Medway Skylarks Virtual Choir Sessions
Next Zoom session is on Saturday 16 January 2021
We are now ZOOMING online for virtual Medway Skylarks sessions. The next session will be on Saturday, 16 January 2021, 10.30 to 11.30am, with Sue Lovell. To join us please click on the link provided in the Email invitation. If you are not registered as a Medway Skylark, then please apply by Email to info@medwayneuro.org.uk.
Using the link you will not need to open a Zoom account, but you will need to download the software and allow Zoom to use your microphone and camera. So, best to get started in good time before the meeting.
Medway Skylarks virtual Xmas Party, 19 December. Was enjoyed by 28 Skylarks and guests. Deputy Mayor of Medway, Cllr. Jan Aldous, presided over this event; joining us at 10.30 am for the Skylarks session and staying on for the Party. Many thanks to Phil Bungay for organising this ambitious event and to Sue Lovell for leading the carol singing. A very good time was had by all!!
Sue Lovell leads the Zoom sessions now, having taken over from Nicky Underwood from 18 July. Sue has been supporting Medway Skylarks from our first sessions and has been helping out on all of our Zoom sessions. She is trained in the 'Sing to Beat Parkinson's' music therapy and has experience in leading a number of community choirs. To find out more about Sue, please visit her ' Versatile Vocals' website by clicking Here.
Sue has compiled a great new songbook for us, including many of our old favourites - click HERE to view or download our January 2021 updated version.
Sue Lovell Video Project: Sue has very kindly offered to produce a video with Medway Skylarks that combines our individual contributions into a choir. As an example of this, Sue has written a Covid-19 song called 'Sing Together' and performed it with Liquorice Lounge & Friends, combining all the recordings to give this VIDEO.
Many thanks to Nicky Underwood for pioneering the virtual Medway Skylarks Zoom sessions.
Medway Skylarks is free, but voluntary donations are always very welcome. If you wish to donate please click on this GoFundMe LINK.
In Memory of BARRY CANN
We are extremely sorry to report the passing of our dear Medway Skylark Barry Cann on 8 December 2020. Our condolences go to Barry's wife Linda, daughter Rosie and his wider family. This includes our Medway Skylarks founder, Trish Vella-Burrows, who was Barry's cousin. Barry was hospitalized with serious back pain in October, but rejoined Skylarks on his return home. Barry's last Skylarks session was on 5 December and our facilitator, Sue Lovell, remarked then how well he was looking.... So the news of Barry's passing was indeed a great shock to us all.
Barry's favourite song was Danny Boy, and on 12 December Sue Lovell sang this song in memory of him and recorded it; please click the picture to the right to see the video. The Skylarks all joined in on the final verse and the emotion transcends the Zoom latency issues.
The picture (right) was taken at Medway Skylark's performance at the Medway Clinical Commisioning Group's AGM in 2018; Barry is standing front left.
We will miss Barry so badly; he was a stalwart of the Group and had a fine singing voice.
Medway Skylarks
NEXT SKYLARKS Sessions at St Mary's Island Community Centre, Island Way West, ME4 3EP: CANCELLED due to Covid-19. However we are now meeting online, see above.
Plenty of parking, including disabled bays.
Please click HERE to see and download the Medway Skylarks flyer and click HERE for the songbook used in our most recent public performances. Phil Bungay has written a short history of Medway Skylarks and this can be viewed HERE.
Recent Skylarks Performances:
Please scroll down for videos of all recent Medway Skylarks performances, including Lower Stoke Community Connection performance on 12 March 2020 and at Rochester Riverside Crafty Xmas event on 7 December 2019.
Medway Neuro Arts Festival, Eastgate Gardens, Rochester, on Saturday 20 July. To see videos of this performance, please click Here. (The videos are on the 'Neuro Arts Festival' page of this website on a 'Music videos' drop-down menu).
Skylarks Newsletter: Please click HERE for the May 2019 newsletter, and HERE to see the March 2019 newsletter, both edited by Phil Bungay.
NEXT SKYLARKS Sessions at St Mary's Island Community Centre, Island Way West, ME4 3EP: CANCELLED due to Covid-19. However we are now meeting online, see above.
Plenty of parking, including disabled bays.
