Story
This environmental arts project celebrates the beautiful River Severn. It raises concerns and seeks solutions for the river's ongoing health - through creativity, words, sound, song and action .
In 'We Sing The River's Voice' we have brought together people of all generations to sing for the River Severn in June 2026 at Bewdley together with Performance Poet Sipho Eric Ndlovu, opera singer Martin Robson and Vocal Improvisation Leader Ruana Xerri-West along with local children, a pop-up adult choir and a group of young people from Birmingham's Academy of Vocal Music (AVM - Ex Cathedra's youth choir).
It has been really important to involve not only local people, but to bring the group of young people from Birmingham, many of whom don't have opportunities to visit the countryside and be involved in river action.
thank you for a beautiful concert in Bewdley - it was brave and risk taking, nudged us out of our comfort zones and made us think differently about a deeply important issue. (AVM parent)
Together with AVM the whole Bewdley community came together through thought-provoking words, sounds and songs to support the vital fresh waters and wildlife of the River Severn. This project aims to raise awareness of our rivers' current plight and what action needs to be taken to protect it into the future, with diverse voices coming together with a shared vision.
The project gave me a real lift and I hope will do the same for you. (CARP Festival volunteer)
Thank you all for having the idea, working so hard to bring it to fruition and enabling our small town to engage with a wide group of people in a very different way. (Pop-up choir participant)
Liz and the creative team worked with all the young people in Bewdley and Birmingham, as well as with vocal improvisers from Malvern and with the singing folk of Bewdley in a series of workshops during May and June 2026.
Together everyone created a unique performance that raises the questions about why the river has been so badly treated, as well as celebrating the beauty and diversity of the river, and setting out our commitment to protect the river as it flows from mountain to sea.
'Questions for the River' from young people in Birmingham that took part in 'We Sing The River's Voice'
This fundraiser covers the costs of:
* Travel costs (coach £480) and AVM support staff (£505) for the young people travelling from Birmingham to take part at the Riverside event in Bewdley
We are very grateful to River Action UK who supported the rest of the costs of the project.
Thank you so much for any support you are able to give!
AVM young singers from Birmingham performing 'Voices of the River'
FYI: Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, I will withdraw funds directly. It's the most efficient way to donate and saves time and costs.
