Back in 2010, the Waterside  Forum, Park Community Centre, had the idea to jump on the (still current) trend to have a resident choir, although at the time we didn't think of it as much as having a choir, as perhaps just a way of learning to sing with confidence in a group.  12 months funding was obtained from a Lottery Grant with the "Cant Sing? Neither Can We!" project suddenly becoming a serious issue. The call went out to all singing /music teachers in the area, to see who would be prepared to take the residents tuning issues on, and who it was felt would suit the relaxed attitude that is  prevalent in the area.

Johanna Wolff was the clear runner at this time and although initially she was only tasked for 6 months, somehow here we are in 2013 and Jo was still here most Mondays stretching the Park Districts vocal muscles.

It seems like a short time, but so much has been achieved, the project became The Waterside Singers,  The Park Community Centre Resident choir, Our first performance was on behalf of Weymouth Town Bridge's 80th Birthday, (also our first outdoor gig!)  then  we raised the bar by several notches when we started singing The Led Zepplin classic "Stairway To Heaven" accompanying the Dorset Symphonia. The Waterside Singers have sung to many different groups of people, we have sung to the community, we have frozen our nether regions off in the depths of a cold winter at Greenhill, and sweltered it out during an equally hot summer whilst singing to the older population. And all through this Jo was there, encouraging us all to believe we could sing, showing us how to breathe how to smile and have confidence. I suspect  this also gave many of us the belief that we could learn a whole heap of new music when many of us joined in with the Coastal Voices Mass choir for the Olympic Celebration.

So it was a sad day for the Waterside Singers when due to family and work commitments Johanna found it was time to hang up  her Waterside tuning fork.  On Monday March 25 at her final session, singers old and new got together to perform  a medley of songs to her , and take part in her farewell party, where she was presented with gift tokens, flowers and a promise of a choir photo.

However, fear not, the Waterside Singers will still continue to sing albeit under "New Management" (so to speak), unfortunately Simon Cowell was a bit tied up  and couldnt commit (slacker), there was not enough men to make a boy band, so that ruled out Louis Walsh. But finally, we did find ourselves a new choir mistress in Anna Everleigh, who will  be taking up the baton  from Monday April 8 at 2.30 until 3.30 at the Park Community Centre.

So for all of you who always wanted to join but were a little unsure, now is THE IDEAL TIME to come along and join in. We will all be in the same boat, with a new choir mistress , who no doubt has new songs for us all to learn.  We are confident the choir will go from strength to strength.  So if you love to sing, then come along the cost is £2.00 per session but if you have any queries then ring the centre on 01305 839579 or come in between 10.00 to 12.00 Monday to Friday when the centre is manned.

Just remember the new time 2.30 until 3.30 every Monday from April 8 2013.

 

Altogether now 1, 2 , 3