Please click HERE to see and download the Medway Skylarks flyer and click HERE for the songbook used in our most recent public performances. Phil Bungay has written a short history of Medway Skylarks and this can be viewed HERE.
Recent Skylarks Performances:
Please scroll down for videos of all recent Medway Skylarks performances, including Lower Stoke Community Connection performance on 12 March 2020 and at Rochester Riverside Crafty Xmas event on 7 December 2019.
Medway Neuro Arts Festival, Eastgate Gardens, Rochester, on Saturday 20 July. To see videos of this performance, please click Here. (The videos are on the 'Neuro Arts Festival' page of this website on a 'Music videos' drop-down menu).
Skylarks Newsletter: Please click HERE for the May 2019 newsletter, and HERE to see the March 2019 newsletter, both edited by Phil Bungay.
YOU ARE VERY WELCOME TO JOIN US. Either just turn up or drop us an email for more information: info@medwayneuro.org.uk
Medway Skylarks Online: The Isolation Choir
Phil Self has created 'The Isolation Choir' which involves us using our phones to video ourselves as we sing along to his YouTube videos. We then send our videos to Phil by email attachment (theisolationchoir.gmail.com) and he magically combines them such that we will later see ourselves performing as part of a virtual combined Canterbury Cantata Trust/ Massed Skylarks choir. You need to put your full name, location, Skylarks group (Medway) in the body of your email.
Phil started off with 'Wild Mountain Thyme', so just click the photo to the right to see the result of our first Isolation Choir video. Many thanks Phil for a brilliantly produced and edited video.
The second Isolation Choir song was 'What A Wonderful World'. To see this video, featuring the Sacconi Quartet, please click HERE.
The third Isolation Choir song was 'Road to Nowhere' and it can be viewed by clicking HERE.
The final Isolation Choir song of the year was 'White Christmas' and this can be viewed by clicking HERE.
Only You
Nicky Underwood took the final practice last week, and we aimed for something between Yazoo and the Flying Pickets.....
I Have A Dream
One of Medway Skylarks favourites, with Nicola Harwood and Judith Northwood Boorman leading on the descants.
You Raise Me Up
This Community Connection/ Social prescribing event was organised by Hannah Skerritt (RBLI) and Medway Skylarks would like to congratulate her on managing so well to fit such a large event into a relatively small venue.
The Peninsula Methodist Church, Lower Stoke, hosts a Companion Cafe every Thursday and on the fourth Thursday of each month it becomes a Neuro-cafe.
Skylarks at Community Connection event, Lower Stoke, 12 March 2020
We go A Capella, led by Ian Prior. Deputy Mayor of Medway Cllr. Jan Aldous posed with us and listened to: Hey Mr Miller/ Oh What A Beautiful Morning/ Chapel of Love. See BELOW for excellent video captured by Jane Etheridge (Headway Medway).
Medway Skylarks Research Publication
Medway Skylarks has participated in research to help establish an evidence base for the 'Sing to Beat Parkinson's'. Trish Vella-Burrows and Prof. Grenville Hancox participated in this international research projext, the results of which have just been published in 'Aging & Mental Health'; to see the paper please click Here.
The paper concluded: This first international singing study with People with Parkinson's demonstrated that group singing can reduce stigma, anxiety and stress and enhance social support in older adults living with Parkinson’s. The findings are encouraging and warrant further research using more robust designs.
Isobella from the University of Kent, Media Studies, kindly filmed an early Skylarks Saturday morning class, and this video gives a good example of the multi-tasking singing and movement that is so beneficial - click image to the right to see the video >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Sue Saunders, Rochester Riverside Liaison Officer, and Katie Brown and the marketing team welcomed us and set us up in a good position within the Marketing Suite to sing our carols.
Silent Night
Nicola and Ann did a great job as the only sopranos to make it; they sang one of the verses of White Xmas as a duet, with the choir humming softly to accompany.
Mistletoe and Wine
We finished our performance with Mistletoe and Wine and I think it fair to say that it went with a swing.
Thank you so much to Phil Self for rushing from leading choirs in Deal and Folkestone in the morning, to be with us. Thanks also to the Medway Skylarks who battled their way through Winter Dicken's traffic to find a parking space and sing.
