A Sheffield choir is still in full voice despite the pandemic

When the Sheffield Cathedral Choir folded in the summer last year, some members decided to do something about it – and from the ashes came the Steel City Choristers, a 24-strong choir formed of children and adults from across Sheffield.

Despite being formed during the pandemic, the choir have managed to make the most of it – and the group even saw it as a ‘nice opportunity’ to get out and about; featuring in the national news in the process.

Kate Caroe, communications lead for the choristers, said: “We set up last summer after the Cathedral closed its choir and it was quite a nice opportunity to be out and about in the city.

"There are limitations because of Covid, but we have already done lots so far.”

The pandemic has allowed them to transpose their music to different settings, instead of just Cathedrals or churches, which are synonymous with their genre.

The choir have even given people an opportunity to hear music that they may otherwise not have had the chance to and, according to Kate, they ‘love it’.

Kate said: "People love it because lots of people have never actually been in to the Cathedral to hear them singing, because it might not be their thing.

"Whereas, if we go to where people are – and sing for them to a really high standard – people are delighted and love hearing them.”

The group have already celebrated Remembrance Day, performed at a wedding, been featured on BBC Radio 4 – and even sang in an allotment.

Kate said: “For Remembrance Day we recorded the choir singing, and put together pictures of the wars and made a video with the choir music.

"In North Sheffield there is a tradition of singing Christmas Carols in the pubs and they couldn’t do that this year because of Covid, so they had a project where all neighbours would sing on their doorsteps in the streets and it was quite a big thing – the lady that organised it was on Radio 4, and the Choir sang singalong tracks for each of the Carols.

"They even played us on Radio 4, so people could get a feel for it.”

The Steel City Choristers also supported the Parsons Cross Initiative’s ‘Carols in the Allotment’ event, and one member sang at a socially distanced wedding.

They are now ‘using the time to prepare’ and want to make choral music ‘more accessible’.

Kate added: "We have got a few different ideas and projects, including going out into communities and making Choral music like this more accessible and giving it a friendly face.

"We cant sing at the moment due to lockdown, but we are using the time to prepare.”

The group usually rehearse at St John’s Church in Owlerton will hopefully soon be in full voice once more.

For more information, or to get involved, email [email protected].