Harrogate Wellbeing Choir

WHAT IS HARROGATE WELLBEING CHOIR?

Harrogate Wellbeing Choir is a FREE and inclusive community choir, open to adults in the local Harrogate area with lived or current experience of mental ill health. Rehearsals are supportive and friendly in a relaxed environment, with tea and coffee provided.

All songs are learnt by ear, covering a range of genres with techniques in how to improve your singing voice, all led by conductor Lucy Coleman.
No previous experience is necessary!

For 2024, rehearsals are funded by grants from the National Lottery and St James’ Place, with grateful thanks.

Rehearsals are WEDNESDAYS 1.30-3.00pm in term time, at the NEW venue of Wesley Chapel, Oxford Street, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG1 1PP.

If you are interested in joining the choir, please do get in touch! Just email [email protected] or phone 07984 535629 and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

OUR CONDUCTOR

Lucy Coleman (Harrogate Wellbeing Choir Conductor)

Lucy Coleman is a classically trained soprano, music graduate (BA Hons) and qualified occupational therapist (BSc Hons) with an MA in Music Psychology, Education, Performance and Wellbeing from the University of Sheffield. Over the last 10 years, Lucy worked for Converge at York St John University, where she managed various projects including music. She has co-authored two academic book chapters on

Converge, published in occupational therapy and community psychology books. She learnt how to conduct through experienced community musician Chris Bartram who conducts a number of choirs in the York area.

Chris founded Communitas choir at Converge,training Lucy as a co-leader which she did for 4 years. Prior to

working for Converge, she taught singing and violin peripatetically and privately for several years alongside

her performance work, touring with opera companies and as a singer for Music in Hospitals across the UK

and Ireland. Lucy is a founder of Emerging Voices music charity.

SONGWRITING PROJECT

In Summer 2022, members of the Harrogate Choir took part in a songwriting project with Esther Griffiths, creating together a group song which they performed and recorded. They went on to perform the song live in November 2022, in a joint concert with Communitas and Musical Connections. You can hear their song below!

TESTIMONIALS

“Enjoying the session. The sessions give me a good lift. They really are a good positive lift and I’m feeling a lot better.

Harrogate Choir Member

“I love to sing, and the choir gives me a space to feel comfortable doing so without judgment. They're so fun and I look forward to them every week.”

Harrogate Choir Member