By Taite Johnson
A local Barry choir is delighted to be back singing again, carrying on their tradition of more than 50 years.
The Barry Community Choir was founded in 1967, meeting in the Crossway Methodist Church in Barry for over 50 years. As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, the choir has seen a significant drop in the number of its members.
In addition, the falling number of congregation members led to the closing down of the Crossway Methodist Church, forcing the choir to relocate to the St John’s Methodist Church on Barry Island.
The choir rehearse every Wednesday from 6.00pm to 7.30pm singing a variety of different music genres including classical, pop, folk, and musical theatre. They have rehearsed songs from The Beatles, Eva Cassidy and are currently working on a Mamma Mia medley.
Three members have been singing with the choir for over 50 years, joining in the 1960s. One is Sheila Lye, who has been a member of the choir for 53 years and has no plans to stop singing. Sheila has enjoyed singing since she was a child, taking lessons and being a member of the Barry Children’s Choir as a young girl. She has been with the Barry Community Choir for over 50 years as the members are all “very friendly” and she still enjoys singing.
Numerous lockdowns meant that the choir could not meet indoors, however, the pandemic did not stop the choir from singing! Over lockdown, the choir rehearsed in different outdoor public areas including car parks and the band stand in Victoria Park, no matter the weather. The choir members are a community, so the social aspect of the choir is just as important to them as the singing. The choir regularly met on zoom for rehearsals as well as fortnightly zoom quizzes.
Sheila Vaquerizo, the current chairperson for the choir, has been a member for 16 years. Although Covid has impacted the choir, Sheila says they are “determined to keep going” as all they want to do is sing. Now the choir are looking forward to performing at concerts and events again as the world regains normality.
They plan to carry on bringing music to groups and organisations around the Vale and beyond by singing at care homes, nursing homes, Barry council events and Amelia Trust events.
To welcome new members, the Barry Community Choir is offering a special deal for new members who join as a couple. The joining fee is £150 a year, working out as £12.50 a month, but members who join as a couple will receive a £100 reduction when joining, making it £100 a year each.
🌟 This article first appeared in the printed edition of the Glamorgan Star on 21.04.21
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