Set up in 2003 by people with Parkinsons Disease ,Nina Temple and Anne Hutchinson ,the aim is to use singing to help manage the condition.Emphasis is placed on breathing and resonance to help maintain the voice with many exercises at the beginning and end of the session.The choir is also for people with other medical conditions including depression, asthma, Multiple Schlerosis and has members who are carers and friends .The choir leader is the well known and dynamic singer Carol Grimes and with the talented Dorian Ford as the accompanist .
The choir sings a wide range of musical styles and genres
The choir has a yearly fundraising gig at the TUC headquarters.Other performances have included :
PDS carol concert in Marylebone Church and in Southwark Cathedral and Westminster Cathedral;
PDS London group concerts;
Workshops/singing at chapel in the Neurological Hospital as part of Parkinsons Awareness Week;Workshop/singing at Parkinsons nurses conference .
The choir meets to rehearse once a week on a tuesday during term time in Kentish Town and there is a charge .
Members quotes:
Being ill on your own you feel weird and unfortunate; being in this choir, you feel one of a range of people with illnesses – and very lucky to sing all together.
A chance to express myself through singing- something I never thought I would be able to do.
Part of a fantastic interesting and supportive group of people.
The choir has given me the confidence to sing in public, which I never thought I could do. I also joined because Carol Grimes is our teacher, and I love her personality, and the choice of songs, which is mostly jazz, blues and the American songbook.
I enjoy singing and mixing with other people. To me it is a sociable event.
It cheers me up to learn to sing great songs from popular repertoire--anything from Cole Porter to ethnic punk. And it makes me feel better physically as well as in my spirits. And I enjoy the sense of community in the group, especially as I live on my own.
I can’t make music on my own but as a choir we create a lovely sound – it astonishes me.
Under construction...........much more to come soon
