Harmonies From The Heart Of The Monastery

Do Your Thing Choir is delighted to be performing in a special live show, to help raise money for the Monastery Organ Appeal from 1.30-3.30pm on Sunday, July 14th, 2024 – and you’re very warmly invited to join us.

Behold the DYT community choir in action below and imagine how incredible their live show will be in the magnificent surrounds of the Great Nave – we are SO looking forward to this uplifting day of inspirational performance!

About DYT Community Choir

Do Your Thing (DYT) community choir has been singing for over a decade in Ashton and Stockport. They have performed at over 150 events from local fundraisers to theatre stages as well as singing live on TV and radio.

Their fans include comedian Jimmy Cricket, who said the choir “should be made available on prescription” and BBC Dementia Choir’s Mark De-Lisser who called them “the choir with heart”.

High praise

Gary Barlow praised Liz Taylor, the choir’s musical director, on BBC Radio Manchester for DYT’s fundraising during lockdown. Their music videos raised an incredible £10,000 for charities including NHS Associated Charities, The Christie and MIND and their “Evening of Hope for Ukraine” for the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal raised a further £3,000. Twelve months ago their concert, alongside Bolton’s Hand Made Signing Choir raised over £7,000 for the Monastery’s Organ Appeal.

DYT are delighted to be doing their thing once again for The Organ Appeal at The Monastery.

Liz explains “We are so delighted to be back performing in the magnificent setting of The Monastery. It was a real highlight for us singing in this breathtaking venue last year and we can’t wait to do our thing once again at one of our favourite places with the most incredible acoustics, helping raise money for the Monastery organ appeal again.”

Organ recital

The audience will also be in for a real treat hearing a classical organ recital in the nave by the very talented, Stephen Mann, the Monastery’s last organist, who will play from 1pm-1:30pm before the concert begins. The newly installed organ console will be played electronically, whilst the remaining pipes are being restored and installed before it can be played traditionally once more.

Supporting charity & local heritage

The Monastery of St Francis and Gorton Trust, a charitable organisation established twenty eight years ago, successfully rescued the historic monastery from ruin. Their ongoing mission is to revitalise the site and transform it into a vibrant community hub. Presently, the Trust’s dedicated team and volunteers are endeavouring to raise funds to restore and reinstate a magnificent Victorian Wadsworth organ, reinstating the melodic centrepiece that was dismantled and sold for scrap in 1989 when the church and friary changed hands.

Elaine Griffiths, the CEO of the Trust, expressed her delight at hosting this exceptional concert at the Monastery.

“We are thrilled to have DYT choirs back performing at our cherished venue! Every single penny raised during this extraordinary event will contribute to our organ appeal, facilitating the restoration and reinstallation of the instrument to its rightful place,” she remarked.

Families and music enthusiasts can anticipate an unforgettable afternoon filled with a diverse repertoire ranging from show tunes to rock and pop classics. Liz Taylor encourages everyone to come along for a afternoon of choral delights.

“There is a song for everyone in our varied programme which will feature guest performances from our DYT Kids Choir for primary school children and our DYT Youth Choir for high school students. It will be an uplifting afternoon celebrating the joy of group singing in the most wonderful venue. We can’t wait!”

How much are tickets?

Children under 5 – FREE

Children over 5 – £5

Over 60’s – £10

Adults – £12.50

*Plus online booking fee

Doors open at 1pm

How do I book?

Click here to book your tickets

Enquires to: Liz Taylor, Musical Director Do Your Thing Community Choirs – [email protected]

Directions to the Monastery here.