I can’t believe it’s been two years! It was an ordinary September morning when I received an email from a big choir in Cardiff who had decided to close their waiting list. I’d been on it for about a year after moving to Cardiff and was very sad. But I noticed something, all the girls on the waiting list (and it was all girls because there are always more women than men who want to be involved in the arts) had been “cc’d” or copied into the email. I thought – why not get all these lovely ladies together to sing?
I popped an email to the ladies on the list to see if I could start something up with them. Although I’d been in an A Capella choir at university which I became the President of, I have never really learnt to read music and certainly couldn’t teach anyone! I asked in the email if anyone knew anyone who could help.
Amazingly, one of the ladies on the list lived in the same building as Tom Colwell, a professional singer and teacher and before I knew it I was chatting to Tom in my work’s kitchen and we decided to meet up to find out what we could do. Tom had taught choirs before and was keen to help in this venture.
The first rehearsal took place in Wonderland Studios and we started with a Christmas carol – I think it may have even been Away in a Manger (sounds so tingly in three part harmony!) The next week we moved into Cathays Methodist Church which has been our home ever since. Around the end of November we decided to showcase the four songs we had managed to get together and invite our friends and family. Then we had minced pies and mulled wine!
In January we started again and spent most of that year with about 10 members. It was hard. But by the time the second Christmas concert rolled round, this time in a real venue and with tickets we’d sold, we had a real, proper choir. And things have gone from strength to strength. Even the change from last Christmas to this year’s summer concert is evident if you listen to our recordings.
We’ve been so lucky and called upon many favours and we’ve now had five musical directors who we would not be here without. Thank you to each and every one of the lovely ladies who has been a member over any part of the last two years. I’m excited about our next concert in the Norwegian Church and hope you can come along for some festive cheer!
Here’s to another successful year!