‘Seeing the effect on people’s wellbeing is humbling in the extreme’

February 04, 2021

We caught up with Jane Hampson, who is a choir director of three choirs supported by Bolton Music Service and its charitable arm Trust Music.

She is busier than ever arranging and leading zoom rehearsal sessions every week for all her choirs. She has been overwhelmed by the positive response of her choristers, who all attend rehearsals and practice by themselves at home regularly.

“We choral directors are so passionate about what we do; it’s very satisfying to see how we can continue to lift communities and connect people together. Seeing the effect singing has on people’s wellbeing is humbling in the extreme and also a joy to watch. Members have told me that the choir has helped them through some difficult days and still does."

The BMS Singers are preparing for their Autumn choir tour to Budapest, which they are hoping will still go ahead. “Our objective is to learn the new repertoire for our tour, like Schubert’s Mass in G, and also new works,” says Jane. Every week she sends her choristers a plan, the music track (‘you need to feel like you’re singing in a choir') and a recording of each part for members to practice by themselves. During zoom rehearsals, they spilt up into sectionals – tenors and basses, altos and sopranos – and practice in different ‘rooms’.

“It’s important for the singers to continue to make progress during this time, so that when we can rehearse live again, we’ll need only a couple of sessions to be ready to perform a concert.”

Jane’s choirs – The BMS Singers, Our Voice (made up of staff from the Royal Bolton Hospital), Musical Moments (a choir for people living with dementia and their carers) and Tonge with the Haulgh Community Choir – all took part in online Christmas concerts.

Take a look at some of the wonderful singing they did.