Our St George’s Staff Choir take to the stage in Manchester!
05 December 2023
The St George’s Staff Choir, led by Georgia Duncan and produced by our Arts Team, meets every Thursday at 5pm, to learn new and familiar songs, and even write their own. They have had a busy year, performing at several events and writing and recording their original song, ‘Who Cares For The Carers’. Last month, they headed to Manchester to perform the song for the finale for a national project, named ‘Our National Health Stories’.
‘Our National Health Stories’ was a partnership programme between 19 NHS Trusts across England, inviting staff to creatively share their stories in the institution’s 75th Year, to be stitched together for a major showcase in November. Eager to explore the significance the National Health Service through music, after months of collaborative songwriting, St George’s Staff Choir’s contribution to the project was ‘Who Cares For the Carers’: a song which aims to explore what it means to be a part of the institution at this important milestone.
Alongside this powerful messaging, the song also highlights the challenges which the institution is facing and the impact which it has had over the years. Significantly, the lyrics include a call for action, inviting the audience, or listener to ‘fight’ to support the service into the future.
After a visit from Kwame Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE, Artistic Director of the project, the Choir were delighted to be selected to perform to close the show in Manchester – no pressure!
With a combination of excitement and nerves, the choir travelled up North together on Thursday 23 November, having also performed their song as part of a national ‘relay’ of live streamed events across the 19 Trusts the previous day. After a quick rehearsal at the venue, the Choir headed back to their hotel for a refresh and to pop on their Staff Choir T-shirts, before heading out to dinner together.
The chance to relax and enjoy one another’s company outside of the hospital setting was invaluable to the participants, who, under the skilful leadership of Georgia Duncan, then headed back to Aviva studios, to take the seats in the upper balcony, to watch the preceding elements of the show, before being escorted to the wings in preparation for taking to the stage for their grand performance.
Kathryn St John-Mosse, Choir Member, said: “Representing St George’s as part of the St George’s Staff Choir in Manchester to help celebrate the 75th Anniversary of our NHS was a huge privilege and it was inspiring to hear so many stories from other NHS Trusts. All in all a wonderful experience.”
Accompanied for the first time by a live band, the Choir did St George’s proud, singing both in unison and with harmonies and celebrating the piece which they have worked so hard on for so long. They were rewarded by rapturous applause, as the professional cast members and participating staff members from the other Trusts involved in the project joined them on stage, honouring the creativity and dedication involved in making the whole performance happen.
Alongside the experience of performing on a professional stage with all the bright lights and enthusiastic audience members, it was inspiring for the Choir to watch what each of the other Trusts had created in response to the creative prompts of the project. From poems with live backing band accompaniment to animation, dance and even a gameshow sketch – there was a real range of storytelling on display.
Overall, the show created a unique portrait of the NHS organisation through its people, providing a window for all of us to powerfully explore, share and reflect upon the profound impact of the NHS on our public life.
Sarah Swing, Choir Member, said: “It was a privilege – and a lot of fun - to represent St. Georges in this opportunity to celebrate the NHS. It was also heart-warming to see other Trusts’ creative endeavours and great to feel part of the NHS as a National Institution."
A huge Thank You to the members of the St George’s Staff Choir, who took precious annual leave to travel to Manchester to perform and represent St George’s so beautifully, and to our Choir Leader Georgia Duncan, for guiding the singers so generously.
To watch the performance back, please click here (St George's are at 2 hours 7 minutes!).
If you are a Staff Member at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and are interested in signing up to be a part of the Choir next term, please click here.
Arts St George’s is the Arts Programme for St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is part of St George’s Hospital Charity. To find out more about our programme, please click here, or follow us on socials @artsstgeorges.