A COMMUNITY choir brought joy and celebration to a Bradford market hall.
Earlier this week, the sound of collective song rang out across the award-winning Darley Street Market, as part of Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture.
Its aim was to bring communal singing to public spaces.
Delivered through the Bradford 2025 Our Patch programme, the special ‘Sing for Health’ moment saw choirs and community groups from across the district gather around the piano in Darley Street Kitchen.
Communal singing in public spaces
The idea behind Monday's choir was to transform the city centre market into a space of harmony and connection.
Leading the song was Our Patch creative practitioner Hannah Butterfield.
She shared the stage alongside musician Shane Durrant.
Together, the growing singing movement is celebrating the wellbeing benefits of communal singing in everyday public spaces.
United around one piano
There was a real range of groups taking part in Monday's events, from a bereavement choir, to an older people’s singing group and a refugee choir.
It is this togetherness and diversity that the grassroots creative programme Our Patch wants to celebrate - different ages, backgrounds and life experiences united around one piano.
While shoppers and families enjoyed the market, they were able to pause, listen, or join in.
"The singing is a confident and joyful act of collective presence in the heart of the city," said a spokesperson for the group.
Harmonies set against lunchtime rush
Set against the backdrop of the bustling food hall, the choir could be seen gathered tightly around the piano.
Everyday market life was momentarily reshaped by music.
As the photographs show, people were visibly joyful.
The session builds on work developed in partnership with Leeds & Bradford Piano Trail, reviving the tradition of gathering around the piano for an informal, uplifting sing.
Good for body and mind
“It’s been incredible to team up with The Leeds & Bradford Piano Trail on this project to bring back the idea of gathering around the piano for a good old sing," said Hannah Butterfield, Bradford 2025 Our Patch Creative Practitioner.
"It all began towards the end of 2024, when we started The Keighley Chorus.
"We meet once a month around the piano in The Airedale Shopping Centre to learn some new songs – anyone can join in."
"People put down their shopping and stop by for a song whilst others are regulars and have found singing has really improved their wellbeing," she added.
"The sound people can make together is remarkable.
"We can really raise the roof with our harmonies.
"As we sing in our warm-up song, ‘come along, sing and you might find, it’s good for your body, it’s good for your mind."
