Celebrating 30 years of music
Dive into three decades of performance, community triumphs, and musical passion that make Rainbow Voices truly one of a kind.
Discover the heart and harmony
driving our choir
Dive into an inspiring chronicle of our choir’s mission, values, and 30-year history. Celebrate the principles and passion that unite us in song and community.
Explore Our Inspiring Archive
This space highlights a curated collection of stories and photos that reflect the heart of our choral journey and achievements. This is a work in progress, so come back to find out more in the future!
Discover inspiring stories
This section shares insights into our choir’s rich history.
Our Beginnings
Explore how Rainbow Voices was formed and its early milestones.
Memorable Performances
Dive into highlights from our most celebrated concerts.
Community Impact
Learn about our outreach efforts and community engagement over the years.
Celebrate with Rainbow Voices
Discover exciting choir events and initiatives designed to bring music lovers together, fostering connection and harmony within the community.
Our beginnings
1995
A chance meeting on a Gay Outdoors Club walk between Louis Schroeder, who was looking for a gay choir, and Paul Naylor-Gray, who wanted to form one, led to the creation of Rainbow Voices. As the numbers at the initial rehearsals at Paul and his partner David’s house swelled, rehearsals were moved led to the Friends Meeting House and a basic organisational structure was created.
The choir’s first ever public performance was on 1st December 1995, at the World AIDS Day remembrance event in front of Baskerville House Memorial Hall. Their next was a year later at the WAD stage in Centenary Square, but ambitions grew and their first dedicated concert was a ‘Summer Solstice Concert’, an evening of music and laughter at the Old Rep in June 1997.
From then, performances really took off, and partnerships were formed, leading to a performance of ‘Faure’s Requiem and other works’ with the London Gay and Lesbian Symphony Orchestra at St Paul’s Church, Hockley, in June 1998 and a Paul Robeson Tribute Concert as guests of Birmingham’s Clarion Choir the following month.
Annual concerts
1998 onwards
Summer concerts became a regular feature.
Voices Unite
Ongoing