Allsorts launched on 10th September 2012, led by Sara Taylor as a community choir open to all with no auditions or musical experience required – only an enthusiasm for singing! From an original number of about 20, we are now a group of over 70 people aged 18 to anything, who meet on a Tuesday evening at Sheldon Road in the Methodist Church Hall to sing all sorts of music – from pop to classics, Disney to world music. When Sara decided to step down due to other commitments, we were delighted to welcome Marius Frank on board as our new Musical Director, with the day-to-day running of the choir being managed by a committee elected from its members. As a not-for-profit organisation, the committee arrange the sessions and liaise with the Musical Director to decide on musical content and performances. We have performed at many local venues including village & school fairs, the Calne Spring Sings, Chippenham Museum, and Westonbirt Arboretum, to name but a few. Our choir was one of the first to perform at the newly re-furbished Neeld Community & Arts Centre, where we performed with the internationally renowned classical quartet Vida and raised funds for the Wiltshire children’s hospice Julia’s House. Occasionally we travel further afield for events – we have been to St George’s Bristol and The South Bank in London - we also join with other local choirs for performances and support singalong workshops led by Marius, and his wife, Cindy Stratton. Pre-COVID we developed our own song where lyrics and suggestions from members were consolidated and put to music by Marius & Cindy. This became the backing track to our Lockdown video as we continued valiantly to meet over Zoom during the pandemic; a much needed link to ‘the norm’ which kept our sense of community going throughout, and enabled us to return 90% intact once restrictions were lifted, and welcome new members as the world reopened.
