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  • Sing-Outs And Celebrations!
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  •  Date Posted: Wed, 18 Jun 2025
    Sing-Outs And Celebrations!

    sing-outs and celebrations!


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    Summer season is well and truly swinging into high gear!  More Harmony have been busy with rehearsals, sing-outs and some seriously big plans....

    We were recently delighted to join Wadebridge Male Voice Choir, along with soloist Bo Gregson, to perform in a concert at the beautiful St Petroc's Church in Bodmin.  This is one of our favourite places to sing and we loved being there to celebrate the many forms of music happening in our part of the world.  Music has an incredibMore Harmony Women's Choir singing in St Petroc's Church, Bodminle power to bring people together and this event was certainly no exception!  From modern musical theatre pieces and traditional choral songs, to classic pop and beautiful ballads, there was something for everyone to enjoy.  We'd like to say a big thank you to Wadebridge Male Voice Choir for inviting us!

    We were back in action on Sunday 15th June, performing for the residents of The White House Care Home in Bodmin.  There's something really special about these kind of performances and we're so grateful to the staff for their enthusiasm and kindness.  We enjoyed food and wine afterwards and had the chance to chat to the residents and share our love for what we do.  The visit was made even more poignant for us by knowing that our performance had been specifically requested by the residents, following our Christmas visit, last year!  We've already been asked if we'll go and entertain everyone again this festive season, so that's something we'll definitely look forward to.  It's never too early to get those Christmas bookings in, believe it or not!  Music is truly the cherry on the cake of any celebration and we love being a part of people's events.

    Speaking of celebrations...

    More Harmony will be celebrating its 15th birthday in September of this year!  Our fabulous choir turned 10 in 2020 and our plans for a celebratory concert were curtailed thanks to the small issue of a global pandemic...

    This year, we hope to mark fifteen years of fun, friendship and harmony with a concert at Wadebridge Town Hall.  Whilst the plans are still in the early stages, the hall is booked for Saturday 20th September and we're already seriously excited about marking this special milestone!  Running a small, not-for-profit choir, whilst keeping costs down for our members and still providing plenty of exciting performance opportunities, is practically a second job for our dedicated MD and team of volunteers.  To have not only survived through Covid, when many choirs sadly folded, but to have continued to grow and thrive is a huge testament to the commitment and passion of our members.  With music opportunities abounding in the locality, we are delighted by the fact that we still get new singers through our doors - and even more overjoyed when they tell us what a wonderful, warm, friendly and supportive group More Harmony is.  If that's not worth celebrating, we don't know what is!  We're extraordinarily proud of what we've created at More Harmony and we can't wait to show off what we do.

    Whilst tickets are not on sale yet, we can promise that anyone who comes along to celebrate our birthday with us will get to see some fabulous singing not only from us, but from other local groups, plus there'll be a raffle and plenty of refreshments on offer!

    Rehearsals are in full swing and, as is always the case, have been full of laughter and joy as we prepare for such an exciting event.  Our rehearsals always begin with a gentle physical warm up and an all-important vocal warm-up and recently, our music team have outdone themselves with their ability to make this fun and inclusive!  

    All that remains for us to say is keep your eyes peeled over the coming weeks for more information about our "birthday party!"  And indeed, for us performing - we love to sing in the sunshine, so we doubt it'll be long before we're back out there, doing what we do best.

    More Harmony is a choir for all women, regardless of experience.  All we ask is that you bring your enthusiasm and can attend regular rehearsals - we'll do the rest!  So, if you're a woman aged 16+ and you love singing, why not come along and do some with us?!  Email us for more details, or simply come along to Wadebridge Ambulance Hall on a Thursday night from 7pm -  no appointment required.  We look forward to welcoming you!

     
  • Sing-Out Season Is Hotting Up!
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  •  Date Posted: Wed, 7 May 2025
    Sing-Out Season Is Hotting Up!

    Sing-out season is hotting up!


    The weather is getting warmer and we're getting performance-ready, here at More Harmony HQ!  We're a third of the way into 2025 now and we're delighted with how things are going.

