Sing Joyfully 2024 Reflection: Singing for a Cause, Singing for Joy!

We did it!

Sing Joyfully 2024 was a feel-good success, with Day One dedicated to fundraising for Worldwide Cancer Research, we pretty much sang all day! Rehearsing/preparing during the morning and then in the afternoon, after lunch, we set the clock and for 2+ hours we kept a continuous flow of music going, delivering a total of 24 sung pieces - ensembles, trios, duets, rounds with a few off the cuff solos thrown in! It was a thoroughly enjoyable day - lots of fun and wonderful  well-being endorphins!

Reuniting in Harmony

The day was filled with music for those we’ve loved and lost, those currently fighting, and those who’ve come through their battles. My own parents’ support for my music is never far from my thoughts, and it was inspiring to remember them and other loved ones in this way.

It was a full day of music and connection. There’s something extraordinary about sharing the experience of music in this way, and it created a day full of warmth, laughter, and that unbeatable feeling of singing together.

The Power of Earworms

Earworms - those tunes that keep playing in your head long after the music stops - are more than just catchy melodies. They’re the pieces that resonate deeply, capturing the emotion of the moment and keeping the memory alive.

For most of us, The Seal Lullaby (Eric Whitacre) came tops, its opening bars surfacing repeatedly in the days that followed. Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus brought its sense of peace and uplift, while Soave sia il vento by Mozart is such a group favourite, of course, it's a most welcome mind invader.

Singing leaves a physical imprint—it’s not just a mental exercise. These lingering melodies remind us of the joy we experienced, the endorphins we released, and the connection we shared as a group.

Singer Reflections
The singers’ experiences painted a picture of what made the day special:

“For me, the most impressionable things were feeling free to sing out without fear of disturbing the neighbours and the emotional experience of singing with dear friends while reflecting on those we’ve lost and celebrating those who’ve survived cancer.”

“It was such a great weekend. I loved moving between voices and music styles. It was fulfilling, gave me a real boost, and the absence of vocal tiredness after so much singing was a big plus!”

“Although most of my singing happens in isolation, this event reminded me that, despite geographical separation, we overcome restrictions every time we meet to sing. There’s real comfort in that.”

“I really enjoyed the fluidity of the continuous singing in the afternoon, moving seamlessly between parts, styles, and levels of difficulty. The atmosphere was relaxed and fun.”

Catering for the Soul (and the Stomach!)

No gathering is complete without good food. The hearty well-being lunch I had promised, was a delicious interlude catered ably by Hampshire Vegan Catering, topped off by gorgeous WCR-themed cupcakes baked by Jessica April Bakes - click the links and check them out. Recommended.

A Continuing Mission
Day One wasn’t just about singing. It was about raising funds for Worldwide Cancer Research. Thanks to everyone’s contributions, we’re already 60% toward our fundraising target, and every bit helps to bring us closer to funding new, life-saving research.

If you’d like to support us, please visit our JustGiving page, where donations are open for a little while longer. Your support means so much - thank you. 

Looking Ahead
As we reflect on the weekend, one thing is clear: music has the power to bring people together, create lasting memories, and make a difference. Sing Joyfully 2024 was all of this and more, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we achieved together.

Please get in touch if you'd like to be involved in future projects and workshops. Visit The Voice School Portal Noticeboard for info and inspiration.