Danbro hit the high 'note'
Lytham based accounting group Danbro are out to hit some high notes - in every sense.
The award-winning family run company has turned to music to register their joy at their move into Jubilee House - the former Land Registry building - on Lytham Green.Colleagues have been staying late every Monday to rehearse for the official opening of their brand new headquarters to invited guests on Saturday April 18.
If that's not nerve racking enough the Danbro Rock Choir is ready to rock Lytham Festival in August - with Danbro a key sponsor of the now week long event. McBusted has just been confirmed as the headline act on the main Saturday.And they may also record a charity single with musician and mentor Ian Hooper.
They have already staged their own 'promenade' concert - singing Africa from the third floor balcony of Jubilee House.The impromptu Proms performance halted dog walkers in their tracks as the choir filed out onto the balcony for an al fresco song after rehearsals in the company's 100 seat Green Room.
Choir master Di Healey says the choir is filing a great return on their investment.[embed]http://youtu.be/sF0ikjfPG0I[/embed]
The former United Utilities worker is one of the locally-based GB Music Team bringing choral music to the community under veteran musician Ian's lead.Di explains: “Singing in a group beats stress, it makes you feel good, it releases more endorphins than exercise … and it sounds great, too.”
Ian contacted Danbro's MD Damian Broughton after GB Music Team successfully set up the NHS Trust Choir."It had been formed to help motivate, inspire, and generally de-stress the workforce," Ian explains.
“The choir gave them an outlet other than work but still linked with co-workers and enabled them to bond. We soon realised that there was much potential in the idea."I'd heard how well Danbro treated their staff, how ambitious the company was, so we initially discussed the idea of a corporate choir. It was a great idea but not for them - at that point.
"A year later Damian called back- in the run up to the move to Jubilee House. In January rehearsals began."The choir includes directors, accountants administrative staff, apprentices - and even young members of the extended Danbro clan at the family-friendly firm. Ten year old Olivia Lay sings with mum Janet, receptionist at Jubilee House, and sister Charlotte, 19, an accounts assistant.
"I love to sing Disney songs," she admits. "We're singing Africa - but I'd rather be singing songs from Frozen!" Ian, together with Di and backing musician Steve Gregg, says all are singing from the same music sheet.“It’s fantastic to create something that an individual can't achieve on their own, but yet together can be so impressive. It's also wonderful to see a group of 'office folk' showing that they have hidden talents, and growing in confidence and ability each week!
"We're looking at some quite special events for Danbro this year. There’s the official opening of Jubilee House, a couple of ‘impromptu’ performances in the brand new canteen run by Brothers of Charity and the choir will take to the stage of Lytham Festival, the flagship event in Lytham’s calendar, and one which should be absolutely amazing."They will have their very own support slot at Lowther Pavilion - and a further ‘top secret’ performance will be announced soon!
“I also plan to take them to a recording studio and record a single for charity - as well as get the word out there and build the choir into a real force in the town. It's early days but who knows where it might lead?"
