Fenscene | Community Family Values CELEBRATING THE TENTH ANNIVERSARY OF WITCHFORD VOICES… T
en years ago Naomi D’Cunha and Keith Gallois were busy with one of
the Witchford Amateur Dramatic Society’s Christmas shows when they had the bright idea to set up a community choir. “We expected a dozen or so people that might want to be involved - oh, how wrong we were,” Keith shares. “That first night, at Witchford Baptist Church, we set out about a dozen chairs, and then waited nervously to see if anyone would walk through the door,” he recalls. “They did, well over 40 of them,
some of which we knew, others we recognised from being in the village, and some complete strangers. “By week three, we had to close the membership due to lack of space at the rehearsal venue. We had a choir.”
NO AUDITIONS
The management team decided before they started that the choir would be non-auditioned, with the only entry requirement, a willingness to try your best and fit in with the rest of the team. “The choir has never been about talent, instead choosing to focus on community,” Keith explains.
“Saying that, it is lovely to see that a number of our members are, as a result of being in the choir, also now getting involved in amateur theatre, as well as singing in various Cambridgeshire bands.” Keith says: “We have been lucky
to have been blessed with some singers that wouldn’t look out of place on the West End stage.
FIRST DECADE
“As for those that can’t sing so well or maybe are nervous and sing quietly, they are equally as welcome and are part of our rich tapestry of voices.”
Above: The founding choir management line up included Joe Robbins, Naomi D’Cunha, Keith Gallois, and Helen Williamson.
Right: Although highly disciplined on stage, Voices take a more relaxed approach at rehearsals.
Below: Witchford Voices made a popular return visit to the Llangollen Interantional Festival of Music and Dance this summer.
Studies show that choral singing improves our mood, with a decrease in stress, depression and anxiety. Singing in a group offers us a sense of belonging to something bigger than ourselves. Over its first decade, the choir has consistently retained 70 and 80 people in the choir. Geographically, whilst called Witchford Voices, only about 50% of the people live in the village, with members coming from Ely, surrounding villages, and as far away as Cambridge.
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