Young singers wow at The Glasshouse’s Home Alone in Concert
A group of young people from the North East took the chance to bring festive cheer to sold-out crowds at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music last weekend, and are looking for more people to join their choir.
Quay Voices, a choir for ages 13-18, took to the stage three packed-out performances of Home Alone in Concert last weekend. Singing alongside Royal Northern Sinfonia and Voices of The River’s Edge choir, Quay Voices brought John Williams’ magnificent score including the film’s signature tune ‘Somewhere in My Memory’ to life while the movie was played on a big screen.
The chance for choir to sing in Sage One at Home Alone was incredible and made the event extra special for everyone there.
Jennifer Bland, Quay Voices Musical Director, said:
“I think they really enjoyed being part of the amazing experience. They were part of a really large choir with a full orchestra and performed to a sold-out audience in Sage One.”
Rose Howell, Quay Voices member, said:
“It was really magical because Home Alone is a film I watched when I was younger. To be part of the music, which is such a big part in bringing the film to life, is surreal in the best way.”
The Glasshouse hope other young people are curious about by what they saw and is encouraging anyone who loves to sing to join them from January 2024.
The welcoming group meet in an inclusive space every Saturday afternoon at The Glasshouse. There are no auditions and no need to read sheet music. Sometimes, they create their own music and work with visiting artists. And of course, there are one-of-a-kind performance opportunities like Home Alone in Concert throughout the year.
Issay Chapman, Quay Voices member, said:
“I wanted to try something different. Joining Quay Voices has been the right choice because it’s an absolutely amazing experience.”
Hannah Fumoleau, Manager, Make Music: Young People at The Glasshouse said:
“Quay Voices is for young people who want to sing. We welcome all backgrounds and understand things can be tough. Families can apply for help with grants and bursaries to make sure there are no barriers to joining us.”
After the festive period, Quay Voices will be raring to get going again on 6 January 2024. They love hearing new voices and ask people to get in touch at youngmusicians@theglasshouseicm.org
-ENDS-
For press enquiries please contact:
Beverley Knight beverley.knight@theglasshouseicm.org 0191 443 4583
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About The Glasshouse International Centre for Music
The Glasshouse International Centre for Music is a home for live music lovers.
It’s a place where you can hear rock legends or pop icons on the same night as folk trios or string quartets. Where new musicians are nurtured and showcased on the same stages as platinum-selling performers. And where youth choirs and tambourine-shaking toddlers practise in the same spaces as its acclaimed orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia.
Because as an international centre for music they’re focused on creating and celebrating outstanding music – whether that’s unearthing or growing talent from the region or bringing the world’s best artists to their stages. And as a charity they’re focused on making sure all of that is available to anyone – no matter where you’re from, how old you are, how much money you have, or what challenges you face.
Which is why every year more than 2 million people are able to join for top-notch gigs, concerts, and classes – in their venue at Gateshead Quays, out in communities across the North East, and through livestreamed performances and digital lessons.
Whether you’re making it up or taking it in, you’ll find music lives and grows there.
More about The Glasshouse International Centre for Music
- From global stars to artists starting out, The Glasshouse has hosted 10,022 performances, totalling 4.7m tickets. To have seen every performance would have meant seeing one show every day for 27 years.
- It’s hosted over 220,000 music lessons for North East folk. The region’s young people have learnt to play, sing or produce with us, on over 1.7m occasions.
- Royal Northern Sinfonia perform at The Glasshouse, tour the region, and have played to international audiences on four continents, with livestreams reaching people across five.
- Like stepping stones, artists like Ward Thomas have worked their way from their free stages to selling out its big hall and getting global recognition.
- The Glasshouse regularly opens its doors to a wide range of conferences and events. Since 2004, they’ve welcome over 400,000 delegates from the likes of Greggs, NHS and British Engines, and many, many more.
- The charity is one of Gateshead’s biggest employers, and so far it’s generated £500m of economic value to the region.
- The charity has been the proud guardians of The Glasshouse for almost 20 years, safeguarding it when live music was put on hold during the pandemic.
- The centre has 630 panes of glass and stands 40m tall.