Dreaming Our Woods - Rehearsals

Very busy week with final rehearsals for Dreaming Our Woods

Neil Paris in the centre

Barb Jungr

Gareth Fuller

George Reilly and Barb Junger

Neil Paris striding in Kurt's lightsacpe

Dancers

Deep Roots Tall Trees - Remembrance and Rebirth

Very proud to be part of Ring Of Fire 

and of The Deep Roots Tall Trees Choir 

here we are waiting to perform our 

Rememberance and Rebirth Concert at 

May 5th 2016

Davide Mantovani,

Barb Jungr, George Reilly, Mark Brennan, Gareth Fuller

Rosalind Stoddart, Sarah Mellor, Gill Arthy

Ann Gray, Denise Sharman, Eddie Askew,  Simon Steptoe, David Mason, Margaret Marshall, Brigid Gibbs, Jaqui Dowsett, June Smith,  Leony McPherson, Elsebeth Elsa Holmes, Catherine Morrison, Gill Arthy, Sarah Mellor, Philomena Brown, Maggie Boothby, Margaret Hemmings, Janine Bianchi,  , Shusha Walmsley  Karen Diane, Jenny Williams, Carole Miles, Janice Crane Davis, Rosalind Stoddart, Barb Jungr, George Reilly, Mark Brennan, Gareth Fuller and quite a few more! Photo by Andrew Rushton

About the  project

Ring of Fire with Barb Jungr during the creation of the 4 Montagu Monuments Songs

The Prince's Regeneration Trust

The Montagu Monuments

Photographs of the performance by Andrew Rushton

More photos 

Deep Root Tall Trees Coming Home Concert

I have been a part of the alto section of this wonderful Choir since our first concert in 2012 and it is amazing to reflect on just how far we have come. In the run up to the concert we met together twice a week and had one Sunday intensive rehearsal where the set was brought together. It has been fascinating to see how songs develop, grow and change, just as we as individuals and as a choir have grown and changed. 

Screen shot from the DRTT website

The music, our wonderful Artistic Director Barb Jungr and our ever patient Choir Director Gareth Fuller, keep us on our metal. In this concert the sound and blend of the Choir felt lovely, being together on stage, waiting to begin, we all felt bonded and ready to give our all, together. 

Photo by Andrew Rushton

Photo by Andrew Rushton

I was lucky enough to be part of the group that helped to create new songs for the concert and wrote the words to a piece called Shooting Stars, which was shaped, pruned, transformed, arranged and set to music by Barb Jungr, Mark Brennan, George Reilly and Gareth Fuller. They give us such inspiration and share their talent, skill and time so wholeheartedly it is quite overwhelming. 

When I first heard how magically Barb had transformed my words I was in a beautiful garden, feeling both joyful and sad, celebrating the life and passing of a dear friend who had also had faith in me as a visual artist in the early days of my career. Tom's band The Red Hot Chillies were playing and it was strange not to see him there with his trumpet. I remembered the happy time I had had painting a riotous mural on the walls of his music room in Gretton. I think he would have enjoyed becoming part of the associated memories stitched inside the song. 

The song also contains walks over wet, windy fields with my dear friend Ros, without whom I would not be singing, but most of all it contains memories of three small boys and their Dad and all the walks and picnics we shared in Stoke and Northamptonshire. For quite a long time he didn't recognise what that the song was about us 

" I never showed you parks and gardens" he said

It was only after I listed all the places we had been that he felt happy to accept the song was for him. 

Photographs by Kate Dyer on the DRTT Website

It was a moving experience to be able to sing the song as soloist with the wonderful DRTT Choir. It is hard to put into words everything this journey has meant to me. There is so much still to learn, so much I need to improve, but for the moment all I can say is I loved every moment. 

During the whole day and into the performance there was a real sense of joy and community amongst the Choir which we wanted to share with the audience, I think we succeeded if this comment from Twitter is anything to go by!

"Marian Anderson ‏@MarianSAnderson Oct 3

Cried tears of joy, laughter & sheer emotion tonight @thecorecorby seeing #DeepRootsTallTrees choir. 

Loved @Digifem singing Shooting Stars"

There are many more wonderful photographs of the all the performers By T.J.Driver Photography here

Sing Inspiration 2015

We sang at The Royal Festival Hall!

What an amazing experience!

This link will take you to We Are Not Ashamed Of The Gospel / Take Me Back 

Sing Inspiration 2015 at Royal Festival Hall, London, 2nd March 2015

Big Mass Choir including members of the Deep Root Tall Trees Choir

Choir Director - Daniel Thompson

MD - Gareth Fuller

Becca Folkes, Israel J Allen, Ricardo Williams, Lurine Cato, Priscilla Jones, Hildia Campbell, Michelle John, Faye Simpson, Jennifer Phillips, Dawn Thomas, Sharlene Hector, Clinton Jordan, Paul Lee, David Daniels, Wayne Hernandez, Isaiah Raymond Dyer, Janine Dyer, Gillian Nembhard, Lisa Allen, Raymond & Co.Paul Powell, Freddie Thompson, John Thompson, Rickey Simpson-Gray, Linslee Campbell, Gareth Fuller, Howard Francis, Jerry Brown, Michael Brown, Emlyn Maillard, Mark Walker, Steven Fuller, Nik Carter, Solomon Facey, Daniel Thompson, Nicky Brown, VM & New Ye, ig Mass Choir, Men Of Gospel, Women Of Gospel, Guitars Of Gospel The Bass Players

New Town Pioneers - How Was It For You?

Photograph by Andrej  Berezin

Taking part in the New Town Pioneers was an amazing experience and if you'd like to read Barb Jungr's impressions follow this link to her Blog bouquet of barbs. 

If you'd like to join the choir there is a new Deep Roots Tall Trees website here

Deep Roots, Tall Trees - A Race Against the Rain

It was a race against the rain in Coronation Park on Saturday evening, as we all came together on stage the clouds gathered amongst the deep roots and tall trees. After some safety advice in case of rain, Barb Jungr guided Corby Community Choir  fearlessly through our songs. Rumour has it that you could hear us in the town centre. The children playing and dancing, friends, family and community members who came to see us made it a very special evening. We had to start a little early so some of the audience missed the set but the atmosphere was wonderful and our celebrations later that evening showed once again that people in Corby just know how to have the best time!

Barb Jungr and Gareth Fuller

Mark Brennan

Eddie Askew and Annette Driver

Kate Dyer and Barb getting us organised!

Paul Balmer

Photograph byTerrence Driver

"We had a ball at Coronation Park - the weather - frankly - sucked - but we sang and played and triumphed. Thank you Gareth Fuller, Kate Dyer, Rosalind Stoddart, Mark Brennan, Nick Finn, all the choir and Head of Snakes." Barb Jungr

You can catch the full magic of Barb Jungr performing Form Stockport to Memphis, a selection of songs including those of Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Northern Soul and much more at the Queen's Hall, Edinborough, August 21st. We were lucky enough to see this at The Core earlier this year, it's a treat for the ears and a tonic for the heart!

Photograph by Andrew Rushton

The choir is guided by Gareth Fuller who has done much work to improve our breathing, blend and confidence since our first performance last year. It is a wonderful way to spend time with a great group of people doing something that really boosts wellbeing and happiness! The choir is taking a break until September but will be rehearsing back at the Core on Friday evenings after that, if you would like to join us please contact Kate Dyer at Corby Community Arts for more details.