Having enjoyed singing mainly to myself in the shower or car for many years, an opportunity presented itself to join a night singing class at a local college. This was a positive experience and wetted my appetite to sing with others in a choir.

First contact with SMVC was as a member of the college night class choral group at a primary school concert at which SMVC were also performing. Having listened to them and later at Stockton Baptist Tabernacle I was motivated to contact the Chairman who had been publicising the choir and its activities in the Evening Gazette.

At my first visit to the SMVC, I was immediately made to feel welcome and put at ease by choir members. There was no particular expectation either of my voice, extent of participation, ability to read music or anything else. Help was available to me from day one whether it was to enable me to find my way around a particular piece of music on the page or in fact to access the copy from the stores beforehand, that support for me as a new choir member was instantly available.

Yes, work is done learning new music but this is made very enjoyable by the way the practice sessions are run and the time seems to pass very quickly. Standards are important and the choir works hard to achieve these under the direction of Andy who it has to be said is not adverse to explaining things in colourful terms which even a novice like myself can understand as well as introducing me to new musical terminology.

The talents of individual choir members are often called on during practice sessions and performances. Solos in part or a whole, or the accompanying of the choir on an instrument, are all welcome contributions if one is willing.

The shared experience of making music, the companionship, the humour generally and Gordon’s weekly jokes slot combine to make participation for me in SMVC very enjoyable and a real contrast to my work and other activities. The challenge of learning and being able then to use what is learnt to produce a choir performance to share with others including family members is for me proving to be an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

I can recommend anyone who may be thinking of joining a choir, but who perhaps is lacking in confidence, to try joining the SMVC for a few weeks at their practice sessions. Hopefully you would enjoy being a member as much as I am currently doing.

John Frankland.