The Choir (TV series)
Encyclopedia
The Choir is a BAFTA award winning TV series following Gareth Malone
as he tackles the task of teaching choral singing to people who have never had the chance, or experience to sing before.
The first series aired in 2006 and the most recent series, The Choir: Unsung Town, which involves the creation of a choir in South Oxhey
, Hertfordshire began on BBC Two on 1 September 2009. The series began to air on BBC America
in the summer of 2010.
. He formed his choir in Northolt High School
, a comprehensive school in Middlesex
, which had never had a school choir.
in China from a school that had never had a choir before. He did it in nine months. This one-off programme catches up with Gareth and the students to find out how their lives have changed since.
, an all boys school in Leicester
. Again this school had no previous singing tradition and he fought to dispel the myth that "boys don’t sing".
As well as having to win over the pupils with the school year already underway, Gareth had to gain the trust of fellow teachers (for whom he also wanted singing). He also needed to juggle his daily class work with the bureaucracy of being a teacher, deal with staff politics as he tries to drive through his ambitious plans, and find a way to work in partnership with the other members of the music department so that he could build a lasting legacy.
The aim was to have a 100 strong all boys choir performing out on the stage alongside the best school choirs in the country as part of the Schools Prom concert at the Royal Albert Hall
.
, Watford
.
The series saw the creation of the South Oxhey Community Choir and the South Oxhey Youth Choir. The choirs performed at venues including the Watford Colosseum in December 2008, St Albans Abbey in February 2009, and headlining at Sox Fest '09
in May 2009. In April 2009, the Community Choir made their debut recording at Abbey Road Studios
Gareth Malone continued as choirmaster for two years following the conclusion of the TV recording and now maintains his support as patron . The choir continues to regularly perform with their current musical director, Simon Wookey
Gareth Malone
Gareth Malone is a British choirmaster and broadcaster, self-described as an "animateur, presenter and populariser of choral singing"...
as he tackles the task of teaching choral singing to people who have never had the chance, or experience to sing before.
The first series aired in 2006 and the most recent series, The Choir: Unsung Town, which involves the creation of a choir in South Oxhey
South Oxhey
South Oxhey is a suburb of Watford in the Watford Rural parish of the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire, England. It is located in the south western corner of Hertfordshire and close to the boundary with Greater London.-History:...
, Hertfordshire began on BBC Two on 1 September 2009. The series began to air on BBC America
BBC America
BBC America is an American television network, owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, and available on both cable and satellite.-History:The channel launched on March 29, 1998, broadcasting comedy, drama and lifestyle programs from BBC Television and other British television broadcasters like ITV and...
in the summer of 2010.
Series
| Series | Episodes | Originally aired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Choir | 3 | 4 December 2006 – 18 December 2006 | |
| The Choir: Revisited | 1 | 25 January 2008 | Catches up with Gareth and the students of the first series to see how their lives have changed |
| The Choir: Boys Don't Sing | 4 | 1 February 2008 – 22 February 2008 | |
| The Choir: Unsung Town | 4 | 1 September 2009 – 22 September 2009 | |
| The Choir: Boys Don't Sing: Revisited | 1 | 29 September 2009 | Gareth catches up with the former choir members and checks to see if he has made a lasting impact |
| The Choir does Sports Relief | NA | 19 March 2010 | Gareth trained Olympic and Paralympic Athletes in aid for Sport Relief 2009. |
| The Choir does Comic Relief | NA | 18 March 2011 | Gareth trained a team of celebrity chefs in aid for Comic Relief 2011. |
| The Choir: Military Wives | 3 | 7 November 2011 | Gareth trains a group of wives and girlfriends of military personnel. |
| The Choir does Children in Need | NA | 18 November 2011 | Over 2000 children performed via video link-up from across the UK for the Children in Need 2011 appeal night singing Avril Lavigne's "Keep Holding On". |
The Choir
The original series of The Choir aired in 2006. This followed Gareth’s attempts to take a newly formed school choir and, after only nine months training, take them to China to compete in the 2006 World Choir GamesWorld Choir Games
The World Choir Games is the largest choir competition in the world. Organized for amateur choirs from all over the world, regardless of their country of origin, race, genre of music or artistic ambitions, its motto is "Singing together brings nations together"...
. He formed his choir in Northolt High School
Northolt High School
Northolt High School is a comprehensive secondary school in Northolt in the London borough of Ealing, Middlesex.-Admissions:The school holds specialist Technology College status. It accepts students between the age of 11 to 18. The school has a total of 1401 students. The Headteacher is Mr. Chris...
, a comprehensive school in Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
, which had never had a school choir.
The Choir: Revisited
In 2006, Gareth Malone tried to take a choir to the World Choir GamesWorld Choir Games
The World Choir Games is the largest choir competition in the world. Organized for amateur choirs from all over the world, regardless of their country of origin, race, genre of music or artistic ambitions, its motto is "Singing together brings nations together"...
in China from a school that had never had a choir before. He did it in nine months. This one-off programme catches up with Gareth and the students to find out how their lives have changed since.
The Choir: Boys Don't Sing
In the second series, originally aired in 2008, Gareth worked with the Lancaster SchoolLancaster School
The Lancaster School is a comprehensive school for boys aged 11 to 16, located in Knighton, Leicester, and is a specialist sports and arts college....
, an all boys school in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
. Again this school had no previous singing tradition and he fought to dispel the myth that "boys don’t sing".
As well as having to win over the pupils with the school year already underway, Gareth had to gain the trust of fellow teachers (for whom he also wanted singing). He also needed to juggle his daily class work with the bureaucracy of being a teacher, deal with staff politics as he tries to drive through his ambitious plans, and find a way to work in partnership with the other members of the music department so that he could build a lasting legacy.
The aim was to have a 100 strong all boys choir performing out on the stage alongside the best school choirs in the country as part of the Schools Prom concert at the Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall
The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....
.
The Choir: Boys Don't Sing – Revisited
Gareth returns to Lancaster School to catch up with the former choir members and check to see if he has made a lasting impact.The Choir: Unsung Town
The Choir returned on the 1st September 2009. The focus is on the community of South OxheySouth Oxhey
South Oxhey is a suburb of Watford in the Watford Rural parish of the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire, England. It is located in the south western corner of Hertfordshire and close to the boundary with Greater London.-History:...
, Watford
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
.
The series saw the creation of the South Oxhey Community Choir and the South Oxhey Youth Choir. The choirs performed at venues including the Watford Colosseum in December 2008, St Albans Abbey in February 2009, and headlining at Sox Fest '09
Sox Fest '09
The Sox Fest is a community festival, including choirmaster Gareth Malone. It was based in South Oxhey, which is in the borough of Watford. In the festival there was a live performance by the South Oxhey choir, which Gareth Malone helped with. It was also shown on the series of The Choir in the...
in May 2009. In April 2009, the Community Choir made their debut recording at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
Gareth Malone continued as choirmaster for two years following the conclusion of the TV recording and now maintains his support as patron . The choir continues to regularly perform with their current musical director, Simon Wookey
The Choir does Sport Relief
Aired on 19 March 2010 as part of Sport Relief 2010; Gareth Malone gathered and trained Olympic and Paralympic athletes to form The Sport Relief Choir.The Choir does Comic Relief
Aired on March 18th, 2011; a group of celebrity chefs performed Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" for Comic Relief 2011. Astley appeared in person as well.The Choir: Military Wives
The Choir: Military Wives began airing on Monday, November 7, 2011 and followed the three-episode format of the previous series. In this case, the choir is made up of the wives and girlfriends of military personnel.DVD releases
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