re hoping to hoping to do a function there at some time. It is good for our members and to get to, and we meet every Tuesday.”
The choir is hoping to revive its concert performances and be singing in front of audiences after the enforced break.
“We lost St Peter and St Paul’s Church, and some of our funeral venues, we sing at funerals and weddings,” added Jenny.
“We are a wonderful friendly group with a really varied repertoire of music. We just want people to join us and sing, and enjoy the music, and get people back into the community.”
The choir is set to perform ‘Songs to Lift Our Spirits’ at Holy Cross Church on Corporation Street, along with 27th St Helens Brownies on Tuesday, June 28 at 7.15pm. This will include a dedication to Ukraine, with a poem and three specially chosen pieces.
Tickets for the concert at Holy Cross are £5 and available from the parish office on 01744 22077, or pay at the door.
See pilkingtonchoir.org.uk for more about the choir.
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