New Mental Health Choir to launch in Newton Aycliffe
Sing out Strong is the world’s biggest mental health choir – an inspirational organisation which provides opportunities for people to improve their wellbeing through singing and there is a new group coming to Neville Parade Methodist Church Hall on September 6th from 1-2.30pm.
Sing out Strong (or “SOS” as it’s fondly known by its members) started life as a UK family of choirs for mental health and wellbeing, back in 2019. When the first lockdown hit the country, there were 6 choirs on the English/Welsh border, each meeting regularly to enjoy music, friendship and mutual support.
When the COVID-19 pandemic closed down the in-person groups, Sing out Strong switched to running free, online choir sessions available to anyone and everyone, being the first UK group to “go virtual”. Since then, there have been 7 unique projects featuring everything from original charity singles to famous, classical works, and the organisation has gone global, working with 11k singers in 100 countries. The culmination of the virtual choir was a feature on the BBC in May 2021, coinciding with the UK opening up once more.
The Founder and Principal Conductor of Sing out Strong is Emma Rowland, a professional choral conductor with PTSD with anxiety and depression. Emma set up SOS as a safe place where people could come and sing for their wellbeing, but also could be open about their mental health or if they were just having a bad day. Because of Emma’s own experiences, mental health and wellbeing are included in everything at SOS; all material is upbeat and positive and relaxation exercises are included at the beginning and end of every rehearsal. Sing out Strong also organises Wellness Days where choir members can try new wellbeing activities. Additionally, all choir leaders are trained in mental health safeguarding.
Now that the UK is out of lockdown, Sing out Strong is expanding throughout the UK, bringing its own unique ethos of singing for wellbeing to even more singers. There are 26 choirs planned for launch in the next few months, covering all of the country from Cornwall in the South to Aberdeen in the North and Norfolk in the East. As well as raising awareness of mental health and singing together for fun and friendship, the choirs will come together regularly for spectacular fundraising galas in aid of mental health charities.
Sing out Strong prides itself on being totally inclusive, in fact, SOS is totally “Singclusive”! Choir fees are capped, free places are offered for carers, additional support is made available for disability or learning needs and nobody is ever auditioned, put on the spot or expected to join in or perform.
Founder Emma Rowland said: “When I was diagnosed in 2018, it was my music that kept me going and helped me focus and move forward. Now I want to pass on this support network to others, as I know, from personal experience, how singing and social inclusion can make you smile – even when you think you may never smile again”.
For more information or to join a Sing out Strong choir, visit www.singoutstrong.co.uk/choirs
email hello@singoutstrong.co.uk, or find SOS on Facebook @SingOutStrongWellbeing.
