In a special edition of Just The Tonic, Katie celebrates World Singing Day 2022 which takes place on Saturday 15 October. We hear how singing was a superpower for opera singer extraordinaire Nicky Spence as it helped him get through hard times when he was young. 

Soprano and National Treasure Lesley Garrett tells Katie about the health benefits singing brings to people with Alzheimers and she even gives us a singing lesson! 

Don't think you can sing? Well, think again. The People's Orchestra's Choral Director, Ula Weber says anyone can sing!

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In this episode, Katie chats to Kit de Waal about her fabulous new memoir, Without Warning and Only Sometimes. It's an honest and funny account of her childhood, growing up in Birmingham with her four brothers and sisters, her Irish mother who brought her children up as Jehovah's Witnesses, and her father from St Kitts in the Caribbean. Kit didn't start writing until she was in her 50s and has some excellent tips for getting started.

Laurie Stanton was a boy soprano in his hometown of Port Talbot in Wales. He took up singing again after the death of his wife left him feeling really low. Now he sings with Morriston Orpheus Choir, recognised as one of the best male voice choirs in Wales. They've sung all over the world and even in front of the Queen. Laurie tells us how singing in the choir has given him a new lease of life.

And we hear about all the benefits of singing from the new members of The People's Orchestra Show Choirs who sung recently at the Birmingham 2022 celebrations for the Commonwealth Games.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram to find out about the stars we have lined up for next series of Just The Tonic with Katie Derham.

Thanks for listening!

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Katie meets singer extraordinaire Nicky Spence whose had an eventful year so far, full of personal ups and downs. His career is going from strength to strength – he's sung with all the major opera companies – but, he tells Katie, he'd give it all up to appear on … tune in to find out!

AbracadOpera!, a new show for Sky Kids, is all about introducing young people to the opera for the first time. How did it go down with primary school pupils from Croydon whose tastes in music are a million miles away from Verdi and Wagner? We went to their school to find out. Beth Warnock, Head of Learning at English National Opera tells us why branching out into broadcast creates new outreach opportunities.

The Proms features musicians at the top of their game in concert at the Albert Hall. Most of us can only dream about reaching their standard, but that shouldn't stop us from having a go! The People's Orchestra's Rusty Players orchestra gives opportunities to new musicians or to those who've dusted off an instrument that's been lying in a cupboard for years. Some of their newest members tell us what they get out of playing together in the orchestra. 

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