‘Life changing’ choir to perform at St Edward’s
Monday 3rd December, 7pm, open to the public, free admission
A unique carol concert performed by sign language choir, Youth Handy Voices, including pupils from St Edward’s School will take place at 7pm on Monday 3rd December. The programme will feature festive favourites such as Silent Night and hit songs including This is me from The Greatest Showman.
Some of the performers will sing the carols whilst the choir sign them in British Sign Language, offering a visual expression of the lyrics which can be very emotive. The community project brings together young people with different abilities from different backgrounds to learn from each other, make music and have fun. The young members of Youth Handy Voices will be joined for the performance by the adult choir – Handy Voices. The experience has been rewarding and even life changing for those involved.
Of their recent participation in a major concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London for the Youth Proms (7th November), Teddies pupils Bunny Lytle and Val Purik said, ‘Maybe we did not change the world that night but certainly a lot changed for most of us in the choir. I have met a completely new group of people that I would never have met if I hadn’t signed up to take part. Being one team with such beautiful people helps me to understand the world a little better – it has been a very emotional experience.’
Choir member Shakeel, from South Oxford, feels his experience with the choir has been ‘life changing’, helping him with interactions and even a clear career path that he wants to follow.
The sign language choir is just one of a range of community partnerships undertaken by pupils at St Edward’s – elsewhere, pupils give one-to-one support at the Endeavour Academy, enjoy crafts sessions with pupils at Northern House, offer sports coaching with Wolvercote Primary, perform concerts at the Lady Nuffield Residential Home, and work with adults with autism and learning disabilities at Farmability, a co-farmers programme.
‘One of the huge advantages of being a city school is that we can be part of our local community and really get involved ….’, said Paula Diaz Rogado, Head of Community Service.
For more details, contact Tracy van der Heiden, details above and below.
| Will Griffiths
Media Manager St Edward’s School Woodstock Road Oxford OX2 7NN Tel: 01865 319398 |
Handy Voices Signing Choir 