REVIEWS
MEMBER REVIEWS / COMMENTS
“Everything about this choir makes me smile, the feel good factor is enormous and I love every moment of being part of such a fantastic group. I have a huge amount of respect for Melissa and Paul as what they have created is phenomenal and gives so many people a huge amount of pleasure. It’s just brilliant.”
“As a person who loves singing and usually only sings solo on a karaoke. I wanted to find a choir to join to widen my vocal range and do something I love along with other people.
I found The Contemporary Choir advert on Facebook and what a great find it was.
Melissa and Paul are both amazing and very welcoming.
Not only has joining the choir helped me sing songs I would never attempt before, but also it has made me feel much more confident in my singing.
Although we all work hard, there is also fun and giggles along the way.
I would definitely recommend anyone who loves to sing to join 👍🏻”
“I have been a member of The Contemporary Choir for a few months and it is the most amazing choir. Paul and Melissa have so much energy and enthusiasm that you can’t help but enjoy yourselves whilst producing fantastic songs. Looking forward to the big concert in January.”
“I think it was week 2 that I joined doubling the bass section as Dave G was already a member! What a journey it’s been, having to move locations as we outgrow different rooms. Zooming through Covid & the Warwick group taking off in numbers, now selling out the Warwick Arts Centre!! It’s been a pleasure to be part of the journey with Melissa & Paul & this lovely group of people, may it long continue..”
“Joining the choir has to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. It has brought me so much joy. The concert on Saturday was phenomenal and I am still buzzing!
Congratulations and thank you to Melissa and Paul for making this possible. Here’s to the next 5 years! xx”
“What a great night. What a great show. What great performers. Thank you so much all my Friends at the Contemporary Choir. Thanks to all the guys and gals of the amazing Jam Hot Show Band for your support and brilliant musical accompaniment. And a very special thank you to Paul and Melissa for your guidance and support, patience in making us into the performers that we are. So proud to be part of your fantastic choir family. Xx”
“I joined TCC back in November 2021 and can honestly say this is the best thing I have ever done. Paul and Melissa are amazingly talented people and the songs that we learn to sing are incredible, from Disney to Musicals all outstandingly written for the choir to perform.”
“Joined TCC in October this year. Brilliant leader in Melissa and Paul fantastic also and really enjoying the songs and the rehearsals
*Edited to say I’ve been a member for over a year now and I love it more and more. The rehearsals are a great mix of serious practicing and good fun and Melissa & Paul definitely get the best from us
Very excited for the anniversary concert in January”
“Hiya peeps. Look..i’ve been around for nearly 300 years now and have been singing with choirs for almost that long but, here’s the thing, in all my time, I have to say there’s only been one choir that has really ‘’blown me away’’ with the versatility of it’s members, the chosen songs and arrangement of them, the management of this choir, namely Melissa and Paul, and the sheer enjoyment of being amongst friends and having a dam good sing. So, if you feel that you also want to get ‘’hooked’’ regarding singing in a well-established choir whose members are above friendly and extremely welcoming, contact The Contemporary Choir and come along for a taster session. You will not be disappointed I assure you!! See ya there.”
“The Contemporary Choir is wonderful very professional but such great fun. Melissa and Paul are so talented and really raise our standard.The beautiful songs sound amazing. Really exciting to be part of the concert at Warwick Arts Centre on January 28th with their famous Jam Hot Band.”
“As an original member, I have loved every moment of our choir journey and am in awe of he far we’ve come. I had no idea just how clever and talented you (Melissa) and Paul are ❤️. It’s been quite a ride and I’m super excited to see what the future holds for us! Xxx”
“I remember that very first rehearsal at Stratford school! Have loved every choir moment since - even the (very occasional) rainy chilly outdoor concert moments 😂 Thank you Melissa and Paul for everything you do to make TCCW such an exceptional group to be a part of, and happy anniversary 🎉 🥂”
“Your dedication, understanding, and time all mean so much to me, and I feel very lucky to be able to have experienced last night alongside you, Paul,
Jam Hot and Artisan Productions ❤️
I cherish you all forever,
Xxxxxx”
“😁I joined The Contemporary Choir in May 2020. Rehearsals are fantastic, energetic and full of musical enjoyment. Whatever your musical ability, everyone is welcomed. I always come away smiling! Highly recommended for anyone who loves to sing 😄”
“I joined TCCW in September 2021 on my own and its its the best year! Everyone was super welcoming, made some lovely friends and the rehearsals and concerts we do are so much fun. I really look forward to our sessions each Tues, its definitely a highlight of my week 😊 Melissa and Paul are absolutely fantastic! 💙💜”
“i really really really really like and enjoy going to contemporary choir and meeting lovely people there and singing with them and meeting the lovely contemporary choir leader Melissa. I would definitely recommend joining the contemporary choir as its great fun and we all ways have a laugh. definitely five stars 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟”
“The highlight to my week!! The food for my soul. No matter how I feel before going, I always feel rejuvenated afterwards. It feels great to be meeting together with like minded people, creating something special. Even more so in recent weeks when we have been performing and I’ve been getting to know others better.
