Hands & Voices Choir receives big funding boost (From York Press)

Hands & Voices Choir receives big funding boost

2:38pm Friday 19th March 2010 in

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YORK’S award-winning Hands & Voices Choir is to receive funding from the Rotary Club of York Vikings to develop its apprentice programme for members with learning difficulties and disabilities.

They will be trained in skills that will let them assist on a singing and signing workshop or an accessible music technology workshop in schools.

“It’s wonderful that we can strengthen our apprentice programme so more disabled people can join the local workforce, achieve their potential and demonstrate best practice, as well as providing a positive model of disability for everyone to see,” says Rose Kent, general manager of Accessible Arts & Media, the York charity that runs Hands & Voices.

Peter Acaster, from the Rotary Club, is equally enthusiastic.

“To see the happy, smiling faces of the choir members during rehearsals, in preparation for their forthcoming workshops, showed the tremendous value of this project,” he says. “We’re proud to support Hands & Voices and wish the choir much success with their training programme.”

Since January, the 50-strong choir has been engaged as the first community ensemble in residence at York St John University, where the members have been joined by up to 20 students from the Music in the Community course, swelling the numbers to 70 singers and signers.

As part of their involvement, Hands & Voices apprentices have led a singing and signing workshop, building up to a 7.30pm concert in the College Chapel on Wednesday (March 24), when the choir will perform alongside the University Gospel Choir and Big Band.

Chris Bartram, music in the community lecturer and artistic director for Hands & Voices, is delighted to welcome the first singing and signing choir to York St John.

“We look forward to an exciting time during the choir’s stay with us. This partnership enables the university to continue its strong tradition of integrating students with those in the wider community, an opportunity invaluable to them,” he says.