Our featured volunteer this month... Erica!

Erica has been volunteering for the South London choir for a year and a half, as a music helper.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START VOLUNTEERING FOR THE CHOIR WITH NO NAME?

I had always admired the North London choir from a distance (i.e. from across the river), and when Marie mentioned that she was starting a South London choir I jumped at the chance to volunteer. Everything about the Choir with No Name makes sense to me: the emphasis on mutual support and friendship; the minimising of the ‘service-provider/client’ distinction; the simple fact that group singing is beneficial to human beings in many and profound ways, wherever you are at in life.

PLEASE TELL US YOUR THREE FAVOURITE THINGS ABOUT VOLUNTEERING.
  • Singing as a way of being together.
  • Making tea for everyone!
  • Performing with the choir: it feels great when people ‘out there’ see us and really understand what we’re about - and it’s a tremendous confidence boost for members too.
HAS THERE BEEN AN UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT? WHAT WAS IT?

Singing ‘The Power of Love’ at Southwark Cathedral. We were all incredibly emotional - singers, audience, everyone.

HAVE YOU FACED ANY CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY?

I can be a little in my own world sometimes so I’m trying to be better at listening, and at making time to have conversations with all of the members. The challenge I haven’t faced yet is cooking dinner - one day soon I will have a go at this!

AND WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE NOT VOLUNTEERING FOR US?

I freelance: I’m part-editor, part-musician, part-events programmer and part-communications volunteer for a science charity.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU’D LIKE TO ADD?

Coming to choir on Tuesday evenings is genuinely the best thing I do each week. I love it! Everyone is so loving, and I feel very supported by the other volunteers and the core team. And Sam, our amazing director.

A FEW WORDS ABOUT ERICA FROM EMMA, THE CHOIR MANAGER...

"Erica has been there since Day 1 of the South London choir, and her passion and dedication haven't faltered even a smidgen since then. A beautiful and talented singer she's been worth her weight in gold in the rehearsal room helping to to keep our women singers in tune! She has oodles of patience and a great memory for a harmony and sings alongside our members helping them remember what we've done from one week to the next.

 

On top of all that, she's also BRILLIANT at giving emotional support to the members whenever they need it and always keeps an eye out for members who might be going through a tough time in order to lend them her ear to talk to and her shoulder to cry on. As if that wasn't enough, she is also the Tea Queen of the South London choir and always makes sure all of the members and volunteers have a cup of tea in hand before rehearsal starts. She makes a mean cup of redbush, I can tell you!"

 

Emma, South London choir manager

If you’re interested in volunteering, please get in touch to find out more – our choir managers will be delighted to hear from you!