10 Nov 2025
There’s nothing like a favourite carol or festive song to get you in the mood for Christmas, but for the members of Harpenden Magic Voices, it also means an opportunity to raise money for a Harpenden-based charity that supports children and adults with a rare genetic condition, writes Gillian Thornton.
Ataxia Telangiectasia, or AT, is a complex genetic disorder affecting a number of different systems within the body. Classic AT progressively affects coordination and movement, weakens the immune system, and raises the risk of specific cancers.
Individuals are affected in different ways but the average life expectancy is just 25 years.
Based at Thrales End Business Centre in Harpenden, the AT Society began in 1989 as a support group. Today it is the UK’s only charity dedicated to funding vital research as well as supporting families affected.
“The relationship between Magic Voices and the AT Society developed from a chance meeting between choir member Jon Quick and the charity,” says Sally Milligan who handles fundraising and community partnerships for the Society.
“This year will be the third time that Magic Voices have performed at our annual Christmas concert, and last year we raised more than £4,000 from an audience of almost 200.”
This year’s event will take place at St John’s Church on Thursday December 4, sponsored by Harpenden Building Society and featuring music from Harpenden Youth Choir and ‘Harpenden Busker’ Mike Hodge.
Christmas has a special significance for Magic Voices founder Andy Rumble who, in 2010, was picking up his career as a musical arranger in television and theatre after a challenging life period.
“I was playing a few gigs in the area when somebody asked me if I would put a choir together for Harpenden Christmas Carnival, so we all gathered together in a Scout hut and I wrote a few Christmas arrangements,” says Andy, who now lives in the Midlands but still holds Harpenden dear.
“I had no intention of forming a permanent choir but it went so well that I decided to continue in the New Year and we met on a casual basis every Monday whilst I gradually added more arrangements. I now have 19 choirs across the country, but Harpenden was the first one and is still very important to me. Some members have been with me for the whole 15 years!”
In July this year, Harpenden Magic Voices were one of the first musical acts to play amongst the arts and crafts stalls at the popular Art On The Common event, and last year, they performed an hour’s free afternoon concert in the magnificent setting of St Albans Cathedral.
But although concerts are a great way to help the local community, Andy Rumble has always regarded rehearsals as the most important thing: “Singing together is a natural anti-depressant and a real boost to mental health and happiness,” he says firmly.
Potential new members are welcome to attend a free taster session. No nerve-wracking audition and definitely no dancing! This mixed community choir is all about the joy of singing together, and the repertoire, all arranged by Andy in five-part harmonies, includes pop classics and musical theatre. So whether you are a fan of The Greatest Showman or The Sound of Silence, Let It Go or Let It Be, Magic Voices will perform songs that you love.
Members meet in the theatre space at Katherine Warington School at 8pm on Monday evenings during term time and the arrangements can be downloaded from the members’ section of the Magic Voices website. Membership fees are paid monthly or quarterly by direct debit.
“It is one of the great pleasures of my week to run this fabulous choir,” says Artie Reed, musical director of the Harpenden choir. “We tackle a diverse repertoire and get to perform in some fabulous spaces. I also think it is populated by a rather lovely group of people!
“But the most important thing is that everyone has fun, so I strive to strike a balance between pushing us forward musically and keeping the sessions light-hearted. So I am really looking forward to the Christmas concert where we can bring musical cheer to others and raise money for a wonderful local charity. Who could ask for more in the festive season?”
Book a taster singing session at www.magicvoices.co.uk. Tickets for the Christmas Concert at St John’s Church on December 4 from 7-9pm are available from www.atsociety.org.uk/events/concert-2/ – £12 in advance or £15 on the door if still available.
Art on the Common photos by Steve Collins
