Local Choir hits Albert Square
“If you’d have told me at the start of the year that I was going to sing in public, and not only that, in front of 5 million people on TV, I’d have laughed my head off!”
That was Sophie – before joining the Somewhere 2 Sing choir in April, she had never sung in front of anyone, and yet she’s now performed in a theatre in front of an audience of hundreds, been on a choir tour to Cardiff, and appeared on prime-time TV in Eastenders on Christmas Eve on BBC 1!
Back in August, Somewhere 2 Sing choir director, Duncan Rutherford, was contacted by the BBC, asking if he could provide a choir of young adults for Eastenders’ Christmas episode.
“The choir welcomes adults of any age,” Duncan explains, “so it did draw a few laughs when I said we needed them to look twenty for this Christmas special.”
The choir sourced members who could pass for twenty year olds from across Somewhere 2 Sing’s thirteen choirs, and they had only a couple of rehearsals to learn the song and perfect their performance before the big day.
On the day of filming, Elstree Studios sent two minibuses to collect the singers. Tired but excited, they were taken to a secret church in North London (supposedly Walford), where the filming would take place for the day’s shoot. It was a cold, rainy day and although there was a lot of waiting around for their big moment, the choir were kept entertained by the comings and goings of the crew – according to the film schedule, some 80+ cast and crew were on site.
“It was amazing to see how much work goes into it,” Sophie said. “Lighting, sound, catering, costume, props, security, directors, and of course the wonderful cast members were all milling about, getting ready for the next ‘take’.”
The choir were asked to prepare and sing the carol, ‘See Amid The Winter’s Snow’, and after a rehearsal, went for several recordings of the song with various camera angles, to underscore a scene with Angela Wynter, who plays Yolande in the soap.
Sophie added that if she “hadn’t had the courage to give the choir a go,” she’d never have been able to take part in such experiences. “I just can’t wait to see what’s next!”
Strap yourself in Sophie, as Duncan has disclosed to us that he is currently in talks with Disney over Somewhere 2 Sing’s next unique venture!
Details about the choir and how to join can be found on their website and social media:
www.somewhere2sing.co.uk
@somewhere2sing
