Hand in Hand guest choir spotlight: London Gay Men’s Chorus

Simon, Multimedia Director
Simon, Multimedia Director

On Saturday 13th July, when you come along to Hand in Hand – our 30th anniversary festival, you won’t just be watching us Pinkies! We’ll be joined by a whole host of other LGBT choirs from around the country. Not got your ticket yet? Buy yours now!
Continuing our tour of guest choirs, we’re privileged to be joined by Europe’s largest gay choir, the handsome LGMC!

All about London Gay Men’s Chorus

The London Gay Men’s Chorus is Europe’s largest gay men’s choir. Our mission is to entertain, educate and inspire through song – performing to the highest standard and challenging preconceptions of gay men.

London Gay Men's Chorus
London Gay Men’s Chorus

In 1991, nine friends came together to sing a few Christmas carols at Angel Underground Station hoping to raise a few pounds for the Terrance Higgins Trust. London was in the midst of the AIDS crisis and the men, who belonged to a social group called London Friend sang together to find a place of support, of friendship and of brotherhood. Little did they know what they had kickstarted. Continue reading “Hand in Hand guest choir spotlight: London Gay Men’s Chorus”

Hand in Hand guest choir spotlight: Thames Valley Gay Chorus and Rainbow Chorus, Brighton

Michelle, New Members and Social Secretary
Michelle, New Members and Social Secretary

On Saturday 13th July, when you come along to Hand in Hand – our 30th anniversary festival, you won’t just be watching us Pinkies! We’ll be joined by a whole host of other LGBT choirs from around the country. Not got your ticket yet? Buy yours now!
Today we introduce two more choirs participating in our amazing festival day
All about the Thames Valley Gay Chorus

Thames Valley Gay Chorus
Thames Valley Gay Chorus

Since 2003 the Thames Valley Gay Chorus has (under various names) been a relaxed and friendly place for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from across the area to indulge their passion for singing. They get together on Sunday afternoons to sing, learn new skills and new songs, have fun and forget the day-to-day for just a couple of hours. The music they perform ranges from classical and sacred music through jazz, blues, songs from the shows to pop – there’s sure to be something for everyone!
Members come from all over the Thames Valley (and beyond!): currently Abingdon, Basingstoke, Binfield, Bracknell, Caversham, Emmer Green, Hungerford, Maidenhead, Newbury, Reading, Tilehurst, Uxbridge, Winnersh, Woodley, and Yeovil. Continue reading “Hand in Hand guest choir spotlight: Thames Valley Gay Chorus and Rainbow Chorus, Brighton”

Hand in Hand guest choir spotlight: Leicestershire Rainbow Voices and Sing With Pride Norwich

Jerome, UK Concerts Director
Jerome, UK Concerts Director

On Saturday 13th July, when you come along to Hand in Hand – our 30th anniversary festival, you won’t just be watching us Pinkies! We’ll be joined by a whole host of other LGBT choirs from around the country. Not got your ticket yet? Buy yours now!
From Belfast we fly back over the water to the Leicestershire Rainbow Voices!

The Leicestershire Rainbow Voices

Leicester Rainbow Voices
Leicester Rainbow Voices

Leicestershire Rainbow Voices was formed in November 2009 to bring together the LGBT community, their friends, family and supporters to share in a mutual love of singing and performing. As a choir, we embrace and celebrate our diversity through song and believe that our strength is found in our growing membership that now encompasses 24 members from all walks of life.

The choir is proud to be in the safe hands of our Musical Director, William Northmore, who has been with the group since day one and provides us with valuable musical knowledge. We welcome members from all musical backgrounds and provide an opportunity for individuals to develop their skills in singing and performing, and offer a social platform for choir members and supporters to interact. Continue reading “Hand in Hand guest choir spotlight: Leicestershire Rainbow Voices and Sing With Pride Norwich”

Hand in Hand guest choir spotlight: Quire

Simon, Multimedia Director
Simon, Multimedia Director

On Saturday 13th July, when you come along to Hand in Hand – our 30th anniversary festival, you won’t just be watching us Pinkies! We’ll be joined by a whole host of other LGBT choirs from around the country. Not got your ticket yet? Buy yours now!
From Manchester we cross the Irish Sea to Belfast and the magnificent Quire!

All about Quire

Formed in 2005, Quire is Northern Ireland’s only LGBT community choir with a membership of 30 women and men, singing in four parts.

Quire, Belfast
Quire, Belfast

Their mission is to excite, empower, educate, encourage, entertain and enrich the members of Quire, the LGBT community, and the wider community through the celebration of music making, diversity and friendship.
In pursuit of Quire’s mission, they have performed throughout Ireland, at community events large and small, as well as staging their own concerts at Outburst (Northern Ireland’s annual queer arts festival), at the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival and at The MAC Belfast during Belfast Pride 2013.
Quire is proud to count on support from LGBT advocates, actor Simon Callow CBE and Belfast-born singer, Brian Kennedy.
June 2010 saw Quire’s television debut when they performed on BBC One NI’s Art Space programme.
Quire’s repertoire is varied, ranging from traditional to musical theatre, pop and classical.

Hand in Hand guest choir spotlight: Manchester Lesbian & Gay Chorus

Simon, Multimedia Director
Simon, Multimedia Director

On Saturday 13th July, when you come along to Hand in Hand – our 30th anniversary festival, you won’t just be watching us Pinkies! We’ll be joined by a whole host of other LGBT choirs from around the country. Not got your ticket yet? Buy yours now!
From the Deep C Divas in Leeds we cross the pennines to the mighty Manchester Lesbian & Gay Chorus!

All about the Manchester Lesbian & Gay Chorus

Manchester Lesbian and Gay Chorus
Manchester Lesbian and Gay Chorus

MGLC are a friendly, diverse group of people who love to sing, and welcome members with a wide range of abilities; no previous training or experience is required. They perform regularly at Pride events, Civil Partnerships, concerts and parties.
Formed in 2000, they have gone from strength to strength and won a string of awards, including

  • World OutGames 2006 (Montreal) – Bronze medal
  • World OutGames 2009 (Copenhagen) – Silver medal
  • Manchester Amateur Choirs Competition 2010 – Third place

They’re currently welcoming a brand new musical director Laurence Kaye and we can’t wait to have them performing with us.