Belfast choir brings together disabled and non-disabled singers
A Belfast based choir which includes disabled and non-disabled people has been nominated for a prestigious award. It is one of only four in the UK shortlisted for the Inspiration Award at the Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) awards.Beverley McGeown, a wheelchair user and the musical director of the Open Arts Community Choir, said being part of the choir was the best "feelgood factor that you'll ever get".The winner of the award will be decided by a public vote held before Monday 3 February.
Mental health
Beverley said the choir is a great way of bringing people together. "It's a social thing, it's a gathering, it's a really good place for increasing your mental health," she said."We come from all walks of life, people with disabilities and those without."We've people from all sides of the community as well and from all parts of Northern Ireland."BBC News NI joined the choir at rehearsals, which take place every week.The choir sings songs from a variety of genres including classical, folk music, show songs and pop music.But the community created by the choir is as important as the music.Beverley is hoping the public will support the choir in the RPS awards."We're the only act from Northern Ireland to have been shortlisted, so we're just absolutely bowled over and really excited," she said."We're really hoping that everyone from Northern Ireland gets behind us and votes for us."
Breege Corr, who also uses a wheelchair, has been in the choir for 25 years."We've done lots of things," she said."We've travelled to America, Wales, Riga - you name it, we've been there."Music has always been a big part of my life ever since I was very young, it's been really a joyful experience, meeting new friends."Breege said the sense of community the choir brought was "integral"."It doesn't matter what your background is, we're all in it together," she said."The one thing we have in common is a love of music and a love of singing and we love performing."No matter what anyone is going through or the difficulties we face we always find a way to stay together and keep together and keep singing."
Gareth Smyth and his guide dog, Alice, are also members of the choir."We all support and encourage one another, and we all blend in very well with harmony and we listen in to each other," said Gareth, who is one of several visually impaired members.
Gareth said some of the music could be "very challenging" to perform but he thought it was a "good idea to rise to the challenge". "I think the most important thing is we all get along," he added.If you want to hear the Open Arts Community Choir, they will be performing at the Belfast cultural hub at 2 Royal Avenue on Saturday 1 February from 13:30 to 14:30 GMT.
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