Our Story

Founding Leaders

Sing! Community Choir was set up in Summer 2012 by four friends: Bethany, Naomi, Tizzy and Tom. We had met in a university choir, and wanted to keep singing now we were older! From the beginning we wanted Sing! to be a community choir – run by a group, not just one leader, and encouraging others to get involved and have a go. Today we still work like that – everyone is encouraged to have a go at teaching, conducting, leading a warm up, doing a solo, etc.

A couple of years later, Daniele joined our leadership team, and we then said goodbye to Tom when he became a dad! After several years of leadership Daniele decided to step down in 2018. In 2022, we were delighted to welcome Diana to our leadership team.

In October 2017 the first Sing! committee was created, to help us with the day-to-day running of the choir. Each committee runs for one year; nominations take place towards the end of each Summer term. The committee is overseen by the current leadership team of Bethany, Naomi, Tizzy and Diana.

Our Team

Naomi
Founding Leader

I’m Naomi and one of the Founding Leaders of Sing! I’ve been singing in choirs since I was nine years old and also play the piano (although I get really scared playing in public!).

My responsibilities in the choir is to choose with other members of the team the songs to sing, to find teachers for our workshops, conductors to help with our concerts, and to organise the weekly rehearsals as well as running teaching & conducting workshops. Outside of choir I enjoy walking, singing in an a cappella group, and drinking tea!

Tizzy
Founding Leader

Hello, I’m Tizzy and I sing as tenor. I have been part of the Sing! Leadership team since the choir started in 2012. I enjoy sharing my passion for music with all ages, both with our choir members and the children I work with in schools.

I love finding any excuse to have a choir social and have a boogie along to our songs and love enthusing people to get involved with our Sing! community.

Bethany
Founding Leader

I’m Bethany. I’m one of the Founders of Sing! and really happy to still be one of its musical directors many years on! I love arranging songs for the choir, teaching and conducting, and always get a buzz when a song comes together and I can see the delight on everyone’s faces!

Inspired in part by my experience with Sing!, I’ve since qualified as a music therapist and now work with adults with learning disabilities, sharing the joy of music with those who need it most.

Diana
Leader

I'm Diana and I've been part of Sing! since 2014. In my first year at Sing! I had a go at teaching and conducting music for the first time, and I've never looked back! I've been a permanent leader of the choir since 2022, having previously spent four years on the music team. My role is to collaboratively oversee the running of the choir, plan the musical programme, organise rehearsals, prepare for performances, and support other teachers and conductors. Sing! is one of the most joyful and rewarding things in my life, and I'm so happy I get to play a part in supporting this awesome choir and community.

Emily
Secretary
'Hi, I'm Emily and I've been a member of Sing! since 2013. I have been singing in many different types of choirs since I was a child but I have to say this one is easily my favourite! I love the inclusive nature of this choir and the strong community feel. I always feel incredibly buoyed and bouncy after a Thursday evening rehearsal!
 
I am returning to the role of Secretary, so I will be responsible for sending out emails to our choir members every week to prepare them for what we will be learning. So if you send an email to us, it will probably be me answering it. Volunteering as Secretary is a great way for me to give something back to the choir I get so much out of!'
Jon
Events and Socials Coordinator

Hi I’m Jon and I joined Sing! in 2017 after watching "The Choir" series on the BBC and seeing how much fun they were all having! I had no idea if I could sing, nor which part I was suited for, and was quite apprehensive at the start. I discovered at the first rehearsal that I’m a bass and rapidly settled into this fun and energising group!

For a long time I was the self-appointed unofficial unelected pub secretary (which appealed to my rebellious tendencies!) but now I’ve grown up and taken on the Events and Socials Coordinator role 🙂 It’s a great opportunity to help build connection and community among our members that is a big part of what Sing! is about. I lead the organisation of the annual Sing! Weekend Away, as well as other socials throughout the year.

Alex
Music Coordinator

Hi, I’m Alex. As a music coordinator, my role is to help with organising all aspects of the songs we sing – from selecting repertoire to coordinating part teachers and conductors.

In 2022 I was looking for a group I could join in Cambridge which would give the opportunity to meet new friends in Cambridge and tap into my musical side – and Sing! ticked all the boxes! I went along to a taster rehearsal and before I knew it I felt like a firm member of our friendly bass section, and I started volunteering to do warm-ups, part teaching, conducting and even a solo. In Sing! I have found such a supportive bunch of people who encourage each other to make the most of their talents and have a lot of fun (and of course tea and cake!) along the way.

Outside choir I can often be found out running or cycling in the countryside around Cambridgeshire – probably whilst singing whichever new choir song is stuck in my head like an earworm!

Claire
Treasurer

Hi, I’m Claire. As Treasurer I’m responsible for choir finances, covering everything from subs to concert and weekend away costs.

I joined Sing! at the start of 2022 and it soon became an important part of my life. I quickly made friends, and singing in this amazing choir full of lovely people from all walks of life is something I look forward to every week. I’m a proud member of the Alto Army and also enjoy teaching and conducting the choir.

Will
Music Coordinator

I've been part of the choir since 2023, I sing with the basses and I'm now a music coordinator. That means preparing arrangements, getting part teachers in place and leading lots of warm ups!

I started singing after lockdown with the resolution “I want to sing, I like performing. As long as I’m not actively unpleasant to listen to, I'll be happy”. After learning the ropes at West end musical choir in London, I moved to Cambridge in 2023 and Sing! was the third choir I tried.

As soon as I walked into the room, I knew it was for me. The inclusivity, the ‘have a go’ ethos and our annual away weekend are all things that make this a stand out choir to be part of.