Press Release about Sing Weekend - appeared in Lancashire Evening Telegraph
Press release: Sing 2006 ! Saturday / Sunday 1 and 2 April

Everybody has a natural voice – learn how to sing with it

Blackburn People’s Choir, who have been invited to sing at this year’s Krokstrand Festival in Sweden, are hosting their fifth annual Sing Weekend at Darwen Library Theatre on Saturday and Sunday 1 and 2 April.

Mary Keith, musical director of Mere Singers from Shrewsbury, will lead the singing on Saturday. Mary is a member of the Natural Voice Practitioners Network. She says, “We believe that singing is our birthright. For thousands of years all over the world people have sung – to help work along, to get babies to sleep – without worrying about having a ‘good voice’ or ‘getting it right’. Many people see themselves as non-singers because of previous experiences of criticism and judgement, or even current jokes from family members. Many people are excluded from singing groups because they cannot read music, or because they are subject to an audition to ‘prove they can sing’. I am happy to support Blackburn People’s Choir in their ongoing campaign to give people the confidence to sing together and to sing to audiences.”

Choir secretary Ann Parker said, “This weekend is always a great experience and has brought us new recruits every year.”

The singing workshops are from 10.00 am to 4.30 pm on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 April at Darwen Library Theatre. Lesley Carson, musical director of the barbershop group Heartbeat Chorus, will lead the Sunday sessions. Single day sessions cost £30/£18 concession and both workshops cost £50/£35 concession. All workshop tickets include a free ticket for the Saturday evening concert featuring Blackburn People’s Choir and the Heartbreak Ensemble, a harmony singing group led by Lesley Carson. The singing sessions are open to men and women over 16. Tickets are available from Darwen Library Theatre box office on 01254 706006, or from King George’s Hall ticket shop on 01254 582582.

For more information on the Sing Weekend or Blackburn People’s Choir contact Ann Parker on 01254 260468.

On Thursday 26 January about 30 choir members attended the funeral of Moira Coggins to celebrate her life and the release from 20 years of suffering from Alzheimers. The requiem Mass was held in St Anne’s Church in Blackburn.