Choir hits high notes in New York for 10th birthday

An amateur choir has taken its 10th birthday celebrations to new heights - singing from the top of the Empire State Building in New York City.

Ninety-eight members of Somewhere 2 Sing made the 3,500 miles (5,600km) journey to perform at three of the Big Apple's best-known landmarks, including One World Observatory (former World Trade Center site) and the Intrepid Museum.

The choir, which began with two small groups in Hertford and Stevenage in 2016, has expanded to 1,000 members in 18 locations across Bedfordshire, Essex, Hertfordshire and Suffolk.

Founder Duncan Rutherford said it was a proud moment, adding: "I never dreamed we'd have grown so much and have this incredible experience."

"To have so many keen, ambitious and invested members jump at the chance to travel so far with us is amazing," he said.

Among them was Paul Bennett from Bishop's Stortford, who said: "When you announced a year ago that we were going to New York, I thought you might be joking in advance of saying "York", but up north!

"I have just started my 10th year with the choir, and I have seen it grow significantly, yet maintain its intimate character at each local level. Duncan offers us a constant stream of opportunities and experiences."

The four-day trip began on 1 October with a flash mob at Gatwick Airport.

Before boarding their flight to New York, choir members burst into a rendition of Diana Ross's Ain't No Mountain High Enough in the terminal, much to the delight of passengers and airport staff.

Once they arrived Stateside, the choir also surprised restaurant-goers at Ellen's Stardust Diner on Broadway, near Times Square in Manhattan, which is famous for its singing waiters.

Kay Tart from Hitchin was among those taking part.

"I can't imagine how much work and planning went in to organising everything," she said.

"Ellen's Stardust Diner was wonderful, and it was an absolute privilege to be involved. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed every moment; it was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me."

Heather Smith from Welwyn Garden City agreed, adding: "Wow, just wow! What an adventure.

"I feel so lucky to have been part of this. Words really can't describe how I'm feeling right now, other than exhausted, but it was so worth it. So many stories to tell."

There was also a surprise reunion between two choir members, Helen Morrison from Hertford and Vanessa Atha from Royston, on the Empire State Building's observation deck.

"I know you…" they said in unison. It turned out that they had been next-door neighbours in their teacher-training college halls of residence in 1979 - and were now singing together in New York City.

Somewhere 2 Sing gives people with no musical background - and without the need to audition - the opportunity to sing on the big stage.

Sessions are held in Biggleswade, Bishop's Stortford, Braintree, Bury St Edmunds, Chelmsford, Colchester, Hertford, Hitchin, Ipswich, Leighton Buzzard, Letchworth, Royston, Saffron Walden, St Albans, Stevenage and Ware and Welwyn Garden City.

Previous performances have included at Abbey Road Studios, Covent Garden, Disneyland Paris - as well as a 300-strong flash mob at King's Cross Station in London and the BBC's EastEnders set.

Rutherford, who has an MA in musical theatre, said: "The key ingredient is being able to offer every one of our members the opportunity to come together to smile, make friends and sing their hearts out at one of our landmark events.

"For many, if not most of the singers, the choir is a lot more than a hobby: it's a community, a focus; a lifeline."

The New York trip is part of a year-long anniversary celebration that will culminate in the choir's biggest and most ambitious event to date.

Rutherford has hired the Central Hall Westminster on 19 December for the 10th Anniversary Christmas Spectacular – a concert of 620 members, all singing together for the first time.

"I've never had so many people singing together under one roof. It's literally double the size of anything we've done before," he said.

"Seeing everyone together and hearing the sound of that number of voices is going to be just incredible.

"With a mix of the choir's favourite songs of the last decade, some festive fun, confetti cannons and pyrotechnics, we really are finishing the year with a bang."

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