Krefeld Choir Visit to Leicester and East Midlands - City of Leicester European Twinning Association

Thursday 29^th May – Monday 2^nd June 2025

On Thursday 29th May, ‘Silkophonics’, a pop/jazz choir from Krefield (Leicester’s twin city) came to visit the East Midlands. This visit was hosted by UK award winning a cappella group ‘Ocho’.

After a welcoming dinner on the Thursday evening, the visiting choir were thrilled to be given free passes into the King Richard III Visitors Centre, courtesy of the City of Leicester European Twinning Association.

*A very ‘Royal’ Richard III Latte in the restaurant*

Following that, they visited Leicester Cathedral.

*Tomb of Richard III in Leicester Cathedral – in the background is Luke Jerram’s spectacular seven metre sculpture of Mars*

They also visited the Guildhall where they would be singing a concert the following afternoon.

Both choirs then travelled up to Staffordshire to sing a very successful concert on the Friday evening. On Saturday afternoon, the choirs then revisited The Guildhall to sing a concert to a small, but appreciative audience.

*Both choirs join together in a wonderful finale*

The concert itself consisted of a wide genre of songs sung by the individual choirs before they came together in harmony to sing the final few songs.

They then travelled down to Northamptonshire to perform a final full concert.

A truly emotional, bonding moment occurred between the two choirs when they visited the British/German Friendship Garden at the National Memorial Arboretum on Sunday morning. They formed a circle, holding hands as they sung a breathtaking arrangement of Billy Joel’s ‘And So It Goes’ – a spine tingling moment that surely cemented the already strong friendship between the groups.

The Garden is located within the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire. It is a garden dedicated to remembering all who died in World War II, particularly those who suffered aerial bombing, and to fostering friendship between the British and German nations.

After a garden party on the Sunday afternoon, the Silk-o-phonics were taken up to spend a glorious Monday morning at Bradgate Park before a final lunch in Woodhouse Eaves.

*The beautiful entrance to Bradgate Park*

Then it was back to Birmingham Airport and their flight back to Düsseldorf. Some truly amazing friendships formed over the weekend to strengthen the links between Krefeld and Leicester..

Ocho wishes to thank the Twinning Committee, Visit Leicester and the staff of the Visitors Centre and The Guildhall for their financial and other logistical support which allowed the visit to be a great success.

Report prepared by Derek Gardner (Organiser), Ocho Singers