A COMMUNITY choir is set to hit a high note as it celebrates its tenth anniversary this year.
Starting out as a small community project in Witham in 2012 for four weeks, The Big Sing is now celebrating its ten year anniversary.
Gemma and Howard Francis, inspired by gospel music and their history within the London Community Gospel Choir, founded the choir with the aim to unite communities with uplifting and motivating music.
The Big Sing has gone from strength to strength and now has choirs in Essex, Kent and the Midlands.
Its singers have performed alongside big names including Ellie Goulding, Blake and the London Community Choir and well as singing for chef Jamie Oliver and touring with singer Leona Lewis.
This success paved the way to its gospel choir winning BBC Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year competition in 2017.
A spokesman said: “The Big Sing is more than a choir, we are a family.
“So many members have found singing in the choir gives them a sense of belonging and has helped many through loneliness, depression, grief and illness.
“Everyone is welcome to join our community choirs and the first session is free.”
In 2016, the Big Sing SOUL charity was born offers a range of free online music resources for nurseries, schools, care homes and vulnerable groups and also has two free daytime choirs in Halstead and Great Dunmow.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here