The Big Sing: Community Choirs Night
30 May 2025 - 30 May 2025
After the huge success of our community choir event in 2024 we are delighted to welcome SIX choirs to St Marys Church to bring the 2025 festival to a crescendo of song and laughter! Guaranteed to send you home smiling!
BIBTS Choirs Night, St Marys Church, 730pm, will bring together SIX choirs: A Capella (Scarborough); Coastal Voices (Bridlington); Funky Tuesday Choir (Scarborough); Fylingdales Folk Choir; Global Voices and the Garden Choir (Scarborough); Manhattan Voices (Scarborough). Each will perform some of their own material and then to close the night will all come together to sing a couple of songs in massed voices! The evening will be the uplifting and joyous final event of Big Ideas by the Sea 2025. It will surely be glorious, a treat for the ears and the soul.
About the Choirs
A Cappella entertains audiences with a wide range of unaccompanied songs from sacred to secular, from folk to classical, and from ancient to contemporary. We like to support and champion living composers, trying new music as well as singing old favourites that audiences know and love.
Coastal Voices was founded in 2014. The choir were lucky enough to employ Alex Weatherhill as their Musical Director for nine of those years, and many of his arrangements are still being performed by the choir, along with new arrangements written by their new Musical Director, Mark Gordon. Their aim is to learn, enjoy and share, and they usually sing in 5-part harmony. Singing mainly in Bridlington, this is their second appearance at Big Ideas By The Sea here in Scarborough.
Funky Tuesday Choir performs a range of funk, pop, disco, rock, from Earth Wind and Fire to Muse to Harry Styles. Nothing is off the cards but they try to choose music that is both challenging and absolutely joyful to sing. Some of the choir have been singing together for 14 years but this group have been together since January 2023. The choir was founded by Cheryl Govan and Mark Gordon - Mark musically directs and arranges the music, Cheryl does the 'choreography' and arranges the chairs! Our choir is about joy, fun, community, connection and love. We do want to collectively sound amazing, but we celebrate all members, it's about togetherness.
Fylingdales Folk Choir is a 30+ strong acapella choir, formed in 2018 by three friends from Robin Hoods Bay. The choir sings traditional and contemporary folk, plus a bit of pop and gospel and some original numbers, all sung in glorious 4-part harmony arranged by musical director Gillian Edwards. The choir has sung in many venues, events and festivals. They have formed a collaborative partnership with the Manchester-based folk band Harp and a Monkey and together they will open Big Ideas By The Sea 2025 on Friday 16th May.
Global Voices and the Garden Choir are two small and beautifully formed community choirs that have combined for Big Ideas to sing songs of uplifting joy! Global Voices is the exuberant Stephen Joseph Theatre Community Engagement Choir, singing songs from all over the globe.
Based in South Cliff Gardens, Scarborough, The Garden Choir focuses broadly on nature with a strong thread of delight running through the songs! Sarah Dew leads both choirs, both separately and together.
Manhattan Voices was established in 2004 and under Sue Hartleys visionary leadership, evolved into a beacon of musical excellence and camaraderie. Our vocal ensemble comprises a group of female singers who share a passion for creating dynamic harmonies and delivering captivating performances. From classical pieces and soulful ballads to musical theatre, popular songs and uplifting gospel music, our concerts take audiences on an interactive journey through a diverse range of musical genres. Under the guidance of Musical director Jayne Richardson with the support of our exceptional pianist, Carl Schofield, Manhattan Voices continue to thrive.
The Big Sing is generously funded by the Community Lottery Fund and North Yorkshire Council INSPIRE.
