NEW ADVENTURES

With three new choirs starting up this fall, we thought it might be a good time to have a look at what it’s like to walk into that first night of My Pop Choir. If you have discovered our website while looking for a choir, read on to see what your initial experiences might bring.

If you are a longtime member, this might give you some perspective into how you can help a newcomer feel comfortable. And it might also give you some ammunition to persuade a perhaps reluctant friend to join!

We asked singers from our Vancouver choirs to tell us what it was like for them.

Lynne Picard from the Vancouver-Burnaby choir recalls how she felt before her first MPC session: “I was terrified, very nervous even though this was something I wanted to do for myself.”

But her attitude changed quickly that first night: “There was such a relaxed, welcoming vibe. It felt like the right place for me.”

Coco Moon, from the Vancouver-Shaughnessy choir, says that she was pretty excited to join and tried to be open-minded about what it might be like.  The My Pop Choir policy of encouraging people to “pop-in” for one session to try it out before committing to the full term was a big draw for her. “The Pop-In was great.  If there are any doubts or fears, it lets you get a real feel for it.”

Cathy Flores from Vancouver-Burnaby decided to take advantage of the pop-in option. “My first impression left me knowing at the end of the evening that I wanted to join.”

Cathy was not a newcomer to music: “I love singing, I go to Open Mics and I have had vocal coaches. It’s a pretty serious hobby.”

Lynne also has a music background. “I grew up doing musical theatre and singing in choir. The draw was just to go back and do something that made you happy as a kid.  And not worry about what people thought - just have fun. Singing just makes you feel good. It’s a lovely distraction from the day to day.”

She says that other choirs she looked at were audition-based and didn’t have the feeling she was looking for. “I just wanted to go and experience the joy of singing.”

No matter what their background, everyone we talked to in the Vancouver choirs emphasized how no experience is necessary in My Pop Choir. “Many people don’t read music,” Cathy comments. “And I encourage anyone I meet to join. There is no pressure – we don’t do it to perform.”

Much of the welcoming, relaxed atmosphere can be credited to Vancouver MPC co-owner and director, Kent Andrews, according to his choir members.

“Kent has a lovely demeanour,” says Coco. “He is open, gentle, smart and nurturing. He wants us to be comfortable.”

This relaxed feeling is part of the My Pop Choir philosophy and Kent knows how to encourage it. “He is very patient with us,” Coco explains. “And he makes sure that we know that there are no dumb questions!”

Lynne agrees that the atmosphere at choir owes a lot to the tone set by Kent. “He is very funny and friendly,” she says.

Cathy is in complete agreement about their director. “I am extremely fond of Kent as an all-around person – he’s just a treasure. His skill set is outstanding. He’s extremely focussed and, on top of everything he has to do, he has this incredible sense of humour and kindness and energy that are consistent.”

Lynne feels that Kent’s personality helps shape the entire feeling of the choir. “Because he makes everyone feel very welcome, we tend to reflect that.  If those of us who have been members since the beginning see someone new come in, we sort of scoop them in and make sure they are sitting beside someone strong to support them.”

It's not surprising then that the social aspect of the choir is an important reason for people to keep coming back.

Lynne points out that she has made some really good friends with whom she connects in “real life.”

Cathy has had the same experience. “I have met a great bunch of people. Even if you go there and don’t sing, for one reason or another, just being with them is all I need.”

My Pop Choir is designed to offer people a safe and inclusive environment and that is exactly what Coco has found. “I have made connections with people that will likely last for the rest of my life. I just want to be there.”

She describes the “choir high” that many singers talk about feeling: “If you’re feeling tired or you’re down when you go, you feel so great afterwards.”

Lynne agrees about the effects that choir can have. “We laugh a lot,” she says.  “People have said that choir keeps them sane!”

And Coco offers a final word of advice: “You need to experience it on a personal level. Find out for yourself!”

https://www.mypopchoir.com/registernow