Jon Aveyard leads the Illumination Community Choir based in Preston and has asked the LOC to help spread awareness with local practices by sharing the below information.
The choir is open to anyone but is delivered so as to be accessible to people with visual impairment.
We are a friendly group, currently 14 in number when all are present. Of these, two are without sight and four are partially sighted. The choir was set up using seed funding provided by Galloways Society for the Blind and continues thanks to the support of the Central Methodist Church where we meet. Most of the group meet up in the church café before the session to have a drink and a chat.
We sing a variety of songs and our current repertoire includes a mixture of pop, folk and Natural Voice (a sort of contemporary folk). Songs are chosen so as to avoid having too many words to learn though, for those who want them, lyrics are sometimes provided electronically in advance and in large or small print for those who want them. Someone within the group has also sometimes made Braille copies on request.
Within the sessions and in our occasional performances, visual cues are avoided; everything that people need to know to participate is present in what I say, what I sing and what I play on the keyboard. There are no auditions and everyone is welcome to take part regardless of ability or experience – if someone wants to sing, they are welcome.
Please get back in contact with Jon if you have any questions.
Illumination Community Choir
Fridays, 12pm-1pm
Central Methodist Church, Lune Street, Preston
£5 per person per session
www.PrestonMusicWorkshops.com/IlluminationCommunityChoir
