Steel City Choristers celebrate 100th performance
Florence Lockheart
Thursday, June 13, 2024
The Sheffield charity, which was created after Sheffield Cathedral Choir was controversially disbanded in 2020, has celebrated its 100th performance
Sheffield-based choir Steel City Choristers has this week marked its 100th performance. The choir was formed when Sheffield Cathedral Choir was controversially closed in 2020 and aims to pioneer a new type of cathedral-style choir.
The choir’s 100th performance took place on Tuesday (11 June) at The Crucible in Sheffield. The choir performed a programme themed around A Night at the Musicals in aid of Sheffield homelessness charity Roundabout. The concert was firmly rooted in the Steel City Choristers’ local community and was hosted by Sheffield TV presenter Dan Walker.
Steel City Choristers chair of trustees Kate Caroe said: ‘The sold-out show at Sheffield’s best-known venue was an amazing place to celebrate our 100th performance. It’s incredible to look back at how many opportunities have arisen for us so quickly, and how so many people have appreciated us coming to sing for them. We have sung for all sorts of denominations of churches, as well as in venues such as pubs, Gulliver’s Valley theme park and the Winter Gardens!
The choir has grown in the four years since was founded by members of the disbanded Sheffield Cathedral Choir who wanted to keep singing together. Now a registered charity, the group has led worship at churches and cathedrals across Yorkshire, as well as performing for a diverse range of other communities and running two Reasons to Sing! Projects bringing music to social supermarket users
The choir is set to return to the allotment where it gave its very first performance (a carol concert in 2020) later this month to present a summer solstice event for social inclusion charity Parson Cross Initiative. Next year, the Choristers are set to perform at Winchester Cathedral, St Paul’s Cathedral in London and at Berlin Cathedral in the German capital.
Caroe added: ‘When we first launched Steel City Choristers, we never imagined we’d become such a sought-after choir and pioneer this new model of cathedral-style music. We hope that we can continue to inspire more people to sing, because it is so good for you and it really builds community. To do that we need to move towards a more sustainable funding model.’
To mark its 100th performance, the volunteer-run choir has launched its ‘100 Days of Music Making’ fundraising campaign: members and friends are being sponsored to make music on 100 days between their 100th performance and Christmas Day.
