CULCHETH Village Choir is struggling in the aftermath of the pandemic and is appealing for help.
Prior to Covid the choir was well attended, strong, vibrant and very active, normally putting on three concert performances a year, in addition to providing support at locally organised events.
However, like a lot of choirs, they have struggled since the pandemic and although availability of inoculations and the substantial reduction in infection risk has eased the situation, choirs are still closing at an alarming rate across the North West and indeed the rest of the UK. This is a very sad situation as singing has proven to be good for mental health and general well-being.
Unfortunately, Culcheth Village Community choir has not been immune from the pandemic fall out, and this along with other factors has left it struggling to maintain membership and financial viability.
Committee member Gill Mortimer said it had been a very difficult period as the choir had lost a very talented musical director, due to work relocation, and had struggled to find a comparable replacement.
“ At the moment we are just about holding on,” she said.
Even though numbers were depleted, remaining choir members still rallied round to sing at the vigil on the village green for Brianna Ghey at the request of her family.
As usual, the choir is taking a summer break from July 27 to September 7 when they will resume with a new musical director, Guy Pomfret.
He has been MD for a number of choirs during a long musical career and has been the choir’s firs accompanist for more than 10 years.
When the choir returns to weekly Thursday practice sessions 7:30 pm at Culcheth Library it will be running a four-week “how to sing” programme to recruit new members.
This is aimed mainly at people who say “Oh I can’t sing but would love to learn” but will also be of help to anyone out of practice or who may have lost confidence.
To help towards costs, members pay £5 a practice session but as an encouragement to join there is no charge for new members fortheir first practice session.
