40 Years of... Performances
Some might say that the folk who take part in our projects put on the best shows in town. We’re biased, but we'd have to agree! Our fab participants have graced the stage more times than you can shake a stick at over the past 40 years. And every time, they’ve blown us away with their talent and creative energy.
We had a hard time picking our favourite moments from the last 40 years, but here are a few that stuck in our minds.
Back in 1998, our Hands and Voices Choir, or Makaton Gospel Choir as they were then known, worked on their first big production, ‘Go Down Moses’. It was a huge success. All down to our incredible performers, of course!
See if you can spot some familiar faces who are still part of AAM today!
Our previous production of A Midsummer Nights’ Dream made us realise that there might be a more inclusive way of working. We wanted to enhance communication for both the performers with learning disabilities and the audience. After some thought, we found the combination of singing and signing was just the ticket!
This meant that everyone could get involved in the fun and most importantly, have their chance to shine. And shine they did!
‘Go Down Moses’ was the first of the choir’s fabulous 10-year run of incredible annual performances that have gone down in AAM history.
From then on, there was no holding back. Each year, the choir put on an absolutely brilliant production with elaborate costumes to boot. And the crowds kept coming back for more.
In 2003, the choir devised and performed the rib-tickling ‘Ruff Doublet’– a hysterical look at life in Elizabethan times. We were in stitches, as were the audience. Check out those costumes!
In 2007, after ten years of epic performances, Hands & Voices decided to call it a day with their big annual productions. They ended their run on a high with ‘The Good Old Days', a fabulous way to celebrate their 10-year anniversary!
The show had everything going on, from filming silent films to custard pies in the face. The gang even included a homage to Laurel and Hardy and a Benny Hill-inspired cops and robbers chase! It was as hilarious as you can imagine!
In 2012, we launched our Inclusive Music Projects, or IMPs for short. IMPs started life as weekly inclusive music groups in East Riding and York. They brought disabled and non-disabled young people together to create music and have fun. The IMPs wasted no time in getting performance ready. You can see that the hard work paid off in this video of ‘Peace like a River’ from December 2012.
The IMPs devised the piece so well, that in 2013, we entered the performance into the Music for Youth Festival. Although they didn’t win, we did get some excellent feedback from the panel of judges.
‘Great enthusiasm here from the opening’
‘Much of the style of the song was captured with some real spirit and infectious communication.’
From here, there was no looking back for the IMPs! Did you know that they’re celebrating their 10-year anniversary this year? You can find out all about the fab things they’ve been up to here.
After the huge success of 2017’s ‘Cabaret of Dreams’, Hands & Voices hung up their theatre hats (for now!) to concentrate on their weekly catchups and sing-alongs with friends. They’ve continued with yearly Christmas Buskathons, a joint performance with IMPs, alongside two to three concerts a year.
If you’ve been in York long enough, you’ll be familiar with A Night to Remember. The annual event – organised by the wonderful Big Ian Donaghy - raises money and awareness for local charities, including AAM.
And in 2017, Hands & Voices were invited to perform. Not put off by the packed-out venue and their biggest-ever audience, Hands and Voices took to the stage like a duck to water. Check out their stunning version of Adele’s ‘Feel My Love’, which got a standing ovation.
A couple of years later, in 2019, the choir recorded a moving performance of them signing along to ‘Lift You Up’ by Jess Steel. Shown on the night, the film featured alongside another legendary live performance. This time it was The Proclaimers and their hit ‘500 Miles’. A truly wonderful showcase of Hands & Voices’ talent!
‘Sing Out!’ was another big 2019 event for AAM. We wanted to put on a celebration of inclusive music-making that focused on the work we do with young people.
We sent invites to our friends at Under the Stars, Castaway Goole, Orange Box Choir and Copmanthorpe Choir. And we were thrilled when they said they wanted to get involved. True to form, performances from our IMPs and Hands & Voices brought the house down. As did Sparkle Sistaz with their feisty pop songs, and Castaway Sloop Group with their original instrumental numbers. Orangebox and Copmanthorpe choirs were pitch perfect as ever and everyone got involved in the big finale, with all choirs taking part.
We captured the magic, and a few words from our friends that sum the event up perfectly:
Like many, we had to take a 2-year hiatus from public performances during the Covid-19 pandemic. Once lockdown restrictions lifted, we were back to rehearsing numbers for our next gig! Hands & Voices and IMPs were eager and ready. Finally, in July 2022, they came together, just like old times, to perform at the Celebrate gig at York St John University.
They sang some new numbers, old favourites, and foot-stomping classics with long-time friends Copmanthorpe Community Choir. It wasn’t long before the audience was on their feet, singing along with everyone. We’d missed the joy their music brings.
Most recently, our guys raised the roof of York St John’s Temple Hall in our Big Birthday Bash Celebration. They were joined on stage by longstanding friends Communitas and York St John Contemporary Ensemble. With their help, we celebrated 40 years of AAM in style.
It was full of magical moments. From Movers & Shakers’ beautiful dancing to the terrific finale of ‘We’re AAM How’z ‘at?', the event was a perfect celebration of everything AAM.
For the last 40 years, our projects have been putting on AAM-azing performances, which wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our friends, family and super supporters.
You can lay the foundations for another 40 years of performances, productions, and people finding their moment to shine by donating today.
Donate here.