    A close up of a purple More Harmony music bag in a pretty garden
    A Growing Chorus...

    So far this year we've had two new singers join us as full members, including our youngest singer, who is just sixteen!  With further potential new members attending rehearsals as well, we're thrilled to be growing our friendly chorus - and to be handing out some more of our purple More Harmony music bags!  

    At the end of 2024, one of our goals was to grow our bass section.  We now have four beautifully rich voices in that all-important section and the sound they're making together is rather fabulous!  Having achieved our goal so early on in the year, we've set ourselves a new one: to grow our tenor section!  Yes, we've gone from the lowest part of our range to the highest - can you hit those sparkling top notes?  If so, we'd love to see you at rehearsal!

     


    Sing-Outs Aplenty!

    Of course, as the year progresses, we find our sing-out diary filling up...  This is one of the highlights of what we do - getting out there to strut our stuff in front of an audience!  Last weekend, we had the honour of singing at the opening of Cornwall Samaritans' new operations building.  The Samaritans is a charity close to our hearts and we were delighted to attend this event and perform for the volunteers who work so hard and do so much good, as well as for the assembled guests and VIPs.  We had a wonderful time, singing in the sunshine and several of us even made a bit of a day of it afterwards, heading off for tea and cake!  Sometimes, you've just got to...

    Our next performance is at the gorgeous St Petroc's Church in Bodmin on Friday 30th May, where we'll be singing alongside Wadebridge Male Voice Choir.  You can grab tickets on the door and the fun starts at 7:00pm.  It promises to be a fantastic evening of music, so we hope to see lots of you there.

    We've got a few more performances planned in the coming months - more info to come - and we're excited to show off some of the new songs we're learning!

     

    Turning Up The Volume...

    Four members of More Harmony wearing head micsAs the weather continues to heat up, we're receiving more and more requests to sing outdoors.  Singing outside can make it harder for the sound to carry, so we've invested in some head-mics for our members!  It's been a learning curve so far, getting used to the difference in sound and adjusting the volume so we don't have one person deafening everyone else (usually me...), but we're really pleased to have this fantastic amplification in place, as it means we can say yes to more sing-outs and ensure we can be heard from far and wide!  So, if you're planning a Summer event and you'd like some a cappella singing to liven things up, why not drop us a line?

     

    Come And Join Us!

    Of course, we're always open to new members too, so if you're a woman aged 16 or over and you love to sing - whether you've got bags of experience or you're a total novice - we'd love to welcome you to one of our rehearsals!  You can get in touch via Facebook, send us an email at the above address, or simply turn up on a Thursday night - we rehearse from 7:15pm-9:30pm at Wadebridge Ambulance Hall and we can guarantee a warm welcome and a cuppa.  We really do have a lot of fun together, so if you're looking for a choir to join, we hope you'll come along and give More Harmony a try!

     
  • What Kind of Choir Should You Join?
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  •  Date Posted: Thu, 3 Apr 2025
    What Kind of Choir Should You Join?

    What kind of choir should you join?


    A group of More Harmony members showing off "Love To Sing" posters, advertising our chorus rehearsalsCornwall is known for being a musical place.  From sea shanties to folk bands, you don't have to go far to find music being played and voices raised in song.  So, it's no wonder that Cornwall has plenty of choirs for a wannabe singer to join!  The trouble is, how do you know which is the right one for you?  In this month's blog, we've decided to take a deep dive into some of the considerations that go into making your choice and - we hope - make that decision a little easier.
     

    1. Are you a novice or a seasoned singer?

    This is often the first stumbling block for anyone looking to join a choir.  We can get stuck in our own heads, thinking if we're new to something then everyone with more experience is going to look down on us, or treat us differently.  Right off the bat, let us tell you this: if you visit a choir rehearsal as a complete beginner and anyone treats you badly for not knowing all there is to know already?  Walk away!!  Singing is a wonderful, joyous experience and deserves to be shared by everyone, regardless of whether they've stood on a dozen stages or only ever sung in the shower.  The right choir for you - whether it's big or small, a cappella or accompanied - will make you feel welcome from the moment you walk through the door and will support you as you learn.

