RAPS On Song in Concert for All Ages
More than 300 people attended an “incredible” singing session and concert in Broadstairs last week which included the launch of new song Let There Be Music.
The event, held at Queen’s Road Baptist Church, was the second Sing From The Heart intergenerational music project led by east Kent charity Music4Wellbeing and headed by Therapeutic Arts Practitioner Charlie Hannah.
The song is a composition performed by members of Music4Wellbeing in partnership with Ramsgate Arts Primary School, the Gap Project and Inspiration Collective. M4W’s singing groups include the Seaside Singers Dementia Singing Group from Margate and the WEB Young Adults with additional needs singing group from the Gap Project at Queens Road Baptist Church.
The event follows the debut last year when a single, music video, and mini-documentary, was created for the first ‘Sing from the Heart’ project.
Charlie, from Cliftonville, said: “It was incredible, even better than last year. I thought we had peaked last year (with 200 participants) but there were more than 300 people there.
“We did the new, original song as well as some classics and last year’s song.”
The session included a live band and filming of the music video for Let There Be Music, which will be released with the single in February/March.
Charlie said: “People love the intergenerational and mixed ability aspect, it’s joyous.”
The piecing together of the music is a mammoth task with initial stages involving all the groups discussing ideas for the new music until a piece is put together. Each group then learns the new song and their parts.
This year Hughie Gavin, from Margate’s Social Singing Choir, arranged all the harmonies. The various singing groups and musicians then recorded their parts, which were synchronised for the final piece.
The event last week then brought everyone together, spanning people aged 10 to 90, to perform the song in its entirety.
Charlie said: “It is a huge project but it’s so worthwhile. We get a lot from the intergenerational aspect and there is the accomplishment of doing this together.
“It was amazing how big it sounded, how everyone just sang louder!”
The video and single release date will be announced nearer to the launch and a special screening party will be held.
Charlie says the plan to create a new song with the choirs annually.
*Report from Isle of Thanet News online*
