In the footsteps of giants. Brenda

In the footsteps of

Communitas Choir visits Abbey Road to record track for CD, writes Brenda Hodgson

Twenty one members of the Communitas choir travelled to London by train in January to record in Studio 2 at Abbey Road – the studio where the Beatles recorded many of their albums.

The Communitas choir has been part of Converge for over 10 years. Recently, to celebrate this they launched a CD with songs sung by the choir over the previous year.

The choir was recording verses of a song which is due to be released later this year, with Ed and Esther singing solo and together for the rest of the song.

There were photos of famous singers everywhere, including one of Amy Winehouse with Tony Bennett in the foyer (they recorded there together).

Downstairs in the dining room there were photos of many different artists including the Beatles and Ed Sheeran.

As we stood on the steps of Abbey Road for a photo before we returned home, Chris Bartram,

If there’s one thing all of us know, there’s a staggering amount of talent just waiting to be tapped into at Converge.

Now, thanks to new charity Emerging Voices and the newly set up Converge Record Label, musicians from Converge and the local community are harnessing expertise and resources atYork St John University.

Emerging Voices puts music on the menu for mental health

EmergingVoices links its musicians to music and music production students at the university.

Such co-production benefits both parties: students increase employability skills while building bridges in the community, and the university becomes more of an inclusive community resource.

choir leader, had everyone singing the Beatles song Help.

The famous Abbey Road zebra crossing featured in many photographs of course, the drivers around this area must be very patient. It was a lovely day, and for once the trains ran on time. Everyone is looking forward to hearing the final version of the recording.

Regular showcase performances on the campus create space for musicians to reach out and entertain the wider audiences.

Emerging Voices was set up in response to the talent that music coordinator Lucy Coleman and director Nick Rowe were seeing emerge from Converge. In October 2019, Lucy, a classically trained singer and founder of Emerging Voices, trustee and musician Laurie Farnell and Communitas Choir member and mentor Paul Mountain braved the High Sheriff’s Dragons’ Den at Rudding Hall, Harrogate.

They put in a bid for funding from the Two Ridings fund. The trio were delighted when their pitch netted them one of the highest shares of the total sum on offer on the night.

Thanks to the Dragons’ donation, Emerging Voices recently set up a community choir in Harrogate and recruited community choir leader, Wayne Dobson. They also funded assistant choir leader, Esther Griffith, who tutors Songwriting at Converge and who will now work

the Beatles

with individual choir members at York on their singing and songwriting. Emerging Voices were also able to fund the 40-strong York choir to travel to London to record a track at the legendary Abbey Road studios (see above).

Music participation opens doors, changes lives and bring people together for positive outcomes.

Emerging Voices is committed to continue to mentor, showcase, produce and publicise the diverse and original work and talent of its musicians.

In an informal survey at Converge, a lecture theatre full of participants were asked what had most helped their mental wellbeing. Music was one of the most popular three answers.

Lucy Coleman points to a wealth of research that evidences the benefits of music participation to mental health and wellbeing. Trustee Laura Jones is a local piano and music teacher and performer.

Trustees Dr Michael Bonshor, music psychologist lecturer and researcher at the University of Sheffield, and Catherine Birch, Community Music and Education lecturer and researcher at York St John, have both published academic research on the topic.

All Emerging Voices trustees are passionate about music and its practical application to build community.

Joanne Platt

“I don’t sing because I’m happy. I’m happy because I sing

William James