Do you feel like there’s an irresistible urge for your voice to come out of your body, releasing your mind and letting out emotions you cannot even imagine yet? Or in other words, are you just tired of singing in the shower? And you probably think it’s such a pity that nobody is enjoying your vocal qualities… You could then consider joining a choir. There’re lots in the North East area catering for every type of singer.
Many professional coaches and singing theorists advocate the idea that EVERYONE can sing, so if the thought of doing so has been niggling at you for a while but you’re scared, joining a choir could be a risk free opportunity to try and see what happens.
You don’t need to be great to join in, everyone is welcome, no matter what your experience or background, there’s only one requirement that’s essential: the love of singing.
Many choirs have close links to churches but that doesn’t mean it’s always about classical and religious music. Benton Community Choir, for instance, meets every Friday evening at 7 pm in St. Andrews Church to sing many different kinds of music including Folk, Abba Songs, African Freedom Songs etc.
Heaton Voices, is a secular choir with 70 members that started 13 years ago to offer the local community a chance to be in a singing group. They sing a variety of musical styles from Classical to Rock. You can contact them via their website for more information.
One of the oldest singing groups in the area is Newcastle Choral Society, with nearly 60 years of history the choir currently boasts 110 regular singers. They perform three concerts every year.
Maybe you can picture yourself singing with that energy and enthusiasm that Gospel choirs usually emanate, in that case, your place is the Northeast Gospel Choir. A group that came from the 20.000 Voices Singing Project and that is directed by Sharon Durant, who’s got an endless experience working with choirs and is a member of the learning and participation team of The Sage Gateshead. They meet monthly in the Trinity Christian Community Centre.
The little ones are also welcome in choirs such as Ousburn Young Voices. This choir has around 60 members and it’s open to anyone from year 4 to year 10 at the beginning of every school term. They meet every Thursday at Hotspur Primary School in Heaton.
If you are a woman in search of a choir and you live by the sea then you could try joining Whitley Women Community Choir. It formed in 2009 becoming the first community choir in Whitley Bay and it’s open to any woman (with experience or not) over the age of 16 who wants to share her voice in a female choir. Gilly Love is in charge of the group, as well as the head of the Adult Programme at The Sage Gateshead. They meet weekly and their next event is a Christmas Choir rehearsal on 13th of October.
Last but not least there’s Tynemouth Choral Society. It was founded in 1964 and they meet every Monday at the Chapel in King’s School in Tynemouth. Their next forthcoming event will be a ‘Classical Masters’ concert, including Beethoven, Haydn and Mozart. Will take place Saturday the 16th of November at Augustine’s Church in North Shields.
No need for auditions so no possibility of rejection. The options are out there so have a think to choose which suits you best and see how it goes. And well, if in the end you seem to don’t be enjoying it, don’t worry, you can always go back to your shower but please, don’t ever stop singing.
Words: Berta Manau
Picture: Chris Crowder
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