Plymouth Sounds' Cosy Christmas
Local Singer/Songwriter Ellie Williams is going to be performing in a slightly different way this Christmas.
Ellie has performed with such acclaimed artists as Joan Armatrading, Suzanne Vega, Seth Lakeman and Midge Ure is currently recording her third album.
Whilst on maternity leave following the birth of her son Ethan on Christmas Day, Ellie set up a brand new community choir, Plymouth Sounds.
The choir is made up of members from all walks of life, and it’s non-audition policy means that everyone from first time singers to professionals are welcome into the group. Singing songs from various genres including pop, rock, folk and musical theatre, the choir caters for all tastes.
When speaking about her new venture Ellie said ‘I wanted to create an environment where people felt safe to sing and express themselves musically. We attach a lot of emotional significance to the voice and this can mean people feel shy. Being in a group means there is safety and support in numbers. I don’t read music myself so it was important to me to take that worry away from the group as well. Ultimately its about having fun and allowing music in. People are in the choir for all sorts of reasons - fun, health, release; everyone is welcome. Being choir leader is such an honour. It’s like getting to play the most beautiful instrument ever created’
Launched in July this year, the brand new choir are busy rehearsing for their very first concert, ‘Plymouth Sounds Cosy Christmas’ which will be held on Saturday 12th December at Mutley Baptist Church. All concerts performed by the choir are for charity and this year the two chosen are The Jon Paul Oxley Memorial Trust Fund and Operation Hernia. The concert will feature traditional christmas music along with more contemporary pieces from Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Birdie and Mariah Carey.
The Jon Paul Oxley Memorial Trust Fund was set up by mother Jill Oxley, following the death of her son from Cystic Fibrosis, in 2012. Jon Paul won a series of community awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Accolade at the Pride of Plymouth awards. He was also named a ‘Herald Young Hero’ for his tireless charity work and sports achievements, raising over £12,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, in the hope of helping others with the condition. Jon Paul and his mother campaigned for a change in the law which would mean that everyone would be automatically registered as an organ donor, unless they opted out. The Jon Paul Oxley Memorial Trust fund aims to help patients and their families through the transplant process, by supporting the cost of accommodation and travel to specialist centres throughout the country.
Operation Hernia was set up in 2005 by Andrew Kingsnorth and Chris Oppong of Derriford Hospital, as part of the city official link with Takoradi, Ghana. It provides surgery to patients in developing countries, often with massive and disabling hernias. It has been estimated that there are 6.3 million untreated hernias in Africa, leading to numerous preventable deaths and permanent disability. Operation Hernia is now celebrating a very successful decade and is looking to build on its success and deliver even more missions to various parts of the world where untreated hernias continue to be a major health problem.
Speaking about the charities Ellie said ‘It is important to me that funds raised go to charitable causes, selected by the choir members themselves at the beginning of the new term. Members were asked to submit their suggestions and then voted for which charities to support’.
To find out more about the choir and to buy tickets for the concert, visit www.plymouthsounds.co.uk or contact ellie@plymouthsounds.co.uk
You can register to be an organ donor now by visiting www.organdonation.nhs.uk
