Louise

I had come down to London from the Midlands in 2014 to look after my Mum who was very poorly. I was working then and didn’t have much time to see my friends in the South or to make new friends locally. Mum got physically better, but her dementia worsened, so I stayed. I felt a little adrift at Mum’s, not feeling part of the community. Then five years ago I joined the Mixed Up Chorus. Since April 2020 I have been a full-time carer.

I think with any new group of people you get an immediate feel about whether you feel that they suit you, and you suit them. I felt part of the choir very quickly. As an alto who had not sung much harmony for over forty years, I found it challenging and dreaded performances as I do think I sang flat for much of the time – or just an octave down from the sopranos.

But I like a challenge and have worked hard on learning songs and on trying to improve my musicianship. I stick to Jeremy’s advice about it being better to sing loudly and wrong, than quietly and right. I do have a loud voice.

I have loved the songs we’ve sung, the places we’ve sung and the people we’ve met. As I have a lot on my plate at home, it has been a welcome distraction where I completely switch off the worry channel. Mum has been to a few of the concerts and has been made a real fuss of. This to me feels very much like a good faith community where your whole self is a member, not just the singer in you.

I love the Singing Our Lives project. There has been so much from workshops and music sessions; going to Thurrock to sing with the Royal Opera House Community Chorus; having songs written for us; the sense of a larger connection; and the sheer scale of the aspiration.

There of course have been disagreements and problems but the measure of things is how these get handled. My belief is that you have to have values and principles which guide all action, within that people are treated with compassion and fairness. I have never felt that behaviour did not match the values. It is a safe place to be.

Since meeting on Zoom, I have been extremely impressed by how it has been managed and by the marvellous Twilight Sessions. They have been a real highlight. I have a few obsessions and music is one of them. To have such a diverse mix of presenters and singers has been a real joy.

Recording and videoing myself have been a trial – but I have learnt a lot, and have loved listening to and watching the videos created from our recordings. I am a member of a Unitarian videoing group (I do the paperwork) and I am always trying to encourage them to focus on quality. Together Production’s production values are excellent.

I have taken the Zoom choir model and worked with a fellow Unitarian (who is an excellent musician) to run an on-line hymn sing. We’ve just completed our 53rd session, with a committed following of over 30 people across the UK. We have done a couple of surveys

and the feedback that we have received is so positive. It has also unearthed some issues like carers and people who live in rural areas who are unable to connect in normal times by attending a local meeting house. So I expect we will keep this going. It would not have happened without the Mixed Up Chorus.

Whatever happens I know that I have been changed – at a very basic level, I now positively enjoy performances; and I am a better singer. Also my horizons have been expanded through meeting so many different people; I have plenty of ideas and experience which I can take into other arenas; and whilst I was very used to interagency working and planning, it has shown how arts’ organisations can be the leaders of social change. At a soul level, I feel loved and appreciated.