Communicate!

What Does the “Communicate” Part of Our Slogan Mean?

If you’ve visited our choir’s website, or picked up one of our flyers, you’ll have seen our slogan:

“Sing. Move. Communicate.”

While “Sing” and “Move” might be self-explanatory, “Communicate” often prompts a few questions. What exactly does that mean in the context of our choir?

Let's time travel back to where this all began.

Back to the 1970s: Learning to Perform

In the 1970s, I was a budding young singer entering amateur music festivals. Like many of my classically trained peers, I could sing—but I had no acting or movement training. Our default stage technique? Stand still, centre stage, and demonstrate vocal skill. That was the formula.

Even though I didn’t suffer much from stage fright, I followed my singing teacher’s common advice: “Focus on the clock at the back of the hall.” And oddly enough, it worked—for a while. I won awards, built confidence, and began to dream of a professional singing career.

Hitting a Wall

After school, I started attending professional auditions—and hit a wall. Again and again, I saw less technically skilled singers getting the roles. It was so disheartening, and I couldn’t understand what I was doing wrong.

That’s when I was introduced to my first ever show business agent, George Green, who represented several well-known comedians. He saw something in me and suggested I visit an “act doctor.”  And so, I was introduced to Don Lusby, who ran a local ballroom school and did “act doctoring” on the side.

Today, he’d call himself a “Transformational Performance Coach.” And transform me he did.

Learning to Truly Connect

Don’s first order of business? No more staring blankly at the rear wall. He brought in his wife to act as a roaming audience member, and I had to make eye contact with her wherever she moved in the room. It was awkward at first—but I was determined.

We then dived deep into song interpretation. What did the lyrics mean? What story was I telling? Don helped me string songs together with “patter”—the bits in between where I’d talk to the audience and let them get to know me as a performer.

Meanwhile, George booked me guest spots with comedians so I could practise. He’d stand at the back of clubs, waving his arms at different parts of the room, coaching me to work the space and connect with everyone.

I'm eternally grateful to both those gentlemen. They helped change my life. Without their expertise, I’d have remained stuck: technically proficient, but emotionally disconnected. Instead, I enjoyed many years as a professional entertainer and went on to win several awards for presenting and public speaking—including “Commére of the Year” in 1984 as well as awards for singing.

Building a New Kind of Choir

Even as I worked in light entertainment, I continued my formal studies in harmony and orchestral arranging. I wasn’t sure how it would all come together—until the late 1980s, when I formed my first amateur choir.

My goal? To give would be solo singers a gentler introduction to performance. At first, I set up the group like the junior and youth choirs I’d known—static rows and simple harmonies. But very quickly, I realised I could bring in what I’d learned from live performance: expression, movement, interaction.

Curious to see if others were doing something similar, I began researching American traditions like Barbershop and Glee Clubs. With no internet back then, I ordered books and cassette tapes by international phone call and waited weeks for them to arrive!

That research became the foundation for a new kind of rehearsal process—one that included pop and rock  repertoire, light choreography, facial expression, and emotional connection to story telling.

I taught our singers to add gesture and story to their solos, to introduce songs and each other, and most importantly—to communicate.

A Cultural Shift in Choirs

Since then, the idea of show-style choirs has become far more common, thanks to pioneers like Caroline Redman Lusher of Rock Choir and, of course, Gareth Malone with his hit TV series "The Choir".  Plus of course, TV series like "Glee" and movies such as "Pitch Perfect" have brought the concept of choreographed choirs across the pond to new generations of singers. 

Now, with Women Rockin’ Harmony Choirs®, I carry that same ethos forward: helping singers tell the story of each song and deliver it in a way that resonates with audiences.

It’s a fine balance. We stay rooted in choral harmony, but we also add just enough movement and presentation to make our performances fun, accessible, and emotionally engaging - especially for audience members who might not be typical “choir fans.”

Simple choreography, facial expressions, interaction between sections—it all helps bring the story to life. A touch of humour, a gesture between singers, or a shared smile can transform a performance from run-of-the-mill to memorable.

Is This Style for Everyone?

Not everyone wants to sing this way—and that’s absolutely fine. Some prefer the more traditional stand-and-sing format. That’s why our newcomer events are so important: they give prospective members a taste of what we’re about.

But those who do join us tend to stay. They enjoy the personal growth, the sense of camaraderie, and the shared journey of creating something more than just sound. Our rehearsals become musical adventures. Our performances contain many moments of real connection.

What's Next?

Now, three years since our tentative beginnings, both our teams are gaining confidence and polish. We’re preparing to step into the festival and competition world, and I’m excited to see how our unique style is received alongside more traditional choirs.

Watch this space for updates - or better still, subscribe to our mailing list for performance news. Even better than that? Come along to a newcomer event and see for yourself what “Communicate” really means.

Women Rockin' Harmony Choirs perform at Layton Institute, July 2024