Quirky Choir
We need your voice!
The Point
Wednesdays in school term time, 6.30–8.30pm
£4.50 per session, first session is free
18+
We believe that everyone can sing, if given the confidence and the opportunity. At Quirky Choir there are no auditions, we don’t expect you to be able to read music or even have any singing experience. It’s all about finding your voice and feeling good. Whatever your age, gender, background or ability, everyone is welcome at Quirky Choir.
If you still need a nudge to give it a go, there is a wealth of evidence that singing is good for your physical and mental health. It can increase lung function, relieve stress, enhance memory, improve your mood, and help develop confidence. Collective singing creates a sense of community, reducing feelings of loneliness and building connection:
This choir has added such a lot to my life through the good times and the bad. The sense of community it brings is a wonderful thing. I feel proud to be a member.
There’s no need to book in advance, please just turn up. Your first session is free, then it’s £4.50 per session after that.
The final session before the summer break will be 19 July and sessions will resume on 6 September.
Please email amy@wearedarts.org.uk if you have any questions.
More Information
In 2018, Quirky Choir celebrated its 20th year by embarking on a year long project that both challenged the group and raised its profile. The Quirkus project enabled the choir to collaborate with four excellent artists: Ian McMillan, Luke Carver Goss, Hayley Youell and Lucky Moyo, who in turn worked not only with the choir but also with darts groups: Singing for Memory, Creative Directions, Swag Choir and Swaglets, as well as members of Doncaster Conversation Club. The choir created almost thirty original songs to add to their repertoire. There were many performances over the year as well as a new Quirkus film made by James Lockey and an exhibition of photographs by James Mulkeen that were exhibited in our gallery at The Point.
The choir’s Artistic Director said:
With Ian we laughed out loud but were also brought close to tears in a series of songs exploring memory. Luke introduced us to different musical modes and styles and gave our voices instrumental flavours from far-off lands. Hayley, with colleagues Andy Seward and Nic Lewis, led us gently into the world of conductive touch technology and opened up new ways of using our vocal sounds. Lucky brought us traditional songs from southern Africa which we adapted and built upon to make our own, incorporating some of the languages of newcomers to Doncaster.
We learned a huge amount through the project – some of us taking on responsibilities for negotiating gigs, posting on social media, nurturing contacts, writing articles, speaking on the radio, managing finances and paying artists. We had to learn a lot of new songs very quickly, attending extra rehearsals and learning at home with sound files, but it was all worth it in the end!
Individual choir members report having increased confidence in their singing abilities and also positive impacts on their wellbeing. Feedback also mentions becoming a more “bonded” and “unified” choir. One said, “Quirky Choir has become a very polished choir, which easily adapts to different requirements. We just seem to gel together so well!”
There is a thirst to “keep growing creatively, continuing to set ourselves challenges.” And in answer to the question, “What should we keep from the project?” another member said, “We should keep our identity as a group of like-minded people who love singing and use our enthusiasm to bring pleasure to others, spreading a message of harmony and tolerance.”
This is my voice
It’s my fingerprint
This is my voice
And it makes its mark
On my life’s page