Rochester Riverside staff kindly plied us with mince pies, mulled wine and coffee, so a good time was had by all!!!
Rochester Riverside held a raffle and have selected Medway Skylarks to be the beneficiary; they raised £135 and also sponsored the Skylarks Xmas card.
So a very big thank you to Rochester Riverside.
Medway Skylarks at Rochester Riverside's Crafty Xmas event, 7 December 2019
Choir Leader: Phil Self
Camera: Mike, Rochester Riverside Coop
Click the Marketing Suite photo below for Silver Bells & White Xmas
Camera: Mike, Rochester Riverside Coop
Click the Marketing Suite photo below for Silver Bells & White Xmas
St Mary's Island Community Centre Xmas Fair, 23 November 2019Camera: Louise Bungay
Medway Skylarks, Mistletoe and Wine.
Our first performance of this Cliff Richard 'classic'. Many thanks to Trish Vella-Burrows for leading the choir, with John Cornwall on guitar.
Ding Dong Merrily on High
Sandwiched between Calypso Carol & Silent Night (Jon Beetham leading) we had the men Ding Donging and the ladies singing the verses - all joing together in Glooooria.
Mayor of Medway Cllr. Habib Tejan presented Medway Skylarks with Rochester Riverside Sponsorship
Rochester Riverside has very kindly agreed to sponsor the Medway Skylarks Xmas Card, meaning that all money raised will go to supporting Medway Skylarks. These cards are on sale for 50p/ card. Here is a clip of the Mayor's speech.
Hey Mr Miller
We opened with Hey Mr Miller, breaking into two parts - Men vs Women this time. Led by Nik Vella-Burrows with John Cornwall on guitar.
Oh What a Beautiful Morning
Thinking of George and so many Skylarks who would have loved to have joined us, but couldn't make it to this performance due to health issues. Can you spot the gentleman from the Salvation Army who bravely stepped in to help us?
Chapel of Love
Our first performance of this song; the descant worked really well!!
Many thanks as always to Trish Vella-Burrows and Music4Wellbeing for leading the singing and bringing it all together.
Social Prescribing Event, St Augustine's Church, Gillingham, 7 November 2019
Video: Dr Peter Wareing - Many thanks
WALK FOR PARKINSON's, LEEDS CASTLESaturday 8 September 2019
Serenading Walkers: Hey Mr Miller
Show Area, with Bell & the Boots band
Troubles of the World, Round
Many thanks indeed to Nik & Trish Vella Burrows for leading the choir and to John Cornwall for guitar accompaniment. Thanks also to Frank Geoghegan for helping to reinforce the singing, and to Phil Bungay for organising the Skylark's contribution.
It was very nice to see Junko & Tony from Canterbury again!!!
Medway Ghanaian Association Family Fun Day
Medway Skylark were invited to perform at this event on Saturday 13 July. In the morning the participants went out on the Great Lines picking up rubbish and then congregated around the Parkinson's UK gazebo for a function that was honoured by the attendance of The Worshipful Mayor of Medway, Cllr. Habib Tejan. In the picture you see the Mayor, together with the Lady Mayoress Mrs Bridget Tezan, joining the Skylarks in singing 'Hey, Mr Miller'. The Ghanaian Association has adopted Medway Parkinson's Branch as their charity of the year.
We would like to thank our choir leader Trish Vella-Burrows, and accompanist John Cornwall, for coming all the way from Deal, to make this performance possible.
Canterbury: Joint Skylarks choirs to celebrate Parkinson's UK Awareness Week, 13 April 2019
Many thanks to Tony & Junko for organising this event and then welcoming Medway Skylarks into their flat for refreshments. Prof. Grenville Hancox writes: Skylarks heard singing in Rose Lane Canterbury: "Well done every one for realising the coming together this afternoon of Medway and Canterbury Skylarks. It was a great success and I am sure the collecting box for Parkinsons UK will have benefited.
Thanks too for the support shown by Monday Music and Amici Chorus members. We once again demonstrated our strap line Caring through Singing!
Such enthusiasm together with such strong singing should be captured again soon".
To the right is a video of 'Streets of London' (apologies for the wind noise).
Louise Bungay videos can be found by clicking the following links (you may need to increase volume): Dream Dream; Tzena Tzena; Can't Help Falling in Love with You.
