Bury St Edmunds women set to launch Suffolk Soul Sisters Choir later this month

More than 40 woman have joined a new choir which is set to launch later this month.

The Suffolk Soul Sisters Choir is the brainchild of Sophie Garner who is setting up the choir in Bury St Edmunds.

Sophie, a professional voice coach, has set up the group in the town where she grew up.

Following the official launch on April 22, the choir will be available for events and fundraising concerts.

“It’s just gone crazy,” said Sophie.

“I have never started a choir that has grown so quickly in all the 16 years I have been doing it.

“I was born in and grew up in Bury and wanted to set up a choir here because I still love the place.

“Forty women from the town have already joined, but the to be honest the sky is the limit. We can probably take up to 80 or more from all over the county, with Bury as our base.

“Then we will be singing out hearts out and hopefully raising money for local charities at the same time.”

The choir meets at the Green King Social Club once a month, which looks likely to change to twice a month once up and running.

Sophie, who was the first ever singer to perform at the O2, recently also ran singing classes in Thurston.

She now lives in Northampton but chose Bury as she still has many friends in the town and also wants the choir to have a strong social side.

“The choir will sing a wide range of songs from the ‘60s to the present day,” she said.

“Two songs we are working at the moment are Eye of the Tiger by Survivor and Sweet Dreams by the Eurythmics.

“It costs £12 to come to the sessions and essentially people get a free singing lesson at the same time.

“I want the Suffolk Soul Sisters to be the UK’s most inclusive and friendliest choir as there will also be a big social aspect to it.”

Sophie went to King Edward VI School before attending the National Youth Theatre of Great Britain in the early 1990s at the same time as Matt Lucas.

From there she decided that singing was her first love and found a band.

She was the first person to perform at the O2 Arena while supporting The Sugababes and McFly and had the opportunity to travel around the world.

She has released four albums and written two books, The Creative Songwriting Journal and If You Can’t Say it Sing it!

She has also been a vocal coach for ITV’s The Voice Kids and has featured and performed on BBC radio and TV.

Sophie also has a Masters Degree in Wellness and uses singing to help people through hard times.

To join the choir, you can find Sophie at: www.sophiegarner.com

The songs the choir will sing also include soul, Motown, Indie and pop.