WATCH: The King's Singers collaborate with Soundabout in touching performance of 'Amazing Grace'
Soundabout supports disabled children and adults, using music to create a safe environment to find their voice
Last updated 4th Sep 2020
Later today renowned British acapella group The King’s Singers and the Soundabout Inclusive Choir release a touching lockdown performance of ‘Amazing Grace’.
The Soundabout Inclusive Choir is a musical community without barriers for people of all abilities. Soundabout supports families and carers of people with severe and profound learning disabilities being able to not only have a voice, but to lead the group.
"That’s someone who could have a learning age of one year or lower," explained Clare Cook when we spoke to her earlier this week, "and they may well be non-verbal or may require to carers to eat or turn themselves or communicate in any way. Someone with a severe learning disability may have some function with words, or movement. It’s a bit of a spectrum. There are no hard and fast definitions. "
"The impact of lockdown was particularly intense," continued Clare. "Lockdown meant that support structures were stripped away. All the 24/7 support of the individuals was the sole responsibility of the families - literally nothing but looking after this person. It’s huge. Any of the holidays and respite that a child or carer might go on is shutdown. They are in survival mode: that’s the message that was coming through."
"It was actually an incredible time because we had to transition from face-to-face delivery to delivering in a different way. We hadn’t really considered until the lockdown hit we were actually creating a barrier for someone who has a severe disability who can’t get to the sessions. We hadn’t really maximised the opportunity to reach people who are always isolated. But lockdown pushed us in that direction.”
How was the Soundabout Inclusive Choir's performance of 'Amazing Grace' performed?
The new arrangement of Amazing Grace by music therapist Steve Dunachie was based on a performance by Soundabout Inclusive Choir member Sam Pittick, who has Down’s Syndrome and hearing loss.
“The whole essence is that its creating opportunities for leadership in a world where perhaps someone wouldn’t be able to do that in another context,” explained Clare.
“Sam, he starts off singing and Amazing Grace is the first song he sang in front of a choir. He’d always been very quiet and very shy. He has hearing loss and a stutter. But he stepped up in the third session, and he sang with such power and beauty I can’t express.
"When we spoke to the King’s Singers and decided that was the song we wanted to do, Sam did a recording on Zoom of Amazing Grace and that was the version that was used in the lockdown recording. He decided the pitch and the pace. It’s led by Sam. It’s his decisions. For me, that’s an incredibly powerful thing.”
What are Soundabout's future plans?
The charity Soundabout has also been commissioned to run three new inclusive choirs in Wiltshire, Bristol and Peterborough – using a combination of virtual and face to face sessions. If you would be interested in in being part of these free singing groups email choir@soundabout.org.uk or visit www.soundabout.org.uk.
How to watch The King's Singers and Soundabout's 'Amazing Grace' performance
Amazing Grace will premiere on The King’s Singers and Soundabout’s Facebook page and YouTube channels at 2pm on Sunday 30th August. Or, you can watch the premiere below.