‘The best tonic for the times we are living in’: New community choir to start in Gisborne

Gisborne woman Sarah Cleave found joy singing in a community choir when she and the family lived in Spain last year.

A Gisborne community choir with a difference, where the kaupapa is singing in harmony, starts on Monday.

There are no auditions, no pressure and the first session is free.

The choir will be run by Keren Rickard and Sarah Cleave.

While living in Spain last year with her family, Cleave became convinced that singing with other humans in harmony was “the best tonic for the times we are living in”.

This choir is for any adult who enjoys singing.

All voices are welcome - from beginners to experienced singers.

People don’t need to be able to read music and there will be a diverse range of songs arranged in parts for different voices.

“It’s just about singing beautiful and fun songs in a relaxed and friendly environment,” Cleave said.

Each session will have a suggestion box for choir members to add songs they like, so that over time the choir will build a diverse repertoire.

Cleave said while living abroad, being part of a choir had allowed her to meet people, make new friends and hone her understanding of Spanish.

“The thing I appreciated the most, though, was the singing. We sang songs in many different languages, so it was great for my brain.

“But mostly it was just the feeling of singing with others in harmony, a group of strangers who became friends over time.“

Some of the songs made her cry each time they performed them, but mostly she remembered the laughter.

“I laughed a lot when I was at choir, despite not having much clue what was going on most of the time, but that’s just how it was. We sang, we laughed and some of us cried at the loveliness of it all.“

Now she is looking forward to sharing that kind of space with people in her own community.

Singing with a community choir in Spain gave Gisborne woman Sarah Cleave the inspiration to start a choir in her home city.

When: Monday February 9, 6.30pm - 8pm

Where: EIT staff room. Derby St entrance

* The EIT staff room is off Derby St, opposite the Trinity Church Hall. To access, you walk up the concrete ramp and the staffroom is the building on your left.

Cost: $100 for a 10-rehearsal concession card.If you need further information, email Keren Rickard on keren.rickard@gmail.com or Sarah Cleave on skcleave@gmail.com