The Waterfront is alive with the sound of music
Some of the UCS Choir members who will be appearing on Songs of Praise on television - Credit: Archant
University Campus Suffolk’s new choir is to appear on BBC Songs of Praise
Patience Gwara, Martin Warden, director, and Carole Edwards of the UCS Choir - Credit: Archant
University Campus Suffolk’s brand new choir is to appear on BBC Songs of Praise
The recently formed UCS Choir will be appearing on TV screens across the country in the New Year after being invited to take part in BBC Songs of Praise.
The first edition of the programme was broadcast in the 1960’s and the series is one of the longest-running of its kind in the world.
The first of two recordings featuring the UCS Choir has taken place at St Mary le Tower Church in Ipswich.
The hymns filmed will then appear in different episodes throughout 2016.
Producer John Kirby said: “For this particular recording BBC Songs of Praise was keen to visit a part of the country where the programme has not had a presence for quite some time. Songs of Praise last filmed in Ipswich in 2000 so it was high time to revisit this lovely town and vibrant community.”
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Around 29 staff and students from University Campus Suffolk (UCS) are in the choir after it formed last month.
The new choir was launched by Teresa Steward, who is head of HR projects at UCS.
She said: “We were looking at well-being in the workplace.
“We had a few people who said they would like to have a choir, so we had a few taster sessions and quite a few people came along.
“We now have 29, quite a good number, in the choir, both staff and students.
“It is fantastic. People are really enjoying it.
“We also have a couple of Christmas concerts and we will be sitting down to talk about a programme for next year.
“It is great fun.”
Among the choir members is Patience Gwara is a FdA Counselling student.
She said “Joining a choir is something I have always wanted to do.
“It is nice to do something that has nothing to do with my course and meeting new people, it is therapeutic. There is a real mix of people from across UCS; all different people doing differing jobs and everyone forget their roles and are coming together as one.”
Carole Edwards, who works in the Faculty of Health and Science at UCS, said “It is challenging but good to do something different and I’m getting to know new people. Taking part in BBC Songs of Praise is good fun, I’ve enjoyed the rehearsals and we’ve enjoyed working towards it, it is quite something for saying we have only been together for six weeks.”
Any students, or staff, wanting more information, should email: choir@aucs.ac.uk
They rest of us can look out for the choir when the recordings from Ipswich are show on Songs of Praise on BBC Television.
