Testimonials - what our singers say about our choirs :)
From Val (Shoreham Choir) Choir is a place where I can forget my troubles for a couple of hours and feel like myself again after losing my husband. I have met many in a similar situation and we have become friends. I have made many friends through this choir. It is a very friendly group there is no judgement or pressure on anyone. All abilities are welcomed with the same warm feeling from our lovely leader and all the members.
From Debbie (Durrington Choir) Last September I walked through the door of a choir called Singwell
I am quite a shy person until I get to know new people and have very little confidence.
I was meet by a lovely lady who took me to the people I needed to see, with song sheet in my hand the choir started to sing, WOW I knew from that moment I was going to like this choir and the people.
Three concerts done and new friends made, if you love to sing and want to meet new people come along to Singwell and embrace it, you won’t regret it.
From Shelly (Sompting Choir) Singwell Choir has been my absolute saving grace. It lifted me up from my lowest point and welcomed me into a beautiful community where friendship, acceptance, and love are always at the forefront. Singing here is pure therapy, led wonderfully by the lovely Julia. Singwell is truly my happy place.
From Col (Shoreham and Sompting Choirs)
Fun, fellowship, amazing mixture of songs, incredible blend of voices and wonderful new friends! That’s why I love belonging to Singwell. Thank you, Julia.
From Alan and Chris (Sompting Choir) We arrived in Lancing in April and quickly found out about the SingWell choir. We went along and found a very friendly group of folk in Sompting and a choir (which mostly relies on memory,) to be just right for us. Our leader, Julia is inspirational. Such fun for us all.
From Jason,, over for 6 months from Canada (Durrington Choir)
I just wanted to say thank you for your work leading and holding such a lovely community of music and care. It's been so neat to see the ways people not only have a lot of fun singing together but look after each other, too. I've certainly felt deeply welcome by the community. Singwell Choir really is a beautiful oasis of song where people can come, connect, make music, and be held in relationship, and it's been a sustaining place for me as I have lived with my in-laws and navigated life in a foreign country. It's really been such a joy to be part of Singwell for a season.
From Tony (Shoreham and Sompting choirs)
I must thank you for everything you do for us. I know it's a business but the Choir is where lonely people make friends, someone who loses a partner learns to live again. I had no friends and was alone and you have helped me tremendously. Now I have so many friends whether at Choir or Church, and a very good friend in Tony, we both look forward to the Choir every week. I hope we never lose Singwell.
From Rob (Durrington Choir)
It’s daunting to start attending a new choir but, as a new member of Sing Well I needn’t have worried. The other singers, especially the ‘tenors’, were very welcoming and Julia’s inclusive and encouraging leadership meant it wasn’t daunting at all but fun!
What is Singwell Choir? A poem by Mary L Murphy - dedicated to my choir
There’s a feeling I get as I reach the corner of the street It’s coming from being in sight of this church, this place where I come every week It’s coming from knowing that the instant I go through the doors there’ll be people there to meet me, to greet me, to give me their smile, To genuinely care how I’ve been since the last time they’ve seen me This feeling I get is all warm and fuzzy and glowing It’s coming from knowing that I belong here however I am in that moment It’s a feeling of being at home, from being with others Of being part of my Singwell choir family of so many sisters and brothers.
We sit and we chatter till it’s time to begin, then as one body we stand up to sing The tenors all deep mellow tones, their voices are soothing Sopranos singing angelic highest of high, their sound is so moving And then there’s the altos, both high and low notes floating This is the place where I belong Where I lift my voice united in song And the whole of the choir all singing together the harmonies blending That sound that we’re sending So moving that at times it brings to me to tears So wonderful to be part of it, that while it is happening I can rest all my fears, I can calm all my worries and be fully here
For this I am thankful, I’m peaceful, I’m blessed For all of these folk who come every week For the lovely ladies who dish up a cuppa For those who bake cake, pour tea and take time to listen and speak For our choir director who makes us all laugh and creates the arrangements Who gets us to sing them again and again and sings all the parts with each of the groups, till she sees that we’ve got it, we know by her smile as it shines from her heart I’m so thankful to be here, with my choir, taking part From when I arrive out of my busy life to when we’re all done When our songs are all sung, when the cakes all been eaten and the teas all been drunk When it’s time to put on my coat and head out to the world I’m so thankful I’ve been here My soul has been rested, my mind has unfurled