Belfast choir still standing in television competition

THE BELFAST Open Arts Community Choir will appear tomorrow night on BBC1's Last Choir Standing after winning through to the last…

THE BELFAST Open Arts Community Choir will appear tomorrow night on BBC1's Last Choir Standingafter winning through to the last 15 of the competition.

The choir comprises able-bodied and disabled singers.

The Ulster choir first appeared live on the opening episode of the BBC programme at the start of July, where they were competing with 59 other choirs.

They impressed the judges, moving one of them, Sharon Clarke, to tears.

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Open Arts chief executive Kate Ingram said this was the most exciting activity the Open Arts Community Choir had been involved in to date.

"It enables us to show the benefits of inclusive arts projects with disabled and non-disabled people working together to develop their artistic talents," she added.

Conductor Beverley White, a Queen's University music graduate who has spina bifida, said she was very excited about the competition and the success of the choir.

She said the Open Arts Community Choir adventure started eight years ago after the members had performed in an opera composed for them called The Sights and Sounds of Belfast.

Half of the 25 members of the group suffer from some form of physical disability. They see themselves as similar to any other choir because they share a passion and love for singing.

"What is important about us is that we are inclusive and versatile," said choir member Barbara Fleming who is wheelchair-bound.

For tomorrow's competition they will be singing soul hits from the Sixties.

Choir member and support worker Alison McClay said: "When it comes to singing we are all even, you forget who is disabled and who is not. My role as a support worker is so minor now; they are all independent and never want my help."

The programme airs at 6.30pm.