By Tanya Lawrence - Musical & Creative Director.
Building a choir from scratch is no small feat. It takes a firm hand, an uncrushable
heart and something of a hard head. Since Covid restrictions were finally lifted
and we welcomed a tiny cohort of nervous, beginner singers , our journey has
included a few bumps, twists and turns along the way.
Some singers initially hesitated to embrace the "sing, move, and communicate" approach that defines our rehearsals and performances. Our regular newcomer events revealed a clear difference in potential new members - some loved our vibe, some didn't. Those
first few months were something of a revolving door story as those who didn't
want to move, moved on and those who hated harmonising hurried off while
others who enthusiastically embraced our ethos took their place.
Having nailed our musical colours firmly to the mast, we rocked on and, despite
the challenges, our membership has steadily grown over the past two years.
Today, we boast two teams of enthusiastic ladies who relish every moment of
singing and moving together, delivering fully harmonised and choreographed
renditions of iconic hits by female stars from the 70s to the present day.
Our humble beginnings saw us perform in the corner of a local college café, with
no microphones or marketing. Exactly the kind of opportunity we needed after
almost two years of not being allowed to hold choir rehearsals, let alone perform
in public. From that modest beginning, our ladies' confidence has steadily
blossomed. We've sung at outdoor markets, Christmas events, charity events, a
local choral festival, entertained the Mayor and her guests and even staged our
inaugural summer show in a modest 100-seater venue, helping to raise funds for
a local good cause.
Following the summer break of 2023, I made the bold decision to elevate our
harmony arrangements. And our wonderful ladies have risen magnificently to the
challenge, mastering multipart harmonies and trying out slightly more adventurous
movement routines. Currently, they're hard at work preparing for our upcoming
second summer show, slated for the Layton Institute, complete with a full lighting
effects and a dedicated professional sound engineer. Picture us proudly sporting
our new uniforms, adorned with hats, canes, and various props to enhance our
presentation - it's bound to be a fun musical experience for everyone involved.
Of course, our journey hasn't been without its hurdles. We've faced resistance
from some members hesitant to learn the new arrangements, others
uncomfortable performing without lyric sheets, and a few simply apprehensive
about taking the stage. Yet, staying true to our concept of harmonising and
moving to iconic rock and pop hits form the 1970s to present day has rewarded us
with two teams of intrepid female singers, eagerly rehearsing ready to perform
together at this iconic local venue.
If you'd like to witness our journey first hand or perhaps even join us in
September, please sign up to our mailing list and follow Women Rockin' Harmony Choirs® Blackpool on our social media platforms. Your support means the world to us as we continue to grow and harmonize together.
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