I love the genre of music (Disney, musical, Rock, Pop) , expertly arranged by Paul and dynamically brought to life by Melissa.
Melissa and Paul really know their stuff and how to bring out the best in the choir, in such a lovely way: where warmth and good humour abound.”
“Love singing with this choir - great to participate with my daughter in something we both enjoy !”
“I love this choir, everyone is so friendly, great selection of music and Melissa and Paul are fantastic. I have tried others but the Warwickshire Contemporary choir is certainly the best”
“Who would have thought 5 years ago you would be where you are today with this amazing choir. I joined, along with many of my previous choir friends, in September 2021 and can honestly say that I have enjoyed every minute of it. Melissa, both you and Paul should be very proud of what you have achieved.
Whilst we work hard during our 90mins, you manage to bring such a lot of professionalism but above all, humour 😄. Singing and laughter is the best medicine for us all, both emotionally, mentally and physically. Thank you from the bottom of our very grateful hearts. 💖”
“It’s been such a joy to be on this musical journey with you and Paul - right from those early days at Stratford High, then our little room in the Croft through to performing at Warwick Arts this weekend. It’s gone so quickly too and amazing to see our choir grow so much. Looking forward to more music, more singing and wherever we end up!”
“The whole night was such an awesome experience. Standing up in the Sops was brilliant, to feel that buzz of excitement…I was in awe of the rest of the choir…our sound as a collective is beautiful.. my friend cried at three songs..when the audience started clapping and singing along, well that was the icing on the cake..
Thanks so much Melissa and Paul for being so incredibly patient and supportive.. I know we all tried our best and we all wanted to make you guys proud.
Can’t wait to do it again xx”
“As a person who loves singing and usually only sings solo on a karaoke. I wanted to find a choir to join to widen my vocal range and do something I love along with other people.
I found The Contemporary Choir advert on Facebook and what a great find it was.
Melissa and Paul are both amazing and very welcoming.
Not only has joining the choir helped me sing songs I would never attempt before, but also it has made me feel much more confident in my singing.
Although we all work hard, there is also fun and giggles along the way.
I would definitely recommend anyone who loves to sing to join 👍🏻”
CONCERT REVIEWS / COMMENTS
“How do you create from scratch, in just five years a ‘no audition’ choir of over 300 members which can sell out a concert at the Warwick Arts Centre with a mixed programme of Disney, stage shows, pop and rock hits, which ends with the audience giving both the performers, and the organisers, not one but two standing ovations?
Melissa and Paul Asbridge achieved that on Saturday (28th January) when The Contemporary Choir, based in both Stratford and Warwick, wowed the audience with a two-hour show which would not have looked out of place on a London West End stage.
Not only that, but all the profits from the concert are being donated to Myton Hospices - a result which should net the charity a large amount of money..
Both Paul and Melissa are international entertainers with their showband (Jam Hot who contributed the fantastic music) and used their extensive experience to set up the choir in Stratford five years ago, adding the Warwick/Leamington group around two years ago.
The choir has now grown to a membership of over 300 singers with weekly rehearsals being held in both Stratford and Warwick.
Their easy and gentle (but firm) style is perhaps the biggest reason for their success and leads to all the members responding enthusiastically to their leadership.
Not only that, but Paul’s arrangements of the songs they sing ensures a smooth and melodic flow to the music that plays the undoubted talents of the choir - and keeps the enthusiasm of the audience from the first note to the final crescendo of the last number - a spine-tingling performance of ‘One Day More’ from ‘Les Miserables’.
All in all, this was a superb performance by an ecvellent choir and sent the audience home with a warm feeling.
Whenever their next performance takes place I am sure that it will be equally excellent and I, for one, will be at the head of the line for a ticket.
Thank you Melissa, Paul, Jam Hot and the whole choir.”
“Such a fantastic night incredible singing and arrangement wowzers!!!”
“We came to watch/listen last night and what a performance.
Absolutely fantastic. 🎶”
“Wonderful performance by all, throughly enjoyed it, brilliant venue. A big THANK YOU to all”
“It was a fantastic sight and sound to behold 🎶”
“Huge congrats to everyone involved. I thoroughly enjoyed the amazing professional performance. You left me with a tear in my eye on more than 1 song. I was completely blown away. I will definitely be buying my ticket to the next one”
“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”
“Really enjoyed watching you all perform on Saturday, it was a great night and great entertainment!”
“You all sounded incredible! 🎶💕 A truly fantastic night 🤩”
“The most uplifting enjoyable and emotional concert we have watched for a very long time! Our little one was dancing for most of it we all loved every minute! Huge congratulations to all involved! 🎶”
“Massive congratulations to everyone involved last night. I had a constant tear in my eye!
I keep saying that it’s not often enough that we get a chance to feel genuine pride for other people and for our loved ones so thanks, above all, for creating the platform for us to feel that.
Well done!”
“WOW! Indeed
Wonderful sound - Wonderful music - Wonderful performance. There’s something very special about the resonance such a large number of voices produce. All supported and lead by such able musicians, connected by the Dancing Queen conductor. Today has been the first day for weeks, at home, that “Imagine” hasn’t boomed out for hours, in order for someone to practise.
Thank you for such a spectacular evening.”