The former P&O Ferries choir performs under the new name of Sound Waves at St Paul’s RC Church for Christmas

Award-winning choir relaunch with a new name at a Christmas concert.

The Dover-based P&O Ferries Choir is now a charity and is called Sound Waves.

The renowned choir will give its first performance at St Paul’s Catholic Church at Maison Dieu Road, Dover, on Sunday, December 19, from 7:30 p.m.

The program will feature old and modern Christmas carols, ranging from Torches to Walking In The Air by The Snowman and Step Into Christmas by Elton John.

There will also be traditional Christmas carols, which the public can join.

The original group was formed in 2013 to participate in a national search to find the best choir in the workplace.

Staff members were auditioned and recruited by conductor Gareth Malone for the television competition, on the BBC The Choir: Sing While You Work program. The Dover choir won this competition.

Since then, they have performed at many prestigious events and venues here and abroad, most notably at St. John’s Cathedral in New York City and have released two albums.

Some of the original members are still there, as is their Music Director, Hilary Campbell, but the choir is now looking for new singers and sponsors.

Julie Williamson was the first member seen on television to be recruited.

She said: “Covid made us understand the importance of singing for our physical and mental health,

“Of course, we couldn’t sing or practice together during the pandemic. We did a few rehearsals on Zoom but it’s not the same. “It was quite emotional when we all got together for our first face-to-face rehearsal. We had missed it so much. The choir has become a big part of our lives.”

P&O Ferries sponsored the choir for its first eight years.

This arrangement was never meant to be permanent and the end of it allowed the group to recruit outside of the company and become a community choir.

Ms Williamson said: “We are grateful to P&O for all the support they have given us, but we knew this could not go on forever, so we would also like to find someone, or an organization, to become our sponsor. . “

Sound Waves currently has around 17 members who rehearse twice a month. These sessions are recorded so that individuals can also practice at home.

Members pay a monthly membership fee and new hires did a few rehearsals before auditioning.

St Paul’s concert doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets cost £ 8 or £ 15 for two.

They will be available at the door or can be booked via ticketsource.co.uk/sound-waves-choir/t-nargvp

To sponsor Sound Waves or become a new member, send an email to soundwavesdover@gmail.com