Our Story
In 2009 Musical Director Rhiannon Gayle decided to use her considerable musical background to create a choir in Harrogate which would be open to anyone with the wish to join. On launch night after just one small advert in the local paper, 84 people walked through the door and Rock Up and Sing! was born!
As word of Rhiannon's inimitable style of teaching spread from that first evening, Rock Up has quickly grown into 5 choirs, all with a unique but harmonious sound. Intended to be inclusive and warmly welcoming, more and more people wanted to be part of this thriving, successful and dynamic singing community. Today Rock Up boasts members from all walks of life, all ages, men and women, and now has over 400 members.
Invitations for performing soon became regular occurances, and through their concerts Rock Up and Sing! are extremely proud to have raised over £15,000 for various charities - their sell-out shows at venues throughout Yorkshire have delighted choir members and audiences alike. As recognition of our success we were delighted to be shortlisted for the Ackrill Media Business Award by Harrogate Borough Council 'Special Award for Community Involvement' in 2012, and 'Best Company Website of the Year' in 2013!
Once in a lifetime opportunities have also taken Rock Up to another level. From recording at the famous Abbey Road Studios in London, to working with X Factor Artistic Director Eliot Kennedy in our Studio and up on Ikley Moor, our members have excitedly embraced every event.
Winning First Place with Distinction at the Harrogate Competitive Festival for Music, Speech and Drama was testimony to Rhiannon's drive and determination, and the opportunities just keep coming! An invitation to pull a Youth Choir together to perform at the Tour de France Gala Dinner in Leeds, has resulted in an enthusiastic group of talented youngsters who will continue to perform together.
Furthermore, an excited Rock Up contingent have just returned from New York where they performed at the Lincoln Centre, alongside other choir members from the USA and Australia, accompanied by soloists an a fantastic orchestra, in a thrilling performance of Christopher Tin's 'Calling All Dawns'!
Rock Up also now includes our very popular Wedding and Special Events Choir, our Rehearsal Room and Staging for hire, and our Assistant Musical Director Andrew Matthews, who currently heads up our Wednesday choir - phew!
What a journey it has been over the last 4 years and we can't wait to see where it takes us next!