Tour de France choir to mark anniversary with spectacular concert

A musical extravaganza by the choir which performed at the official Gala Concert of the Tour de France will be held on the first anniversary of the Grand Départ.

Rock Up and Sing! were privileged to perform for a host of VIPs at the Royal Hall at the end of the opening day of the Tour de France last July. Their repertoire included the French national anthem, the Marseillaise, as well as a version of Heather Small’s Proud – which many in the audience said encapsulated the feeling of the Grand Départ.

Now, the choir will be taking over the main auditorium of Harrogate International Centre for one day exactly a year later – and is inviting the community to join in. Its ‘Wow! That’s What We Call Rock Up and Sing!’ concert will feature classic rock and pop songs such as Mr Blue Sky and Dancing in the Street, as well as modern hits including Uptown Funk.

The choir members will be backed by a live band, and will be joined on stage by the Katrina Hughes Dancers.

Choir director Rhiannon Gayle said: “The Gala Concert last July was an incredible experience for us and a really memorable day.

“However, what made the Grand Départ so fantastic for most people was the family atmosphere, and the community spirit it created across the whole district. We’re hoping to recreate that with a fun, uplifting concert which all the family can enjoy, bringing in some great musicians and the brilliant Katrina Hughes Dancers too.

“All the choir members have been learning new material and rehearsing for the special event. We have been fortunate enough to play some fantastic venues around the world, but there is something very special about performing for an audience in your home town, and so many voices singing Uptown Funk will just be incredible!”

The July spectacular will see around 300 members of the Harrogate and Skipton choirs performing, and the Events choir who sing at weddings, special occasions and corporate events.

The concert takes place on Saturday, July 4, with a matinee at 2pm and an evening performance at 7.30pm. Tickets are £12 per person for the matinee or £15 for the evening, and are available from Harrogate Theatre Box Office on Oxford Street, or call 01423 502116. For more details, visit www.rockupandsing.com.

Notes:

Rock Up and Sing! was founded by professional singer Rhiannon Gayle in 2009. Since then, it has grown to include six different ensembles offering a wide range of performances, from intimate weddings to huge concerts.

Unlike many groups, the Rock Up and Sing! choirs are true community choirs, so members do not need to audition for their places. Through a wide range of events and performances, the organisation has raised more than £20,000 for a variety of charities and good causes.

Press release distributed by Verve Words.