Integral to the success and functioning of our fab, inspirational Choir are the services of a skilled, dedicated Accompanist (piano player), to ensure we’re the best we can be.

With rehearsals throughout the year, excepting Bank Holiday Mondays and a couple of weeks over the festive period, our goal is to raise £2,500 to cover the cost of this in 2025.

Bolton Cancer Voices is a dedicated Choir for people living with or beyond cancer of any type. Established in 2012 before singing in a Choir was recognized as having the potential to impact on health and well-being, we consider ourselves a fore-runner in this movement. Membership is open to anyone aged eighteen years and over, who has received a cancer diagnosis at any time; these being our only criteria for joining. There are no geographical restrictions, no requirement to read music and no auditions to worry about. Crucially, membership is free of charge and we endeavour to meet as many of the costs associated with membership as possible: this has been fundamental to our ethos, as financial worries can be one of the hidden effects of cancer and we didn’t want to create a barrier to people participating in something that may prove beneficial to them.

Not only does the Choir bring people together to share their love of singing it offers an unusual and inspirational form of support for those going through treatment, moving forward following completion of treatment or living with cancer as a chronic condition, providing a forum to meet others in a similar situation. With over 30 members, we have no less than 18 individual tumour groups represented by one or more members. We know cancer can be a lonely journey, even when surrounded by loved ones. At Bolton Cancer Voices you are shoulder to shoulder with people who understand the challenges that can accompany life with or beyond cancer but nevertheless resolutely set aside such issues to focus on learning the next song, looking forward to the next engagement, having fun and connecting with others who share their love of singing. We’re a place where singing and support go hand in hand and the emphasis is on making music, making friends and making memories.

For many the Choir has proved an important part of their cancer journey and we are delighted that we can be there for people in our own positive, innovative way. No one knows better than our members that receiving a cancer diagnosis can be life-changing but being part of Bolton Cancer Voices can be life-affirming. Our members are truly amazing: they seize the day and live life to the full no matter what their story!

We are extremely honoured to have had our work recognised through our nomination for a King’s Award for Voluntary Service and we now await the outcome with the publication of Awards on 14th November 2024.

Whilst cancer brings us together it has never been allowed to define or restrict us! On average we undertake four to six concerts / appearances each year alongside various other choral activities such as workshops. Highlights to date include our ‘Jingle Bell Sing-A-Long’ concerts at the Victoria Hall with various guest Brass Bands and in 2019 the award-winning Cottontown Chorus: recording a CD: being featured on local and national television: appearing at Manchester Cathedral in the ‘Christmas Celebration’ of Greater Manchester Police: our 5th Birthday concert with guests Salford Symphony Orchestra and Affetside Choir: a joint venture with the legendary ‘Houghton Weavers’ and participating in the ‘Festival of Brass and Voices’ in aid of Cancer Research UK, at the iconic Royal Albert Hall, London!

Any monies raised in excess of the target sum will be used to run and develop the Choir and provide more enjoyable opportunities for our members.

Why not head over to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/BoltonCancervoices/ or website: https://boltoncancervoices.org.uk/ to see more of what we’ve been up to.