A COMMUNITY choir is Alive and Singing – fresh from performing with an award-winning classical boyband.

Stevenage choir Alive and Singing aims to be “one of a kind”, with an unusual repertoire of songs from artists which include Guns and Roses and Alicia Keys.

Having performed with Blake two weeks ago, the fledgeling choir is already expanding and has recorded its debut album Don’t Look Back which is available on iTunes.

Speaking about the experience of sharing a stage with the winners of a Classical BRIT award, choir director Jamie Serafi said: “It was an unforgettable experience.

“We got to sing with a professional boyband and that’s not something that happens very often. It was a feeling I can’t really describe.”

Looking ahead, the 33-year-old from Hitchin is hopeful that the choir can expand and is looking for new members to attend their weekly meetings which start up again on Tuesday, September 18, at Christ the King Church in Filey Close, Stevenage, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

“We are the only choir of its kind in Stevenage,” said Jamie, who has forged a career in music as a pianist and a composer.

“There were so many new choirs in Hitchin already and Stevenage seems to be an area where there wasn’t anything like this. It’s a very friendly all-inclusive choir of all ages performing upbeat, feel-good hits of past and present including songs by Coldplay, Guns and Roses, Gary Barlow and Alicia Keys to name a few. When people think of choirs they see them singing Hallelujah and that’s not the impression we’re trying to create.

“The choir choose the songs and I arrange them all and we perform in three part harmony over backing tracks.

Members leave each rehearsal on a natural high, make new friends and get out of the house for two hours a week and interact with others in a friendly, supportive, fun environment where they can ‘sing their blues away’.

“There is no audition and no need to read music. Everybody is welcome, regardless of experience or ability. Anybody can just turn up and have a free taster session to see if they like it and then decide to join if they wish.

“We are very much trying to grow the choir and would encourage some new members to attend a taster session at the start of our new term.”

The choir, which meets every Tuesday, gives public performance once every 10 weeks, raising money for cancer-based charities in the process.

For more information, call Jamie on 07968 698651, visit www.aliveandsinging.com or email aliveandsinging@gmail.com