The Power of Song: Building Community with Imagine Choir
At the Stoller Hall, we know how music can connect and uplift people, whether it is creating your own music or coming to watch a performance. We are delighted to be hosting Imagine Choir, who will be using our Carole Nash Hall for regular sessions on Tuesday evenings. Imagine Choir believe in the power of singing to bring people together and inspire creative expression. They hope to create a safe space where people can enjoy expressing themselves through music, in a friendly, welcoming environment. As part of this, Imagine Choir are running a free trial session this September, where you can come as you are and discover the magic of community singing. We spoke with the choir’s founder Tom Rigby to find out more about Imagine Choir’s mission and how singing can benefit you.
Could you introduce Imagine Choir and share the inspiration that drives your work?
Imagine Choir is a brand new community choir, opening in the fantastic Stoller Hall. We’ll meet every Tuesday from 7pm – 8.30pm with no experience required! No sheet music, no auditions, just a group of humans remembering how good it feels to sing together. Part of my inspiration to open the choir came from the Stoller Hall itself. I think it’s easy for a concert hall such as the Stoller Hall to feel like it’s only for virtuosic, professional musicians. Imagine Choir provides an opportunity for anyone with an interest in singing to rehearse and perform in this iconic venue.
What makes the art of singing such a vital part of human expression and community?
Most of us have felt the power and joy of collective singing – for example, if you’ve been to a pop concert, been involved in a choir or caught up chanting at the footy! It makes us feel joy in ourselves and a sense of connection to those around us. This power can have an incredible, positive effect on physical, mental and social health. These moments of group singing are also quite often the closest we get to collective spiritual experience.
Group singing can be incredibly beneficial and can massively help with so many of today’s societal issues – for example, mental health issues, isolation and declining physical health. Why aren’t more of us looking for singing opportunities? Especially when we can all sing, all the time, for free! Imagine if more people connected with each other through singing, imagine how many personal and societal divisions we could bring just a little bit closer by doing something that makes us feel fantastic.
What would you say to someone who doesn’t think joining a choir is for them?
I meet many people who say some version of “I can’t sing”. What they really mean is “I’m not good at singing”. Whilst this may seem like the same thing, this change of language can have a big impact. It’s rare to hear “I’m not good at talking” or “I’m not good at communicating”. Why is it different with singing?
Let’s start by clearing something up; EVERYONE can sing. The obvious exception may be non-speaking people, but I’m sure that many of them have their own unique relationships with singing. Whether it’s in the shower or belting it out in the car, we all have a go sometimes, it’s part of our nature. The act of singing has been in our bones longer than the English language, longer than musical instruments, it’s very possible that human beings were singing or chanting even before articulated speech!
What do you hope people will take away from the taster session?
A huge smile on their face! The taster session will be a big welcome event full of singing, chances to meet new people and some fun exercises. We’ll keep the bar open after the session for a bit of a social too. Chatting to people about the choir recently, I’ve met lots of newcomers to Manchester who are looking for opportunities to meet people in an engaging environment. I hope Imagine Choir provides a chance for people to form new friendships and to feel at home in a creative community.
Come along to Imagine Choir’s free taster session on 9 September and discover the joy of singing in a community choir!
