A community choir that’s been transforming lives through music is marking its first birthday with a Christmas concert packed with festive fun and musical magic.
Chippenham Show Choir launched in January and has grown to almost 70 members from across Wiltshire. The group performs well-known hits from West End musicals — but there are no auditions and no experience is needed to join.
Members describe singing together as “uplifting” and “pure joy”.
The choir’s Christmas concert will take place at the Neeld Community and Arts Centre in Chippenham High Street on Friday 12 December from 7.30pm, featuring songs from We Will Rock You, Holiday Inn, Jesus Christ Superstar, Oklahoma! and other popular productions.
Co-founder Jessica Broderick said she has been thrilled by how the group has grown. “Chippenham is a fantastically vibrant town with a rich choral scene, so it was the perfect place to bring a new kind of choir focused on musical theatre ‘a cappella’ – without instrumental accompaniment,” she said.
“We’ve only been working together for a year, but I’m so proud of how far everyone has progressed. They’ve been awesome.
“Our members are incredibly diverse – aged from 22 to 78 – and come from Chippenham, Swindon, Calne, Corsham, Melksham and the surrounding villages. We’ve got teachers, designers, software engineers, care workers, postal workers, secretaries and solicitors, as well as a psychotherapist, sports therapist, psychologist and artist.
“Some join because they’re new to the area and want to make friends, others are rediscovering a hobby or building confidence – but everyone shares a passion for musicals.”
The choir has already appeared at the Chippenham Food & Drink Festival and STEAM Museum’s Golden Age Festival, but this will be their first full-length, ticketed show as headliners.
“We hope people will come along to enjoy an amazing evening of entertainment,” Jessica added.
Friends Alison Guy and Emma Forman joined the choir when it first started.
Alison, an occupational therapist from Chippenham, said: “When you’re singing, you’re not thinking about anything else. It’s reignited my love of musical theatre, and rehearsals are now my favourite night of the week. It’s great fun and really uplifting.”
Emma, a traffic engineer from Yatton Keynell, added: “I’m not the best singer but it doesn’t matter when I’m surrounded by such lovely people and singing such lovely songs. It’s pure joy.”
Tickets cost £8–£12 and are available from www.neeld.co.uk. The show lasts two hours, including an interval, and will also feature Swindon Show Choir and six-man singing group Kettle of Fish as the support act.
For details about joining, visit www.ukshowchoir.com/chippenham.
Rehearsals take place on Tuesday evenings at King Alfred Hall, next to St Andrew’s Church off Market Place.
Main photo: Chippenham Show Choir performing at this year’s Chippenham Food & Drink Festival
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