I moved to Sevenoaks with my husband Ben in 2015. Moving to a new place can be daunting, and we looked for ways to meet people and have fun. Arriving at our first choir rehearsal, we were welcomed to a fun, friendly and uplifting experience and were instantly hooked! It has become a bit of a mantra that we all leave rehearsal feeling better than when we arrived, so who wouldn’t want to keep coming back?!
Neither Ben nor I read music and though only one of us is especially musical (not me!), we both really enjoy the wide range of songs we cover in the repertoire – it’s never boring! The choir has grown and progressed over the years, especially since becoming an independent choir run by its members.
We undertake more dynamic and complex arrangements, and I always feel proud of our repertoire every time we perform. We have our Musical Director Philly to thank for that; she radiates warmth, passion and expertise, and she pushes us in terms of vocal performance and musicality. We are also incredibly well supported by Leon, our keyboardist, who is so talented, and can turn his hands (pun intended) to a range of musical styles.
It really is exciting and fulfilling to be part of the choir committee; to be part of something so positive and valued, that brings so much joy is a really wonderful thing.
Friendship and shared experiences are such an important part of the choir community and we have enjoyed many of the choir’s regular social events (at the pub, going out for a meal, to the theatre or for a night out). Ben and I have built some really precious friendships in this gorgeous community. We are so happy to see it surviving and thriving in the ‘post-Covid’ world, where we have perhaps all begun to appreciate that sharing and supporting each other is the stuff that really matters.