    Another worry for new singers is whether or not they might be required to read music in order to join a choir.  Our best advice is to do as much research as you can!  Most choirs should have this on their website ( for example, on our "About More Harmony" page, we tell anyone considering joining that there is no need to be able to read music, as we learn from teach tracks).

    As for experienced singers, finding a new choir can be a great way to freshen up your skills or even try something completely out of your comfort zone!  Remember in either case, that many choirs offer a free session for you to try them out, so you won't lose anything by going along to see if you like it.  In fact, here at More Harmony, we offer you three!
     

    2. Single-Gender or Mixed Choir?

    There are plenty of different reasons people have for wanting to join a single-sex choir - and just as many for joining a mixed one!  This is entirely down to personal preference, so our only advice here is to think about which you might be happier with.  It may be that you'd be perfectly pleased to sing in either type of choir, but for some people, there is a preference, so bear that in mind when you're researching groups in your area.
     

     

    3. What Kind of Music do You Want to Sing?

    More Harmony members rehearsing in Wadebridge
    Music taste is entirely subjective and one person's favourite tune could be another's worst nightmare!  Whilst most choirs do try to vary their repertoire, it's best to check what kind of music they choose before you take the plunge.  Many choirs have either repertoire lists or video examples on their websites to help you make a decision (some examples of the type of songs we sing can be found here).  After all, if you're looking to sing hymns, joining a modern pop choir might not be the right move for you - and vice versa!

    It's also worth finding out whether the group sings with accompaniment or a cappella (with no backing tracks).  There are pros and cons to both: some people prefer the safety of a keyboard or backing track to sing along with, whereas some singers find they get more enjoyment out of the challenge that a cappella brings - and the fact that they can hear the voices around them more clearly!
     

     

    4. Size DOES Matter!

    Whilst there are definitely people who are equally at home in a large group or a small one, for many of us, the size of a choir could well have some bearing on how comfortable we feel about joining.  Again, there are pros and cons to both.  For example, for a novice singer, a very large choir may provide a feeling of protection - you won't feel so exposed if you get a word wrong or a note out of place if there are eighty other people drowning you out!  On the flip-side, a small group can be far less scary for someone new to walk into.  There are fewer names to remember, it's easier to get to know everyone and you'll have a much higher level of support from a leader that only has a handful of other people in their section than you might from a leader with 30+ voices to look after!

    If you're an experienced singer, a smaller group could be your chance to really shine!  You can share your knowledge and actually hear the difference your voice makes to the choir's overall sound - a seasoned singer may feel stifled by being in a large group; a big fish, struggling to be heard in the pond.  However, it may be that you've sung in several small choirs and you feel ready to try something different!

    Have a think about whether you'd feel more comfortable in a very large group or a smaller one and, if the information isn't immediately obvious on a choir's website, drop them a line and ask how big the group is.
     

     

    5. How Is The Choir Run?


    More Harmony Women's Barbershop Chorus MD Lesley hands new bass section member Maddy her membership certificateChoirs and singing groups are run in all kinds of different ways and whilst it might not initially seem important to know how things work behind-the-scenes, in our experience, the more you know before you join a group, the better placed you are to get the most out of being a member.

    For example, is the choir you're thinking of joining a business, or is it a not-for-profit organisation?  A business may have a whole group of people involved in keeping things operational - marketing managers, CEOs etc.  This can be beneficial, as it means all you have to do is turn up and sing, plus brand recognition can give you a feeling of belonging.  If your choir is one of many up and down the country, you can take pride in the achievements of other groups, not to mention make the most of opportunities to perform together or to transfer your membership should you move elsewhere.  However, as with any business where profit is the name of the game, make sure you look into the small-print.  If you give up your membership, do you have to pay to the end of the term, or even the year?  Do you have to pay any extras on top of your monthly or annual subs, such as for branded uniform to wear when you sing?  Equally, remember that when a group is run as a business, the members will have far less of a say when it comes to things like performance outfits, repertoire and rehearsal structure.  If you're someone who wants to have their voice heard, a not-for-profit or community choir may work better.

