The York Community Choir Festival, held at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre, is on course for a record year of ticket sales, according to its chair Graham Mitchell.
The Press went along to the soundcheck ahead of this afternoon’s matinee performance (March 8) by four choirs, with five more due to take the stage in the 90-year-old theatre this evening.
Graham Mitchell, chair of the York Community Choir Festival, backstage at Joseph Rowntree Theatre (Image: Kevin Glenton) Graham said: “All of the choirs get a good soundcheck from our stage manager and then the lighting check is proving to be quite important too.
“Last night we had a bit of a disco scene on stage with choirs moving around the stage and dancing – some had sparkling outfits.”
The chair said it’s good that many of the performers – chosen from a 25-mile radius of York for a festival which is regularly over subscribed – get the opportunity to perform in a theatrical setting.
The festival includes 75 people from Huntington School, and 50 people from schools across the Excel Learning Trust Academy.
Choirs of all sizes and types will take to the stage, with their repertoire covering everything from pop classics and show tunes, to blues, jazz, world music, classical, and religious.
Nicola Betts, who leads three choirs today from among the more than 1,250 singers attending the festival said each act will choose around 20 numbers from their repertoire and begin rehearsals in the new year, continuing right through to the start of the March festival.
On stage this afternoon before the 2.30pm doors and going through their soundcheck were York Celebration Singers.
Paul Blenkiron, a member of the choir and also part of the compering committee, said: “There are 38 choirs taking part and the festival is really going strong.
“We’ve raised over £7,000 this year and all the money gets put back into the upkeep of the theatre.
“The choirs love it, for the chance to perform in front of your peers, who know what it’s like, and to get the validation and sense of community spirit.
“We’re also proud of the fact that its all put together by volunteers, from the sound desk through to the committee.”
On the 90th anniversary of the theatre – and in the centenary year commemorating the passing of the man after who it is named, Graham Mitchell left his parting word to the legacy of Seebohm Rowntree – who Graham said would have welcomed the thought of the York Community Choir Festival taking place in the Joseph Rowntree Theatre – “a place made to be fit for people to enjoy life.”
