The sun has finally begun to shine. Solid Harmony have been as busy as ever through the winter months. They performed at 2 Singing parties at Stratford Circus over Christmas and recently in March. They sang a range of repertoire, including a beautiful arrangement of Fields Of Gold, by Nick Bowers-Broadbent and and funky rendition of It's Time, arranged by the choir, facilitated by Paul Watson. The Solid Harmony Collective Young Leaders supported younger singers in the New Young Voices Collective (NewYVC) now resident at Stratford Circus, and performed their own piece. Some of the Young Leaders are working along side teachers in primary and secondary school to inspire children to sing and share good practice.

This term we continue to work with  a range of specialists and high level practitioners, the first of which is Dr. Doreen Rao visiting from Chicago, who will take the Young Leaders and Solid Harmony choir through their vocal paces. We will also be working with Paul Watson and some of our Alumni singers who are now working as Vocal Artists, including Bukky Abdul, Nathan Devonte and Stefan Vitalis. Finally, our Young Leaders have been successful in receiving funding from Newham Council's Go For It Grant to continue with their professional development and support other young singers to find their voices.

LEAD 2 SUCCEED - Young Leaders Programme Phase 2. This programme is funded by the Arts Council.

The Young Leaders and Artist Development Programme got off to a great start on the 1st October 2012. 10 of the 12 Young Leaders and 5 Artists gathered at NewVIc to exchange vocal warm up ideas and techniques, explore how they wish to work together on this programme and plan their own programme of workshops and performances. Since then, they have begun to meet on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings, learning from each other and beginning to create new music through combining skills and techniques.

Last week Ranjana Ghatak shared 10 raga scales with the group, who then chose their favourite to begin creating a new piece for performance. Marina-Lolita Hart took the group through a collaborative lyric writing process, enabling everyone to explore and discuss what the words HIV / AIDs means to them. The first seeds were sown for a new vocal work to be performed at Stratford Circus for World Aids day on the 1st December 2012.

The group will be meeting again on Monday 5th November 2012, working with Paul Watson, Linton Bennett and Jane Wheeler.

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Once again, we are very proud of our Jack Petchey achievement winners! Deja, Mica, Michael, Priscilla and Evelyn have all demonstrated qualities worthy of recognition this past 2 years; reliability and musical progress,  support for others in there choir and, particularly Priscilla, leadership. We'd like to thank the Jack Petchey Foundation for a wonderful presentation evening at Queens Theatre. The award winners all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, along with hundreds of other winners from across East London.

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Congratulations to all!

After an exciting summer, involving many of our alumni and Solid Harmony Collectives rehearsing on Wanstead flats, singing as part of the opening ceremony and in the Pop Up Street performances all over Newham, we are ready to return to rehearsing for the year ahead. Please note, Solid Harmony choir rehearsals have MOVED to Mondays, starting on MONDAY 10TH SEPTEMBER AT 5.00PM. See you all there and if you'd like to bring a friend, they are also welcome!

Solid Harmony Collective, the senior and alumni singers from the choir, were honoured to be invited to perform across Newham during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer. 14 young people aged 14 - 25 rehearsed out on Wanstead Flats to prepare a dynamic 40 minute a cappella set of popular and world songs to entertain people all across the borough, including shoppers at Beckton's ASDA, Queen's Market on Green Street, Stratford Shopping Centre and Stratford Station. Over 500 people per performance enjoyed the sounds of Solid Harmony Collective Voices. Thanks to Newham Council, we will always remember our important role in celebration the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

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A great way to end our term of work. Thank you Pam Hulme and the Isle of Dogs Community Choir for inviting us us to perform at your choral festival in The Space last Monday. What a great atmosphere. It was our privilege to sing All You Need Is Love and Hymn To Freedom with you all again after our sharing at JUBILATION! Royal Festival Hall on the 4th June.

We enjoyed both your choirs, the children and the adults. Great versions of Say A Little Prayer and Bohemian Rhapsody!  We look forward to an opportunity to sing with you again.

Happy summer to all our supporters and if you're around on the afternoon of 31st July, 1st and 2nd August, come and see our senior choir sing in Meridian Square, Stratford!