University of Cambridge Choir
Open to Staff and Students
Our choir is open to everyone – no musical experience is needed and you can join in when you can. We sing a variety of styles including pop, jazz and World Music.
Where? Great St. Mary’s Church/St. Michael’s Church
When? Every Wednesday 13:10 to 14:00
Sign Up:
Please sign up to the mailing list for updates:
ucam-ourcambridgechoir@lists.cam.ac.uk
About
The choir was set up in 2019 by Karen Kennedy, Director of the Strategic Partnerships Office, when she was challenged to turn her belief in the wellbeing benefits of group singing into an opportunity for university staff.
Up to 100 people attended previous sessions, with fantastic feedback from attendees. One piece of feedback received in 2019 said that the choir was ‘just such an enjoyable, rewarding, uplifting experience, without feeling intimidated!’. Now that working patterns are resettling, the choir is restarting to give previous and new members the chance to enjoy group singing again.
Bethany Kirby, a trained music therapist, is also returning as the choir leader. The choir sings a range of songs, including some popular music, with the aim that everything is taught in one or two sessions. There’s no audition, and no music experience is needed. Staff members can just drop in as they are able to.
Research into the wellbeing benefits of group singing in workplaces shows a positive impact on mood, with 96% of participants in one study reporting that group singing reduced their feelings of stress. Members of the choir said that they ‘come back to work feeling more energised’ and described the 2019 pilot as ‘a joyful few weeks’.
