THE ROCK CHOIR
‘Singing silences my anxieties’
Sarah Richardson, 56, found confidence and friendship when she joined the Rock Choir four years ago. She lives in Northop, Flintshire, with her partner Julie, 61.
After surgery to remove a brain tumour in March 2012, I was left with significant challenges to my concentration, balance and coordination. That all had a big impact on our social life because I found dinner parties or nights in the pub overwhelming.
At the end of 2017, Julie joined the Chester Late Evening Rock Choir, local to us. She came home with the biggest smile on her face, so in the new year I nervously accompanied her, insisting on standing at the back.
I confided in Kathryn, our leader, who assured me there was no pressure to move forward, and if I was having a good time at the back, that was all that mattered.
Julie sang alto, I sang bass. The bass singers were a beautiful bunch. We called ourselves the Bass Buddies, and they believed in me long before I did. It was thanks to them and Kathryn that I eventually found the courage to move to the front row.
When I sing, it silences my anxiety, work worries and chattering mind. I still struggle with the lasting impact of my operation, but not when I’m singing with my Bass Buddies.
We have had some tremendous opportunities, such as performing at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, but I’m just as happy singing in a shopping centre, with children and adults gathering around to dance along.
My favourite song in our repertoire is Shallow from A Star is Born. I get goosebumps when we sing it and we give each other a knowing look because we’re all thinking the same thing: ‘Wow!’
Singing together is so different from singing alone because the collective sound we produce is so powerful. Rock Choir is my go-to place. As soon as we start singing, I’m happy.
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‘The collective sound we produce is so powerful’