1. MAY: BRAZIL COMES TO THE CHOIR WITH NO NAME!
We spent some fun-filled rehearsals learning Portuguese songs and how to dance the samba before singing at City Hall! One of the aims of the exchange, organised by our friends at Streetwise Opera, is to start to build an international network where people can share knowledge and good practice on how the arts can improve the lives of homeless people. Read more about how ‘we started the week with a handshake and we ended with an embrace' here.
2. JUNE: LONDON’S BIG SUMMER GIG
St James's Piccadilly was packed out in June for our Big Summer Gig! We filled the stage with both our North and South London choirs as they sung together. Arthur, one of our North London said ‘Everybody - the audience and all of us (the performers, volunteers & staff) left on a high - which is what it's all about......!!!" He wrote a full review which you can read here.
3. JULY: BIRMINGHAM’S SUMMER SPECTACULAR
Birmingham’s annual gig pulled out all the stops this year as they premiered their first self-penned song ‘Lost & Found,’ to a buzzing crowd.
Choir member Andy said ‘This is such a fantastic event to be part of. To be able to be on stage in front of hundreds of paying people singing our hearts out, is such a magical experience. This is what I feel as a member of the CWNN.’ You can read more about the gig from Andy here.
4. AUGUST: LIVERPOOL’S BANDSTAND FESTIVAL
With gig after gig throughout the summer our Liverpool choir got to top them all off with a special performance at The Bandstand Festival in August. One of our choir directors Mersey Wylie sang on the same line up as the choir and they all shared a picnic in the Sefton Park grounds too – the perfect way to celebrate a summer full of gigs!
5. ALL OUR FUNDRAISERS HAVE BLOWN US AWAY!
We have had a summer jam-packed full of amazing volunteers, fan club members and even people we are yet to meet supporting the Choir with No Name! A huge thank you from us all at the choir for your fantastic efforts across the country.
The Liverpool team took on the 10km challenge and with members, volunteers and staff taking part it was a huge achievement to many and a wonderful bonding experience. Birmingham’s pianist Mark ran 26.2 miles in the Liverpool Marathon for the choir, whilst Pete, Liz, Helen, Laura and Lizzie ran the fabulous looking Colour Run. Emma and Richard asked for donations rather than wedding gifts in a bid to raise money for Birmingham - we would love to be able to contact this wonderful and generous couple if you know who they are! London fundraisers were also working hard with Steph, Fra and Mark running the Edinburgh Marathon and there were many more, so thank you, thank you, thank you!
If you want to support any of these brilliant people you can find their donation pages here: Liverpool Spring 10km, Mark Fiecas, Emma and Richard’s wedding, Fra, Steph & Mark’s Marathon, Birmingham’s Colour Run.