Medway Skylarks performing at Medway Social Prescribing Day event on Thursday 14 March 2019 at Pentagon Shopping Centre, Chatham
Please click the image to the right for a video clip of Medway Skylarks singing Amazing Grace. It should be added that the ambient noise levels were high, so we needed to pull out all of the stops.
Many thank to Trish Vella-Burrows for leading the choir and to John Cornwll for accompanying on guitar.
Streets of London
We opened our set with our first public performance of Streets of London, led by Nik Vella-Burrows.
Blue Moon
Another first for us, with John Cornwall accompanying on guitar at the back!!
Dream Dream Dream
Close your eyes and you can almost hear the Everly Brothers..perhaps not, but you can hear our amazing choir leader Trish Vella-Burrows singing like a nightingale!!
Joint Medway & Chatham Skylarks performances above to help celebrate Parkinson's UK World Awareness Day (11 April) at the busy, and rather noisy, Pentagon Shopping Centre. Many thanks indeed to Trish & Nik Vella-Burrows and John Cornwall for leading and accompanying the combined Medway & Chatham Skylarks choirs.
Many thanks also to Louise Bungay for the video recordings; the full download of all 6 songs (2.4GB) is available Here.
Parkinson's UK World Parkinson's Day Eve: Pentagon Shopping Centre, Chatham - 10 April 2019. Organised by PUK Medway Branch and Working Age Group.
Medway Skylarks at the Medway Community Showcase, Brook Theatre, Chatham, 17 March
Medway Skylarks were invited to perform at this prestigeous event and it was a great experience for all of us; we even had a dressing room!! Filming was not allowed in the auditorium, but Louise did take this video of us practicing Tzena, Tzena just before we went on stage. Notice the shamrocks that we were wearing on St Patrick's Day - courtesy of Maggi Alexander - many thanks Maggi.
In addition to Tzena, we also sang Molly Malone and You Raise me Up.
Medway Skylarks at Medway Nucleus Arts ArtFest on 1 December, Trafalgar Stage, Chatham High Street
Many thanks to Trish & Nik Vella-Burrows for leading the choir so cheerfully on rather a wet & miserable day. Thanks also to Timothy for the videos, accessed to the right.
Thank you Nucleus Arts for the invite!!
Many thanks to Trish & Nik Vella-Burrows for leading the choir so cheerfully on rather a wet & miserable day. Thanks also to Timothy for the videos, accessed to the right.
Silver Bells
Thank you so much to those Skylarks who braved the weather and put on a festive performance.
I'm Dreaming of a White Xmas
Medley: Winter Wonderland/ Rocking around the Christmas Tree/ Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Apologies for those viewing on fixed screens, such as laptops & PC monitors, because landscape shots still appear in portrait - don't crick your necks watching!! For those watching on phones & tablets, just turn your screens as appropriate.
Medway Skylarks performance at the St Mary's Island Xmas Fair 2018
Medway Skylarks performed at the SMICC Xmas Fair again this year. The background hub-hub of the Fair made it quite a challenge, but clicking on the picture to the left you will see us singing 'Calypso Carol'.
Many thanks to choir leaders Nik & Trish Vella-Burrows and accompaniest John Cornwall. Also thanks to Mark McGrevey for the song-books and Trevor Nagler for recording and editing the video.
Medway Skylarks Perform at Medway Clinical Commissioning Group AGM, 26 September 2018
We were honoured to be invited to sing at this AGM and hence be given the opportunity to promote our singing & movement 'Sing to the Beat' therapy for neurological conditions. We had an excellent EXALTATION of Skylarks, very ably lead by choir master Trish Vella-Burrows and accompanied by John Cornwall on guitar. Our final song was 'You Raise Me Up' and a video, recorded by Louise Bungay, can be seen by clicking on the image to the right.
MCCG Clinical Chairman Dr Peter Green joins Skylarks - for a photo-shoot!!!
Yes, Dr Green (far right standing) showed a genuine interest in Medway Skylarks and joined us for a photo-shoot in front of the Medway Neurological Network stall at the AGM. Many thanks to Frank Geoghegan for the excellent photo.
Shortly afterwards we did our warm-up/ practice and before you could leave on a jet plane we were performing - the rest is history.
