All Choired Up
An LGBTQ+ Choir based in St Leonards
All Choired Up
All Choired Up was a friendly and free Choir based in St Leonards, East Sussex for the local LGBTQ+ community. All ages and abilities were welcomed from singers in showers and karaoke crooners to budding Pavarottis and closet divas - there was a place for all at All Choired Up.
Started right as COVID 19 took hold the choir first met and rehearsed online during lockdown. When things were safer again the group met in gardens and parks and eventually a church hall, singing multi-layered acappella harmonies drawn from a rich repertoire of many musical genres.
Their work together cumulated at a performance at Hastings Pride in 2021 - a joyous celebration of voices and of LGBTQ+ community.
All Choired Up was facilitated by Carol Prior. Carol (she/her) is based in Hastings and has been working in the Performing Arts all her life. She set up the first community choir Shore Sounds in Hastings in 2001 and is a founding member of the Natural Voice Network.
Below is an archive of information from when the choir was in session.
What is All Choired Up?
Please Note: All Choired Up is currently on a break.
All Choired Up is a new, friendly and free Choir based in St Leonards, East Sussex for the local LGBTQ+ community. All ages and abilities are welcome from singers in showers and karaoke crooners to budding Pavarottis and closet divas - there is a place for all of you at All Choired Up.
What happens at All Choired Up?
We will spend our time practising a variety of songs and there is always a break in the middle with time to chat.
Ideally everyone will aim to make all the rehearsals, to get the most out of the experience (and to be well practised for any upcoming performances) but we understand that this may not always be possible for everyone, so come to as many as you can and we will make sure all the song parts/lyrics are available online to view at anytime.
What type of songs will we sing and where will we sing them?
We will sing songs in glorious multi-layered acappella harmonies drawn from a rich repertoire of many musical genres and traditions including World Folk, Gospel, Pop, Rock, Blues, Musical Theatre, Jazz, as well as original compositions.
Once All Choired Up has been established we hope to be performing at events locally and throughout the South East. Possible partners include Hastings Pride, Folkestone Pride and the St Leonard's Community Picnic
Who will lead the Choir?
All Choired Up is facilitated by Carol Prior. Carol (she/her) is based in Hastings and has been working in the Performing Arts all her life. She set up the first community choir Shore Sounds in Hastings in 2001 and is a founding member of the Natural Voice Network.
Having previously set up a women’s choir in Brighton she has also taught singing in schools across Brighton and Hove, East Sussex and Surrey for the acclaimed music education project Rhythmix.
For more information view her website.
Where and when does All Choired Up take place?
All Choired Up meets every Monday from 7 - 9pm at St John’s Church Hall in St Leonards
Access
The main church hall is accessible to wheelchair users via a ramp at the front door and it is all on one level. There is one toilet that can be accessed by a wheelchair however at the moment it does not have handrails or a hoist.
An access budget is available for those that may need help with the cost of attending All Choired Up. This money can be used for a variety of costs including transport, childcare or to cover the cost of a personal assistant.
Please email info@goodstuffinstlens.com with any access requirements you would like to discuss or call 020 3920 9045 and leave a voice message with your name and telephone number and we will get back to you when we can.
Supported by
All Choired Up has been developed with the support of Hastings and Rother Rainbow Alliance and is part of Good Stuff in St Leonards, a community-led programme of creative activities and events funded by Creative Civic Change and facilitated by local arts charity Home Live Art
If you have any questions or queries regarding All Choired Up please email info@goodstuffinstlens.comor alternatively call 020 3920 9045 and leave a voice message with your name and telephone number and we will get back to you when we can.