    More Harmony are a not-for-profit group.  The subs our members pay go towards paying our bills (rehearsal venue hire, music licensing etc) and the rest goes straight back into the choir.  We're proud to provide our members with their music bags and uniform.  As we're run by our membership, you'll also be able to suggest songs to add to our repertoire, vote on changes to rehearsal structure and even take on a committee role if you'd like to be more involved.  Being run this way also means we're cheaper than a lot of other groups, especially those run for profit.  Plus, we're members of the Ladies Association of British Barbershop Singers, meaning you'll have the opportunity to attend local and national events, access education if you'd like to further hone your musical skills and even receive coaching from experts!  

     

    6. How Important Is Performance?


    More Harmony choir in their Christmas outfits, performing in WadebridgeSome people join a choir purely for a bit of fun, whereas others are keen to strut their stuff on the biggest stage possible!  Whilst most choirs like to sing in front of an audience and show off what they can do, the size of that audience - and the level of polish required in the performance - can differ wildly.  Some groups even enter local, national or international competitions!  Find out what kind of performance opportunities come with singing in any choir you're looking into (their social channels or blog should reference recent performances) and pick one that is going to give you what you're after.

    Don't be fooled into thinking only larger choirs offer big performance opportunities - we're a small group and we love performing on any sized stage we can get!  Remember that if you're shy or completely new to the world of performance, any choir worth its salt will support you and give you the confidence you need.

     

    7. Make Sure Your Values Align


    Now obviously we're not saying that choosing a choir is as big a decision as picking which box to cross at a General Election, but it is a good idea to find out as much as possible about a group's ethos and values before you take the plunge.  Is the choir LGBTQ+-friendly?  Is the rehearsal venue fully accessible and are they open to people with disabilities?  Are they affiliated with any other groups and if so, what are their values?  Finding out these things in advance is a good way to judge how comfortably you're going to fit in!

    For example, the More Harmony ethos is: "...to encourage respect, positivity and inclusivity between our members and to be as welcoming and accessible as possible to people of all abilities and backgrounds.  Whether you've sung in a choir before or you're a total novice, you are welcome."

     

    8. What Level of Commitment Can You Give?


    We're all busy people, often juggling jobs, families and plenty more besides!  Joining a choir should be something fun that slots into your life, rather than something that makes you feel overwhelmed.  For that reason, it's worth being really clear about the level of commitment you can give to a choir - and asking how much they expect from you.  For example, a large choir with several branches locally may not worry about whether you can attend every rehearsal, or be present for every concert, as there are plenty of people to take your place.  That might work for busy singers with less free time to devote to their hobby, but for others, it can result in feeling as though you've missed out, or that your voice isn't important to the overall group.  Smaller choirs may be more dependent on their singers attending rehearsals or performances, but this is balanced out by the satisfaction of feeling like you're an integral part of the team.  Of course, it's not just about size, either!  Some large choruses are competitive on a national or even international level and will expect singers to be available for a number of additional rehearsals and special events, whereas some small choirs know they have a core group who can carry off performances when necessary and won't mind so much if you can't be there every time.  Asking what level of commitment is needed from you - and being realistic about what you can give - will help you pick the right choir for you.


     

    Get Out There And Sing!


    As we said, there are plenty of opportunities to sing in North Cornwall.  We have male voice choirs, mixed groups, a cappella choruses, shanty singers and everything in between.  If you're someone who loves to sing - or just wants to give it a try - there's definitely somewhere for you.  We hope we've given you a few ideas on how to narrow down your search!

    If you think More Harmony Women's Chorus could be for you, why not drop us a line and find out more, or simply pop along to Wadebridge Ambulance Hall on a Thursday night to see what we get up to?  Rehearsals start at 7:15pm and we'd love to see you there!

     

     

     

     

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