The reason I started accompanying the Mixed Up Chorus was an internship posting from Together
Productions that I received via email through the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where I am
currently studying. I am studying Film Music in the Electronic Music, and I previously completed my
undergraduate studies in Classical Composition in Korea. However, piano accompaniment has
always been a significant part of my musical identity.
From my high school years up until I moved to the UK, I continuously worked as an accompanist
for church worship teams and choirs for about 10 years. Additionally, whenever I had the
opportunity, I sought to establish my identity as an accompanist by working with choirs and musical
productions. However, after moving to the UK, finding piano accompaniment opportunities was not
easy. That’s why I was thrilled to see that Together Productions was looking for a pianist in their
internship posting - I had to apply immediately!
Beyond just accompaniment, I have always contemplated how I, as a musician, can contribute to
society. After graduation, I particularly hope to create music programmes for underprivileged youth,
people with disabilities or seniors. For this reason, I was deeply impressed by the ethos of
Together Productions' choir, which welcomes anyone who would like to sing, regardless of their
musical background. I wanted to experience first-hand how such programmes are operated and
developed, and I was fortunate to join as a pianist. Every week has been a time of new learning
and inspiring experiences. I started with the Mixed Up Chorus in April last year, meaning I have
now been with them for a year.
Over the past year, I have gained valuable insights through my experiences with the choir. Here
are three key lessons I’ve learned:
1. Even if you can’t read music, you can still create music together.
Among our choir members, some have previous choir or musical experience and can read sheet
music, while others have never sung in a choir before and do not read music at all. However,
Mixed Up Chorus and Sing for Freedom prove that anyone can be part of a choir as long as they
want to sing. Personally, I had always performed with formally trained musicians, so this
experience was refreshing. Yet, as members memorise notes and listen to each other to
harmonise, we gradually feel ourselves truly making music together.
2. Embracing and learning different cultures through foreign language songs.
Each term, our choir learns about four songs, and at least two of them are always in a foreign
language. Last term, we learned a song in my native language, Korean - the beloved folk song
'Arirang'. We performed it at our 10th anniversary concert! Learning songs in foreign languages presents challenges, such as reading lyrics structured differently from English, but it also allows us to understand the meaning behind the lyrics and explore their cultural background. Just like with 'Arirang' singing the music of various countries allows us to experience and express different
cultures through music, which is an amazing experience.
3. Creating a community beyond just a singing choir through tea time, small group discussions,
and concerts.
Several factors help our choir’s identity as more than just a singing group, but two aspects that
stood out to me were tea time and discussion sessions. During our break, we have tea time to
greet one another, share how our week has been, and simply connect. Those brief 10-15 minutes
help create a sense of belonging.
Additionally, our conductor and producer, Jeremy, occasionally leads small group discussions on
thought-provoking topics. Some memorable questions were: “What does 'home' mean to you?” and
“When do you feel ‘belonging’?” Because our choir welcomes people of all ages, races, religions,
and genders, these discussions bring together diverse perspectives. They remind us that there is
no single correct answer in life- everyone’s experiences are meaningful. These conversations
foster respect, provide new insights, and ultimately contribute to making our choir a true
community.
Lastly, performing is (naturally) a crucial element that fuels our passion and enjoyment. Every step
of preparing for a performance- the harmonies, the rehearsals, the collective effort - builds up to the
final moment when the audience experiences our music. This process continuously strengthens
and defines Together Productions.
On Tuesday, April 29, at 7pm, the Mixed Up Chorus will be holding a free Taster Session! If you love
singing, why not
register and join us?
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