WHAT’S the next step when you’re a Grammy-nomin-ated music director who has worked with huge touring shows which pack out major New York venues?

Set up a choir in Leigh , of course! That’s the dream for David Cooke, who, for the past four years, has worked with the large-scale show, Celtic Thunder, and in 2000, received a Grammy nomination for his production work on Phil Coulter’s single, Highland Cathedral.

Now back in Wickford where he has family, David wants to start a new choir for proficient singers, keen to pool their talents and sing some of his unique arrangements.

He explains: “I stopped doing Celtic Thunder because it was just getting too much. “It was just getting a bit intense and I wanted to build up local contacts. Also, of course, I’ve got my family here, my daughters and other relatives.”

Cooke is hoping to recruit keen singers from south Essex who are interesting in getting involved and help the choir take shape. He plans to devise all the musical arrangements himself, but taking his lead from the suggestions of the singers as the choir comes together.

He says: “All the arrangements will be exclusive to the choir.

“I’ll choose them to start off with, but then, as we get going, people will be able to suggest songs. I’d like it to be a bit of a co-operative, anyway. I don’t want it to be completely dominated by me in a dictatorial role.

“I’m hoping it’ll appeal to people who like singing and are interested in a little bit of a challenge to build together. “I don’t want a massive choir – maybe 25 people or so – enough to make a reasonable sound. It’s also easier to manage in terms of noise, if it’s a bit smaller.”

David is planning to meet and rehearse at Leigh Community Centre and has already put together some arrangements. He has also been working with a choir in Hornchurch, alongside vocal coach Debbie Spice and students from Brian Roger’s Performance Dance College, in Corringham.

He’s not keen on the idea of formal auditions. However, he does want singers with a certain amount of musical skill and knowledge, who can cope with the relatively complex arrangements he has in mind.

He explains: “Among the songs I’ve arranged at the moment are Tony Joe White’s A Rainy Night in Georgia, Jerry Jeff Walker’s Mr Bojangles, the Eagles’ Desperado and Neil Young’s After the Gold Rush.

“They’re all fun to sing, but fairly complex stuff. Because I’m doing the arrangements myself, if people want to say ‘I’d like to do this, or that’ I’ll have a look at it.

“I’m not averse to doing a bit of more classical stuff – maybe a bit of Italian operatic stuff – but nothing too grand. I want it to be quite contemporary.

“The idea would be to perform in two or three different ways – just with a piano and with a rhythm section or a band.”

If you’re interested in being a part of the new choir, call David Cooke on 07956 518277 or e-mail him at dave.l.

cooke@gmail.com