CULTURE CLUB
THE COLLABORATION CHOIR All together now ALEX FICE SHOUTS OUT THE CAMBRIDGESHIRE-BASED TROUPE THAT CHAMPIONS HAVING FUN AND BUILDING
COMMUNITY THROUGH SINGING Arriving at Clay Farm Centre in Trumpington, I am met by the sound of upbeat pop music and a hubbub of chatter. Stepping through the doors into the community centre, I am spotted by The Collaboration Choir’s founder and leader, Carrie Rawlings, who establishes which of the three voice parts – lowers, mids and uppers – I should join. Taking a seat among my fellow mids, I am struck by how friendly and open everyone is. Clearly a new face, I am quickly taken into the fold and enveloped by greetings. The music is turned down and Carrie steps forward, wearing a microphone (à la aerobics instructor) that carries her voice effortlessly to the back of the hall: it’s time for the warm up. Following her lead, we repeat lines from classic hits, slipping from James Blunt to Mika, via Alphaville and The Calling, gradually working through voice ranges to warm up the vocal cords. We then turn to the music we’ll be learning this evening. While many choirs have sheet music that maps out the notes for each voice part, The Collaboration Choir uses a pared- back lyric sheet, marked in bold where there’s harmony. It’s a simple, yet effective way of getting people out of their copies and into the room, with no time wasted trying to find your place. Here, it’s all about the singing. Carrie arranges all the music herself, she explains after rehearsal. Obsessed since a little girl, she performed in choirs and orchestras throughout school years and went to university to study musical theatre. “I’ve always wanted to sing and act. The thing I love about music is telling a story,” she explains. The influence of Carrie’s background in drama is felt in every aspect of her leadership. For starters, she has a magnetic
stage presence that is completely engaging, offering useful tips and amusing analogies to help us get around trickier bits. She’s also extremely funny, sharing anecdotes from her life with the delivery of a stand-up comedian, eliciting guttural laughs and the occasional cackle from the choir. “That’s the actor in me coming through – you want the audience to love you!” Then, there are the practical games and exercises she uses to help us, such as speaking the lyrics, so they don’t become too rigid when sung. Carrie tells us that, at the next rehearsal, she’ll invite someone to stand at the front and recite the lyrics aloud to the choir. But, to her amazement, one woman raises her hand and asks if she can do it then and there, as she has to give a talk to 200 people the next day and hasn’t done any public speaking since the pandemic. It’s an incredibly moving moment that not only helps us feel the meaning of the lyrics more keenly, BELT IT OUT If you fancy giving something new a try, sign up for a free taster session – you don’t need any choral experience to join in
but also creates a strong sense of togetherness within the choir, as we show support to a fellow member in a way that is truly meaningful to them. It’s moments like this that demonstrate the important role choirs play within society, helping to nurture a sense of community. “I kept coming back to this word ‘collaboration’, I couldn’t escape it,” says Carrie. “I just kept thinking, what do I want to do with this choir? I want to engage different groups of people and various creative industries.” In this spirit, Carrie has generated plenty of opportunities for the three branches of the choir – based in St Neots, Huntingdon and Cambridge – to perform together. The choirs sung in a flash mob at the St Neots Street Food Festival back in May; they will be performing at the Big Weekend in Cambridge this month; and there are even plans in August to record an EP featuring all the songs the choir has learnt so far. Also in the works for next year is a festival that will seek to bring choirs together from all over Cambridge – so stay tuned! Since starting in April, The Collaboration Choir has acquired over 300 members. “Many people think that singing isn’t for them, but I say just come along and try it for yourself!” The Collaboration Choir rehearses in Cambridge on Wednesday evenings from 8pm- 9.30pm. For information on how to join, head over to thecollaborationchoir.com.
She’s also extremely funny, sharing anecdotes from her life with the delivery of a stand-up comedian
CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK JULY 2022 11
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