By Keiran Evans
Chester is gearing up for a momentous occasion as the city prepares to celebrate the coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla.
To mark this historic event, a grand concert featuring local performers, choirs, and children will take place on Sunday, May 7, at Chester Town Hall Square.
Starting at 1:15 p.m. with the Lord Mayor of Chester opening the concert, the event promises to be a memorable occasion as residents and visitors come together to celebrate.
A host of talented local groups will take to the stage, including the University of Chester Choir, Chester Male Voice Choir, and Dee Sign Choir, culminating in a grand finale where all choirs will join in for a rousing rendition of the Lambeth Walk and the National Anthem.
Since its founding in 1997, Dee Sign Choir has captivated audiences with a diverse repertoire of popular music, musical classics, and Christmas carols. The primary goal of the choir is to raise awareness and funds for the Chester and District Committee for Deaf People.
Fiona Whitelaw, a member of the choir, explained how they include British Sign Language (BSL) in their choir.
"The original music serves as the soundtrack, but the lyrics are interpreted in BSL signs. However, translating the song can be difficult due to the importance of remaining loyal to BSL while also keeping the lyrical meaning," said Fiona.
The Dee Sign Choir is set to deliver a moving performance of "This is Me" by Keala Settle from The Greatest Showman (2017) during Sunday’s concert.
"The song is especially meaningful to us since we're accepting of people's differences. It always seems to be the responsibility of deaf people to feel included, whereas the hearing community should ensure that what they do is more inclusive," explained Fiona.
She added, "We were strong candidates for the King's Coronation Concert in London. Unfortunately, we didn’t get chosen, but we’re so proud that we were even considered for the event and that the Deaf community will be included on the national stage this weekend."
Another choir set to perform at this weekend’s concert is the Chester Male Voice Choir. Originally founded as the Cestrian Male Voice Choir in 1941, they have grown to become a renowned force in the world of male voice choirs.
With their motto "Sing, Inspire, Support," the choir has raised significant funds for numerous charitable causes over the years.
"Chester is our home, and we really enjoy singing in the City Centre, especially during this once-in-a-generation experience,” said Blair Wilson, a member of the choir.
During the celebrations, the choir will perform "You'll Never Walk Alone" by Carousel and "World in Union" by Gustav Holst. Blair Wilson said he was confident the songs would be warmly received because they are fan favourites.
Travel Advice:
On Sunday, the streets surrounding Chester Town Hall will be closed to the public. Parking will be restricted from Storyhouse to St. Johns Street from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Northgate Street (Town Hall Square) will close at 10:30 a.m. until after the concert.
The best way to visit Chester over the holiday weekend is to use the Park & Ride, which offers regular buses from Upton, Wrexham Road, and Boughton Heath from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 9.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. on Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.
More information about Coronation related events across Cheshire can be found below: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/news/celebrating-the-coronation-across-cheshire?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=Orlo
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