The story of the connection between Northern Roots and VoV is a romantic one where Adam Collerton “discovered” the group whilst out shopping in Tesco, hearing an amazing voice belting out a song about chicken he just had to talk to the individual who owned those vocal chords, and that individual was Mattie Imas. A friendship was formed and Adam has been working closely with the choir ever since.
In the last 3 years Northern Roots has worked with Voices of Virtue on concerts at Live Theatre, Gosforth Civic Theatre and Sage Gateshead, developed a collaboration between Smoove (of Smoove and Turell) and Voices of Virtue, brought over Howard Gospel Choir to perform with Voices of Virtue at Sage Gateshead, developed opportunities for VoV to sing with Geordie legend Sting, TWICE!
Voices of Virtue were also central to Freedom on the Tyne – the epic performance which brought to life the streets of Newcastle and Gateshead to commemorate Martin Luther King Jrs visit to Newcastle, and remember civil rights struggles from across the globe.
We have also developed a partnership between Ouseburn Learning Trust and Voices of Virtue – supporting VoV to take part in singing training with the Concordia programme, and helping Voices of Virtue develop their singing leadership skills in schools, whilst also bringing diversity to schools in the East End of Newcastle.