I can’t remember a time when I haven’t been singing. At Sunday school, Chapel, in school choirs, then folk clubs, a bit of jazz, large classical choirs, even a bit of solo work, I’ve tried most of it at one time or another.
I’d heard Avon Harmony’s style of music at an open-air event and wanted to join in but not until a friend, with whom I sang in the local Choral Society, dragged me along to keep her company did I get bitten by the Bug. How different it was! I’d had plenty of experience of different kinds of music but this was magical! Although I knew quite a bit of the theory behind actual voice production, not once had I been shown, simply and easily, how to improve and develop my own singing.
What a bunch of women too! All ages, all backgrounds, all abilities, welcoming, wickedly humorous, who quickly became like a second family.
Learning becomes easier and easier as time goes on. I began as a bass (the lowest part, of course,) but, a few years later, after beginning to sing in a quartet with three friends, I changed to Bari (baritone) which meant re-learning a lot, but not impossible, by any means.
Now, 17 years after first dipping my toes into these musical waters, I have the honour of being a section leader and now (at a time in life when I might be expected not to be taking on new ventures) assistant M
I have grown up in a musical family and would say music has always been part of my life in some way. As a child I would join in the singalongs around the piano, and learned the violin.
In more recent years I had a desire to sing, so I had singing lessons but never got around to joining a choir or group. A career change left me with more spare time and I happened upon an advert in the local paper for Avon Harmony. The next day I went along to rehearsal and have been attending ever since.
I sing ‘baritone’ which I find a particular rewarding section of harmony, but sometimes challenging to learn! It is certainly good for mental agility-in fact all aspects of mind,body and spirit get a work out which is a good feeling. It is wonderful to sing with others and our rehearsals are a real highlight in my week. I have met a lovely group of people who have welcomed and encouraged me from the start.
Hi my name is Fiona and I joined Avon Harmony in December 2011
As a child I used to play the guitar and my parents would embarrass me every time they had people stay and I had to entertain them by playing my guitar and singing.
All my family love to sing and my father was, until fairly recently, a member of a Gaelic Choir on the Isle of Skye so you could say that I was brought up in a musical environment.
Although I stopped playing the guitar a long time ago my passion to sing continued and I sing at any given opportunity.
I am known for being the first one up on the Karaoke on a night out and still enjoy singing at family gatherings and Parties.
I moved from Scotland to Bristol about six years ago now and although I am kept busy at work I have missed the close contact with my family and was looking for hobbies and interests to fill my evenings. After going along to watch a friend sing in a choir in Portishead I knew then that choir singing was for me.
I spoke to a friend about this and she put me in touch with another member of Avon Harmony and I was invited along to see them practice. After listening to them sing I knew I wanted to be a part of it and despite my nerves prepared for an audition and luckily for me I was accepted on the Lead Section.
I have a lot to learn and a lot of bad habits to overcome but I love every minute of it. Everyone in the group made me feel welcome and they are all very supportive. I now look forward to Thursday evenings as a bit of me time doing something that I love.