Medway Skylarks Perform at wHoo Cares 1940's Afternoon Tea Party - a 2018 Volunteer Recognition Event, 7 September 2018
Although short on numbers, the gallant few Skylarks kept right on to the end of the road with some wartime classics. Choir leader Trish Vella-Burrows had our audience of wHoo Cares volunteers and local residents joining in whilst they enjoyed a grand tea; no wartime rations here!!! Many thanks indeed to Trish and our guitarist John Cornwall, without whom this show would not have been possible.
Pictures: Martin Chetwood
Grain Carnival & Fete, Saturday 21 July 2018
MNN had a float in the Grain Carnival promoting the Hoo Neuro-Cafes and Medway Skylarks performed a song, written especially for this event. See our final practice of the 'Neuro-Cafe' song, by clicking the picture to the right.
To see a video of the Skylarks singing at the fete, please go to the Neuro-cafes page. Many thanks to John Cornwall (guitar) & Trish Vella-Burrows (choir leader) for making this possible.
Medway Skylarks
Singing their socks off for
World Parkinson's Day
11 April 2018.
Sainsbury's, Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre ^ >>>>>>>>
John Cornwall on Guitar
Many thanks to Graham Swan for the first 3 photos
Trish Vella-Burrows leads the choir
Judith, Olive, Doreen & Maggi lead from the front
Or for a more arty presentation, see the animated slideshow.
Medway Neuro-Fair 2018 videos >>>>>>
Hey, Mr Miller
John Kanaka
Oh, What A Beautiful Morning
Many thanks to Nik Vella-Burrows, Choir-master & Guitarist & Trish
BREAKING NEWS: Prof. Grenville Hancox has participated in the 'Sing to beat Parkinson's Asia Pacific Study Symposiun, 1-3 February 2018' held in Australia. The amazing research findings have been reported by ABC News - Australia: Parkinson's disease improves with singing, study finds. See this report, including a video, here.
Medway Skylarks are part of a study to demonstrate that Sing to Beat Parkinson's can also help improve the symptoms of other neurological conditions, as well as Parkinson's Disease.
Medway Skylarks at the Medway Youth Trust Charity Fete on 15 August 2017
Nik (Guitar) & Trish Vella-Burrows lead this merry band of minstrels performing at this event held in Gillingham Park.
Please click image to the right to see the video >>>>>>>>>>>
Ben Odom (Benjamin William Odom 1953-2019): We are extremely sad to report the passing of Ben and our most sincere condolences are sent to his wife Janet, and Family. Ben is survived by his brothers and sister, his wife Janet, and his children Helen, Juliet, Jonathan, Becky, Jemima and Elliott. He also has two grandchildren, Harry and Clara, plus two more on the way.
A service in memory of Ben was held at St Margaret's Church, Rochester on 11 June 2019. The fact that the church was packed was a testament in itself to how many people Ben's outstanding life has touched and influenced. The Eulogy, read by Revd Dr Joel Love, told us of a most remarkable life. We learnt that Ben had been a schoolboy chorister and later a choral student at St John's College Cambridge. His recordings with fellow solo chorister Roger Parker are most highly regarded - and still played on BBC Radio 3. One such recording of 'Sanctus' and 'Benedictus' from Benjamin Britten's 'Miss Brevis' was played at this service. Later, as a freelance soloist and choral singer, Ben worked with celebrated choirs such as the Monteverdi Choir and the BBC Singers. As well as performing, Ben was also: an ochestral conductor at Cambridge; an accomplished accompanist; a voice tutor; and Musical Director of the Marlowe Singers in Gravesend, the Tudor Consort in Rochester, Kent, and the Darent Valley Choir.
We remebered Ben at Skylarks on 25 May, singing 'The Lord's my Shepherd' and 'Abide with Me'. Frank Geoghegan passed on condolences from our Choir Leader Trish Vella-Burrows, who unfortunately couldn't be with us. Frank said "Ben was a lovely man and a talented musician and will be greatly missed by all - please pass on my condolences to Janet and Family." Judith Northwood-Boorman read out a Eulogy that she had written about Ben, and this can be viewed by clicking HERE
Ben will be so sadly missed by so many and Medway Skylark's condolences are extended once more to Janet and the Family.