Herts & Soul in Concert

This is the ‘proof is in the pudding’ bit!  We’d love you to see us, hear us, join us.  So why not take a bite and come to one of our concerts?  Singing brings us all together, and it is together as one big soulful, tuneful family that many of us have braved all that life throws our way.  We support each other just as our audiences support us and the local community too.   A concert is not a concert without the valuable contribution of those in the audience – we love our enthusiastic and generous fans!

Come Follow the Band! – Saturday 10 June 2023

We performed with the fabulous 15 piece strong Umbrella Big Band and what a joyful and uplifting evening of classic tunes and big band favourites it was!  It might have been the hottest day of the year so far, but that didn’t stop the energy or the fun.  And the audience loved it – and so did we!  Added to that, over £1,500 was raised which was split between the two chosen charities of the evening – Isabel Hospice and the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.  What’s not to love about all that?

And if you’d like a taste of what Come Follow the Band was all about, please click here to watch the video of the evening.  Sit back, enjoy – and join in!

Making Our Kind of Music – Friday 4 November 2022 

Making Our Kind of Music took place on Friday 4 November and was a rousing mix of melodies from rock, pop, folk and musical theatre.  It saw the return to ensemble singing, something that has been off the menu since 2019.  With the inimitable Soulster blend of upbeat joyfulness to thought-provoking mellowness, there was something for everyone to enjoy and what’s more, over £1,300 was raised for Isabel Hospice.

2010 – 2022: 10(+2) Years of Herts & Soul! 

In 2020 Herts & Soul was ten years old! And we were all set to have a bumper year of glorious Soulster singing and celebratory fundraising concerts and activities to mark our 10th anniversary.  However, a certain global crisis put paid but it didn’t stop us!  We’ve known for a long time that singing is therapeutic and that it triggers all sorts of positive vibes in the body. During such difficult times, when we were separated by distance and deprived of social closeness, it was imperative that we found a way to keep this positivity alive and the spirit of the choir community intact.  And so, the ‘virchearsal’ (virtual rehearsal) was born!

Our virchearsals happened on YouTube every Friday night during Lockdown and they continued to give a nod to the normality which had been so absent. They also created of sense of community which helped to combat potential loneliness and mental health issues caused as a result of isolation, as well as providing a reassuring structure to the week.

 

10(+2) Anniversary Concert – Sunday 12 June 2022 

And so after nearly three years’ absence from performing to an audience, we are delighted to say that we were back and in full and fine voice!  We simply couldn’t wait to return to the stage for our 10(+2) Anniversary Concert which took place at 6.30pm on Sunday 12 June 2022 at South Mill Arts Centre in Bishop’s Stortford.  The concert was a fantastic assortment of favourite Soulster songs from the past twelve years including pop, rock, soul, choral and musical theatre (with a little audience sing-a-long and a train thrown in!).  We raised the roof and raised some more funds once again for Isabel Hospice.  It was as uplifting as it was celebratory. Thank you to all those who came along to celebrate life, song and community alongside us!

 

Here We Come A-Soulsterin’ 

As covid numbers once again increased around Christmas, and with the safety of our Soulsters and our audiences at the forefront of our minds, the planned Christmas Concert once again took on a slightly different shape.

Having mastered the technology last year, creating another virtual – and magical – Christmas concert was second nature to our talented Musical Directors Susie and Peter! Here We Come A-Soulsterin’ was a little different to one of our ‘live’ concerts, but as ever with Herts & Soul concerts, it was an uplifting feast of energy and joy.

Over £1,000 raised!

And what’s more, we were more than a little bit pleased to be able to support Isabel Hospice once again.  And with over £1,000 raised via our JustGiving page, it really was the icing on our choral Christmas cake!

Over the last two years Isabel Hospice has extended its care and support to also admit end of life Covid19 patients who can benefit from the palliative care support. The hospice is also offering bereavement support to all families who have lost a loved one to the devastating virus.

“We do so rely on the support of our local communities to enable us to continue to provide this vital and support to so many patients and their families,” said Renee Friend, Isabel Hospice’s Community Fundraising Champion, “and this has been doubly difficult during such challenging times when so many events have been cancelled. It is a joint effort; together we care.”

Summer 2018 – Herts and Soul Singin’ and Swingin’ with the Umbrella Big Band

The summer months in Soulsterville were spent immersing ourselves in the awesome, often nostalgic sounds of the Big Band era. We were privileged to join forces with Cambridge’s 15-piece Umbrella Big Band (www.umbrellabigband.co.uk) to present a concert of uniquely arranged big band, swing and jazz numbers.

Here’s how the Independent newspaper described the show which raised £2000 for our charity partner, Isabel Hospice:

Herts and Soul Choir’s musical one-night stand with big band in Stortford

Not only did we have a choral ball (how couldn’t we with various Beatles, Freddie Mercury’s, Elvis’s, Boogie Wonderlanders, Dusty’s, Lulu’s and Cher’s amongst us?!), but we also raised over £1700 for our charity partners too.

Below are some photos of the concert…and a link to a wee video of us in action: