Creative Industries


Feature


Discovering a sense of community spirit


By Town Hall Symphony Hall


participation and learning, Town Hall Symphony Hall (THSH) Birmingham provides a range of programmes that bring individuals and groups together with creative, musical practitioners to explore and develop their abilities. While the two venues are world-


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renowned for performances by star musicians, international orchestras and headlining comedians – programming nearly 800 concerts and events each year – much of THSH’s work takes place at a much


ith a mission to inspire a love of live music, through performance,


smaller scale, connecting with young people and communities across the city, helping to tell their musical stories. These might be a first taste of


music for toddlers at a Musical Picnic or maybe a community choir enjoying the thrill of performing on one of the world's finest stages as part of Community Spirit, a free project run by THSH in partnership with Associate Artists Black Voices. Drawing inspiration from that


rich tradition, Black Voices has developed a unique repertoire and arrangement of spirituals, traditional African, Caribbean and


‘Community Spirit brings together the best homegrown choirs to sing, share choral music repertoire and perform as a collective’


English folk songs, jazz, gospel, pop and reggae as well as a fusion of contemporary and classical styles that has earned them worldwide recognition as a performance and teaching company. Carol Pemberton MBE said:


“Working in partnership with THSH, Black Voices launched Community Spirit in 2009. The project began in Town Hall, and due to its growing popularity, moved to Symphony Hall. Twelve to 14 choirs participate annually, bringing over 300-500 voices together.” Community Spirit brings


together the best homegrown choirs to sing, share choral music repertoire and perform as a collective in a large-scale concert on Symphony Hall’s stage. For


example, Birmingham Law Society – representing more than 5,000 legal professionals across Birmingham and the Great Midlands – took part in last year’s Community Spirt. Eileen Schofield, director of Birmingham Law Society and founder of the BLS Choir, said: “The choir, which was set up in 2018 to mark the 200 year anniversary of Birmingham Law Society, is delighted to be joining choirs across the region singing at the Community Spirit event this year. It’s a special event and we feel privileged to be part of the 2020 celebrations. The choir sang at the Royal Albert Hall in 2019 as part of British Police Symphony Orchestra Concert and, although that was amazing, I have a strong


March 2020 CHAMBERLINK 69


Symphony Hall is undergoing a period of regeneration


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