NHSC New Year Update

NHSC would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year!

As we all emerge from the festive period, NHSC would like to share an update about upcoming rehearsals and some information from our Christmas events.

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Rehearsal Update Due to the ongoing high levels of Omicron cases in London, NHSC have made the difficult decision to cancel our January rehearsal. This is a temporary measure, and we intend to resume in-person rehearsals on 27th February 2022. In the meantime, online resources continue to be available for our members, in collaboration with our wonderful choir director and Sweet Charity Choir Online.

2022 Rehearsal Dates Our upcoming in-person rehearsals will be held on the following dates at St Wilfrid’s Church Hall, 97 Lorrimore Road, London, SE17 3LZ: 15:45-19:00 on Sunday 27th February 15:45-19:00 on Sunday 13th March 15:45-19:00 on Sunday 10th April 15:45-19:00 on Sunday 22nd May 15:45-19:00 on Sunday 12th June 15:45-19:00 on Sunday 10th July 15:45-19:00 on Sunday 11th September 15:45-19:00 on Sunday 9th October 15:45-19:00 on Sunday 13th November The venue is for 100 people, so plenty of room for distancing, and is an accessible venue with its own kitchen. The nearest tube stations are Kennington and Oval (Northern Line), and the nearest overground is Vaxhall Station. There is also free parking outside the venue on Sundays and it is not in the Congestion Zone. For the safety and wellbeing of all our members, we ask that anyone attending in-person rehearsals takes a lateral flow test on the day of the session. We require all attendees to wear a mask, except when singing, and ask that social distancing be observed throughout. The first month is free for new members as a "taster session", so please get in touch if you would like to join us for one of our in-person rehearsals. This offer is open to former members and anyone who did a taster session before September 2021.

Online Rehearsals Online rehearsals are also still available in conjunction with our sister choir, Sweet Charity Choir Online. This will allow our members who are not in London, or not ready to attend in-person, to still participate (the online resources also allow you to catch up on missed rehearsals and learn in your own time).

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Christmas Events

NHSC members took part in the Big Christmas Wind Orchestra and Choir on Sunday 5th December. Despite the inclement weather, this was great fun as always, and £842 was raised for the fantastic charity Gingerbread. We also performed Christmas Carols outside the Urgent Treatment Centre at the Royal London Hospital on Thursday 9th December, raising much needed funds for the charities Neighbours in Poplar and World AIDS Day.

Events Information

Collaborations

NHSC are currently working on a number of exciting collaborative projects with a singer/songwriter (also an NHS Doctor), #NHSPay15 campaign, development of a musical about the NHS, and ongoing projects with our choir director and sister choir SCC. We will keep you posted on developments! Fight Song For anyone who is not already aware, our friend and choir member Maria Gilroy passed away last year. As a tribute to her, we recorded a special version of Fight Song, which you can find here. Please subscribe to our YouTube channel, share the video, and donate to Cancer Research UK in Maria's memory if you are able.

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who joined us for rehearsals and supported us last year, and who continue to be part of the NHSC family. Particular thanks to our wonderful choir director, Jenny Deacon, and to her lovely partner George Say, for keeping us singing together during lockdown and beyond.

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If you are considering joining a choir, and are not already a member, then NHSC just might be the right fit for you! We are a political choir that is open to all - NHS staff, patients and supporters - with a focus on protecting and supporting our NHS and promoting wellbeing through singing. If you'd like to join us for a free taster month, just get in touch through our website or via email to info@nhsupporterschoir.co.uk.