The month ahead...
/It's all go in the Starling HQ this December! Emily tells us about the essential Starling activities this month:
Taking Flight, departing soon!
Following the fun of recording our first album a few weeks ago (which you can read all about in our rather epic post chronicling the experience!) we're putting the finishing touches to the record ready for release on Tuesday 11th December. With the band, choirs and soloists all to be mixed, CDs to be printed and running orders decided upon (a tough but fun job!) we've plenty to do before its first public airing, but we can't wait to share it!
The album will have its first outing at our launch party in Earl's Court on Tuesday 11th December. CD copies will be available to purchase, with special live previews of a selection of numbers from the choirs. For more information about the event see our What's On page! CDs will also be available to purchase from our new online store from Wednesday 12th December.
Walking in a winter wonderland...
In the festive spirit, more than 25 of our choir members will be donning Santa hats and dusting off their descants and 'fa la la la las' to raise money for three fantastic charities this month. This year, Starling Arts will be performing at venues around central London, charity buckets in hand, so if you're in the area please pop along and offer your support to three fantastic charities.
We are delighted to be singing carols and raising money for Whizz-Kidz again this Christmas. This is the third year we've sung for and supported this fantastic charity, so if you're passing through Bond Street station on Thursday December 6th between 5.30 and 8.30pm, come and say hello and drop a note or two into their buckets! Find out more about Whizz-Kidz at www.whizz-kidz.org.uk.
Corvida Diva and Whizz-Kidz staff member Jess says...
Starling Arts have been a fantastic supporter of Whizz-Kidz each Christmas for the past few years. I've worked for Whizz-Kidz a number of years and first met the choir when out Christmas Carolling with Whizz-Kidz - it wasn't long before I signed up. The support of the choirs in some festive carolling each Christmas helps Whizz-Kidz to provide the right wheelchairs and support at the right time for disabled kids around the UK. It's a brilliantly fun way to raise money, don a santa hat, and transform young lives. The impact of a day of Christmas carolling can last a lifetime for the kids Whizz-Kidz supports - thank you Starling Arts!
Donning our Starling Arts hoodies for warmth, we'll be carolling for Christmas shoppers in St John's Wood to support St John's Hospice on Saturday December 8th 12 - 2pm. Drop by to have a listen and pop into the hospice shop while you're there! Find our more about St John's hospice at www.stjohnshospice.org.uk.
Starling Singer Katie says...
I have been a member of Starling Singers since May 2011 and it’s so fantastic to use this opportunity to combine my personal and professional interests! In my day job, I am a community fundraising manager for St John’s Hospice: a fantastic organisation, caring for over 2,000 patients and their families each year across 7 London boroughs. I am so grateful that Starling have agreed to help my Hospice and bring some festive cheer to St John’s Wood!
On Tuesday 18th December we'll be entertaining guests and raising money at another charity event. Westminster Befriend a Family provides practical and emotional support to families in Westminster, and we're thrilled to be supporting them this Christmas!
Starling recommends...
Two other fantastic choirs will be performing in Trafalgar Square on the evening of Thursday 13th December!
From 6pm, the 60 strong ENO Community Choir will perform carols under the Christmas tree, also raising money for Westminster Befriend a Family. I also work on the ENO Community Choir as part of my job at ENO, and they are a stunning choir made up of singing enthusiasts of all ages from Westminster and beyond! For more information, visit www.eno.org
On the same evening, between 7-8pm, staff of the the National Deaf Children's Society will be combining three brilliant things - Christmas, signing and singing - to raise vital funds to support their charitable work. The group is directed by one of Starling's own, Forte member Jo Banham.
Signing along to all your favourite festive hits - from Mariah to Slade via East 17 and Cliff Richard - it's an experience not to be missed!
Group leader and Forte member Jo Banham says...
Signing and singing are two of my great passions in life and Starling Arts offered us a fantastic opportunity to combine the two when we performed a signed version of Alanis Morissette's Ironic last term. Opportunities such as this to be creative and original with songs, and celebrate and value the various skills and experiences of its members, is what makes Starling Arts the fantastic company that it is...
We hope you all have a lovely December and to see you at one of these carolling events this month!
- Emily
