GRENVILLE HANCOX MBE becomes Honorary President of Canterbury Cantata Trust

“Singing should be on prescription,” he said many years ago… Grenville has championed engagement in the arts as a means of social regeneration and cohesion, with the firm belief that music should be at the heart of every community.

So many important milestones have been achieved over the years with opportunities being provided by Canterbury Cantata Trust for thousands to join together in demonstrating the benefits of singing, often performing with and supporting local musicians. The establishment of our “Sing to Beat” brand continues apace with 35 groups currently, and the recent incorporation of the Skylarks sessions into the ground-breaking Parkinson’s Centre for Integrated Therapies in Canterbury is a very exciting development with endorsement by “Movers and Shakers” (a remarkable podcast series )member Mark Mardell. Meanwhile, Canterbury Cantata, Amici Chorus and Monday Music prove their worth at every rehearsal and performance, invigorating and lifting the spirits of all those taking part.

Since Canterbury Cantata Trust’s birth in 2012 when, as the founding father of CCT, his belief in the power of singing to enhance well-being (observed first-hand in his original sessions in Canterbury and Folkestone) galvanised him into setting up the organisation, he has forged a path towards his original aim with imagination and immense enthusiasm. I am extremely proud to be have been a part of this evolution.

Whilst Grenville will still be involved as an ambassador for the Trust, crusading for singing as the perfect path to well-being, it will now be as Honorary President of our wonderful organisation. Emily Renshaw-Kidd, an alumna of Canterbury Christ Church University from Grenville’s time there, continues the crusading work of the Trust as Artistic Director with immense passion and conviction. He can be immensely proud of the legacy of “Caring through Singing” he has created and we are indebted to him for his time, endless energy and inspiration given to the Trust.

Roshna Ahmad, Chair, Canterbury Cantata Trust.