Virtual choir performance raises more than £500 for Rowans Hospice by bringing people together online

Dozens of choir members and keen singers feature on the latest virtual song created by Encore Choirs, led by North End resident Josh Robinson.

A video performance of the track Sing as One has been released, with hundreds raised for Rowans Hospice so far.

This is the second charity performance the group has pulled together during the pandemic, with their first song Let Light, Let Love raising funds for Age UK.

Josh said: ‘Sing as One is a song about the significance that music plays in all our lives, how music allows us to transcend all our differences and can connect us all.

‘With our own choir continuing online, we wanted to give everyone the opportunity to sing together virtually and to hear powerful music can be - even when singing from our own homes.

‘We had singers and musicians from all over the world including the USA, Sweden, Greece and people from across the UK and a range of ages.

‘This song has brought people together and allowed us to share a universal language.’

Rehearsal tracks were sent out for people to listen to their parts and the song, and then Josh led three online rehearsals where people could get a sense of how to communicate the song.

A group effort saw Joe Peall mixing and mastering the songs and Katherine Marshall from KDK Film South putting all the videos together.

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Josh hopes the track will continue to raise funds for the hospice, which is close to many of his members’ hearts.

He added: ‘Rowans Hospice is a local hospice to us, delivering the best care to those with life-limiting illnesses and supporting families and friends going through grieving.

‘Several of our members have close connections to the hospice with loved ones once being there and so we wanted to support this amazing charity in any way we could.

‘So far have raised more than £500 for the charity.’

To donate, visit gofund.me/98d2e990 or go to encorechoirs.co.uk for more information.

Encore Choirs is currently offering 50 per cent off its weekly online choir sessions on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 7.30pm to 8.30pm on Zoom.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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