The History of Leigh Community Choir

Leigh Community Choir was set up by Carrie Morrow in April  2015 as a school outreach project, with 12 singers gathering for the first rehearsal at The Turnpike, Leigh.  Within a year, the choir was formally established and a first committee elected.  

In the early years, although still a small, inexperienced group of 20+, the choir did participate in quite a few festivals and workshops, including the Community Choirs Festival, Stratford in 2016 and 2017 and, most notably, the Street Choirs Festival, Manchester in 2019, at which, as well as performing around the streets of Manchester,  Leigh Community Choir was privileged to sing as part of a concert at the RNCM! 

As for all choirs, the Covid lockdown in 2020/21 brought in person rehearsals to a standstill.  For 18 months, a small group continued to meet on zoom, creating a few projects for a new You Tube Channel.  When rehearsals resumed in Autumn 2021, singers returned, and more!  With a steady flow of new members, Leigh Community Choir has continued to grow in size to the 40+ group we are today.

As well as putting on concerts for our own family and friends, in 2023 we travelled to Cleveleys for a joint concert with The Coasters Choir, helping to raise over £800 for RNLI Fleetwood.  Leigh Community Choir has also continued to increase its presence at community events in Leigh and surrounding areas, including local Christmas singouts, performances in Civic Square for the Coronation, Armed Forces Day and the Food Festival, at Spinners MIll for the launch of the Veteran's Hub, at the Lancashire Mining Museum Open Day and at The Edge for the Wigan Council Community Awards.  We have supported charities and other groups, including The Epiphany Trust and Soroptimist International (Leigh & District) and have an ongoing partnership with Bedford High School, with exciting events including a concert at The Bridgewater Hall and Leigh Choir Festival.

2025 is Leigh Community Choir's 10th Anniversary year with a celebratory concert planned for June.  So now it's on to the next decade!