MEMBERS of a choir sung together for the first time in four months - at a ground-breaking drive-in singalong.

Award-winning Funky Voices, which is based in East Bergholt but has members across Essex, believe the rehearsal was the first of its kind in the UK.

More than 150 cars gathered at a secret location in Essex with more than two miles of cable being laid to ensure each singer had a microphone.

The idea was the brainchild of managing director Sandra Colston, who conducted the singers from the top of her van.

Gazette:

  • The choir mid song

She said: “I haven’t heard the choir for four months so it was very emotional for me.

“It was different but it came quite naturally to them. They were just further away and I had to conduct with bigger gestures.

“As soon as we had finished the members were asking when we would be doing it again. We will definitely do another one.”

Here is a video of the choir performing:

During lockdown the choir have moved rehearsals online with the team teaching from a special studio set up in Sandra’s spare bedroom.

But they haven’t let the lockdown hold them back and have learned six brand new medleys from the likes of Wham, Robbie Williams and Chaka Khan.

Sandra said: “We have been rehearsing online seven days a week as we wanted to provide every opportunity for people to get involved.

“We have been working so hard to ensure the community feeling we have amongst the choir is still there.

“The drive-in was the first time I had heard them sing the new songs. As soon as I heard them it stumped me.

“To hear them back for the first time was amazing.”

Over the lockdown the choir has also had some exciting news when Roger Hodgson, of rock band Supertramp, invited them to join him on his UK tour next year.

The shows will see the band perform at big venues in the likes of Cardiff, Liverpool and Brighton and could even see them perform at the iconic Royal Albert Hall in London.

Sandra said: “It is huge for us. I am still a bit in shock about it. It looks like we’ll be doing the whole UK tour which is incredible.

“When the choir members heard they were jumping up and down with joy.”

Visit funkyvoices.co.uk