Ruth Smart, Choir Manager (Brighton)

I love food, I love music, and I love people. Which means, unsurprisingly, that I am delighted to work as the choir manager for the Brighton Choir with No Name, in a job role that allows me to combine these three loves so delightfully, week upon week. From time spent volunteering in community gardens and community kitchens in Sheffield, to later helping set up a FLINTA DJ collective in Brighton, I've spent most of my adult life involved in projects that have used music or food as way to bring people together and build community.

I love that music can be such a leveller - there's something that feels incredibly connecting about singing along to the lyrics of a classic house anthem, no matter your age or your background. Some of my favourite moments of choir have been seeing people drop their guard, and get stuck into singing a song or genre that is unfamiliar to them - making an incredible sound along the way.

I'm both humbled by and proud of our choir and its members, and every week bear witness to how powerful the act of singing and eating together can be. It may not solve all of life's problems, but with some singing and eating we certainly provide a space where people can experience consistency, creativity, and connection; which all feel like community in action to me!

Outside of choir I love hiking up big hills, rock climbing, and DJing.