Hi, I’m Hayley McColl and I work for Opera North.
We are starting a Sing ON group in Headingley in September. Sing ON is aimed at people aged over 55 and is delivered across Leeds as part of our lifelong learning programme. The sessions give older people the chance to come together and experience the joy of singing as part of a group, in a relaxed and friendly environment, right in the heart of the local community.
Weekly sessions will take place on Tuesdays, 12.30pm – 2pm at Headingley Methodist Church, starting 11 September.
Each session has time built in for a cup of tea and a chat and people who come along have found that it’s a great way to make new friends and socialise in their local community. There is absolutely no pressure to be perfect, and although we do invite friends and family to our last session each term to share what we’ve been working on, it’s very relaxed and there’s no pressure to be a performer.
We look at a wide range of different music in our sessions, including some music from our mainstage operas where appropriate, but everything is chosen with our groups in mind, so we’ll never bring along a really complex piece of opera that’s just going to be a nightmare to learn! We might also look at musical theatre, folk, choral and traditional music. Most of our sessions include fun warm ups, which are often silly but always useful!
You don’t need to read music or have any singing experience to take part. We get a mix of people at our sessions, from people who have been in choirs for years, to people who have never sung a note in their lives! Everyone is welcome. Sessions are led by a vocal leader, who goes through all of the music and teaches it by ear, but we do also provide sheet music for those who do like to use it. Sessions are also accompanied by live piano.
If you’re a little bit unsure, then I really urge you to come along to our free taster session on Tuesday 7th August. It’s a great chance to give it a go, and see what we do, with no obligation to sign up or become a member. If you can’t make the taster session you can still come along to the sessions starting in September.
Our sessions work on a drop in basis, so you can just turn up on the day and pay at the door. There’s no obligation to sign up for a block of sessions, you’re welcome to just come along as and when you want to.
What Sing ON participants say:
“This has been great. The leaders make the sessions such fun and they have endless patience with us. We have done a wonderful mix of different styles over the year, and you never know what the next warm up will include! I have also appreciated being able to come along when I can, rather than feeling I have to come”
“Have sung in (and conducted) choirs all my life, but love these sessions, for the wide variety of music we sing, for the friendliness and informality and for the wonderful talents of the leaders”
“Uncertain at first as I don’t read music (or can sing!) but I have met new friends, everyone is helpful and supportive and can’t wait for the next session!”
Sing ON Headingley
Headingley Methodist Church
Tuesday 11th September – Tuesday 11th December (excluding 25th Sept and 30th Oct)
£5 per session
Hayley McColl
Lifelong Learning Manager
Opera North
People can get in touch with me on:
Hayley.Mccoll@operanorth.co.uk | 0113 223 3623
More information on our website:
https://www.operanorth.co.uk/whats-on/sing-on/
