NHSC November Update

An update on in-person rehearsals, and some dates for your calendar.

Health Bill Protest

NHSC members attended and performed at the protest against the government's Health Bill at Parliament on the 22nd November. Well done to those that took part, in particular our newer members! There will certainly be more demos to follow.

Christmas Events

NHSC will be taking part in the Big Christmas Wind Orchestra and Choir (BCWO&C) on Sunday 5th December and Saturday 18th December - if you would like to join us, you can sign up here. Song books are provided on the day, and it is all well known Christmas songs, so there is no need to learn anything, you can just turn up and take part!

We will also be doing some carol singing from 18:30 on Thursday 9th December outside the Urgent Treatment Centre at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Road, E1. Please come along and join us!

Rehearsals We resumed in-person rehearsals on Sunday 5th September at our brilliant new venue, St Wilfrid’s Church Hall, 97 Lorrimore Road, London, SE17 3LZ. It was so lovely to see everyone and to sing together over the past few months!

We will now have our usual month off for December, however we have some Christmas Carolling events coming up, and will then resume rehearsals in January 2022.

15:45-19:00 on Sunday 16th January 2022

15:45-19:00 on Sunday 27th February 2022

15:45-19:00 on Sunday 13th March 2022

15:45-19:00 on Sunday 10th April 2022

15:45-19:00 on Sunday 22nd May

15:45-19:00 on Sunday 12th June

15:45-19:00 on Sunday 10th July

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 our in-person rehearsals takes a lateral flow test prior to the session (not more than 48hrs before the start time). 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).

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 earlier this 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 has joined us for rehearsals and supported us this year. 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. We hope to see many more of you for the Christmas events and in the New Year.

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. In-person rehearsals recommenced in September 2021, and will continue unless Covid restrictions change. An online rehearsal option will remain available for anyone who is unable to attend in person, in conjuntion with sister choir SCC. 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.