Rock Choir, the UK’s largest popular contemporary choir, stage first live professional choir concert since pandemic began last year!
The concert was part of a virtual weekend fundraiser for Comic Relief held last weekend and has raised £40,000…SO FAR!
‘The money raised by amazing fundraisers like the team at Rock Choir will help some of the most vulnerable people in the UK and around the world find safety and support – and turn their lives around. We’re so grateful to Rock Choir and can’t thank them enough for their support’ – ALI STYLES, COMIC RELIEF
The team behind Rock Choir, the most popular contemporary choir in the UK, is delighted to announce that they have so far raised £40,000 for Comic Relief. For the first time in the history of Rock Choir the team has delivered a LIVE virtual weekend festival, packed full of over 24 hours of interactive content all delivered by the Rock Choir Team using technology skills they developed during lockdown to deliver their online choir sessions.
The event involved different Rock Choir Leaders from across England, Scotland and Wales going live at different times over the weekend and handing over the broadcast to each other in shifts, culminating in the final live concert, professionally produced and directed at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre featuring a live band.
It’s thought to be the first time a professional contemporary choir has sung together in the form of a live concert in a music venue since the pandemic began. The concert took place in line with strict government guidelines but allowed the Rock Choir Leaders to deliver an emotional and powerful performance. The concert took place in an empty auditorium but was streamed live to thousands of households across the globe as families watched from the comfort of their own homes.
Rock Choir is the largest contemporary choir in the world with over 32,000 Members in the UK. All Members and the general public were invited to purchase tickets and join in with the live interactive virtual festival which will see all profits raised going to Comic Relief. Amongst other activities led by the team, the audience was treated to a live singing and stage confidence workshop hosted by actor and musical theatre star Gary Wilmot MBE and his wife Sara followed by an exercise work-out with Mr Motivator and a children’s session with BBC Cbeebies star Katy Ashworth! Dancing, cooking, cocktail-making and karaoke was also crammed in leading to the live streamed concert finale on the Sunday evening.
Caroline Redman Lusher, Creator and Creative Director of Rock Choir comments:
“It was an emotional reunion for both the Rock Choir Leaders and the HQ team as they met at the Birmingham Rep to perform a live streamed concert which created the finale to our huge Rock Choir Comic Relief Weekend. I am so proud of my entire team for planning and executing the weekend – it was a huge success and so far, we have raised 40k for Comic Relief and this total is still rising!
A year ago, we wouldn’t have had the knowledge or the technical skills to deliver a concert like this! Lockdown forced us to deliver Rock Choir online, but we quickly adapted and mastered the technology which in turn has opened up a new and exciting world of opportunities for us. However, we are all desperate to return to physical rehearsals and see our precious Rockies again! Nothing can compare with the power and emotions we feel when we sing together in a room as one.”
Ali Styles, Relationship Fundraising Manager for Comic Relief comments:
“The money raised by amazing fundraisers like the team at Rock Choir will help some of the most vulnerable people in the UK and around the world find safety and support – and turn their lives around. We’re so grateful to Rock Choir and can’t thank them enough for their support”
You can still donate to the Rock Choir Comic Relief Fundraiser by donating here – www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rockchoirweekend
All profits from the event go to Red Nose Day!
In support of Comic Relief, operating name of Charity Projects, a registered charity 326568 (England/Wales) and SCO39730 (Scotland).
