BCGC are an all-access adult choir for anyone who would like to have a go at singing gospel music.
We sing a mixture of spirituals, traditional gospel songs, R&B, funky and pop gospel… and of course there’s all the swaying and clapping into the bargain!
The choir consists of people from the local community of all singing abilities and there are no auditions to get in. You don’t have to be able to read music notation and whether you have lots of singing experience or none, you’re very welcome.
BCGC has performed at local venues including Bath Abbey, The Forum, The Pump Rooms, Wiltshire Music Centre and Westonbirt Arboretum and has been fortunate enough to work with Bazil Meade, Director of the London Community Gospel Choir.
We regularly perform at Bath Festival's Party in the City with Wiltshire Young Carers and Bath Philharmonia and have most recently performed two superb concerts with Bristol's Gospel Generation Choir and musical duo Geraldine Latty and Carey Luce.
For more information please contact us.
Meet the team
Jo Sercombe, Founder & Executive Producer
Jo studied Music at Southampton University and it was there that she discovered her love for singing gospel and jazz. She now works in Bath and nationally as a vocalist, Musical Director and workshop leader and is particularly keen to make singing accessible to all, regardless of skill or experience. Her busy workshops schedule is a testament to her flair for encouraging creativity in others as she travels the country working with adult singing groups, community choirs, schools and colleges and businesses. She’s even taken to singing upon the high seas, working with world cruise passengers sailing round the Far East and the Caribbean!
When not directing, Jo lectures in Choral Voice Work for Actors at Bath Spa University and leads singing workshops with Alzheimer’s Sufferers. She enjoys her role as President of the Priston Music Festival and has recently become the Gospel Workshop specialist for The Ambassador Theatre Group in London’s West End.
She is particularly keen to make singing accessible to all regardless of skill or experience. You don’t need to be able to read music to sing in Jo’s choirs. All she asks is just a desire to make some noise and a sense of adventure when it comes to swaying and clapping!
Rachel Saint-Aggio, Musical Director
Rachel trained in Teaching and Expressive Arts at degree level in Exmouth, encompassing music and theatre, before working in Youth Musical Theatre in Warwickshire, and teaching music with choirs in schools.
She has been lead vocalist in several bands covering pop, gospel, soul and rock and is a session singer, recently recording at Abbey Road Studios, London. She has been principal vocalist at BCGC and sings in girl harmony group, Vivid. She sang with the cast and orchestra of Les Miserables during their 21-23 UK Tour.
Rachel firmly believes that singing is for everyone of every age, that it uplifts and energises better than gin, and that it has the power to bring people together and create strong communities and lasting friendships.
John Ward, administrator
John was first an administrator for his brother’s male voice choir in their 20s and spent much of his working life overseeing sales administration. After retirement, he encountered BCGC at a workshop run by previous Musical Director, Jo Sercombe, in 2009, stepping up to help with organisation three years later, giving her much needed time to focus on BCGC’s creative development. While being involved in other activities too, his number one love and first consideration is BCGC, where not only does he enjoy singing with the men, he coordinates membership and events and is much appreciated.
Vicki Atkinson, social media and marketing
A member of BCGC since 2012, Vicki is in the Alto 2 (low women) team and loves singing those minor harmonies. Her favourite gospel tunes to sing include Shackles and Hallelujah, All my Hope. When she gets a spare moment, Vicki manages our official Facebook page and the members group as well as creating posters and marketing messages when we have a concert to promote. She is a full-time editor of craft magazines and mum of two grown-up-ish kids, in her spare time she cultivates her houseplant jungle and loves a good chat.
Graham, website manager
Originally from Bath and now living in Trowbridge, Graham is a graphic designer and web developer who manages our website and provides technical support to our members. He joined BCGC in 2016 as a way to experience choral singing for the first time and meet new people (we’re a very friendly bunch!). Since then, he has fully immersed himself in the local music scene, performing with the Bath Skiffle Sessions and playing percussion and signing in Americana band Jonnie Melancholy & the Sad Cowboys. "Being part of BCGC has really helped with my singing and confidence on stage," he says.