The prospect of singing regularly and working towards a goal (like convention) were some things that made Emma join London City Singers. She joins our bass section already with the knowledge of barbershop and experience of a Sweet Adelines convention.

Please tell us a bit about yourself.

After university, I completed a TEFL qualification and began teaching English as a foreign language to international students in central London. I absolutely loved it as I met such interesting people from all over the world. The teaching bug took hold and I wanted to pursue my own foreign languages which I studied at university (French and Italian) so I decided to do a PGCE in secondary languages. A year and a bit later, and I’ve almost finished (or should I say ‘survived’?!) my first year of teaching in a secondary school in Hertfordshire! To escape from my mounds of work, I enjoy baking and (of course) singing!

How did you find out about London City Singers?

I have always enjoyed being part of some kind of singing ensemble, from chamber choir and musicals at school to barbershop choruses and quartets at university, to female a cappella during my PGCE. Since moving back to London from Cambridge last year where I rehearsed 2-3 times a week, I really missed singing regularly and was searching for choirs in London when a friend (and another new chorus member) told me she was going to the LCS taster session. It looked and sounded like the kind of thing I would like and so we went along together.

Why did you join?

From the taster session I found that I really liked the variety of music that the chorus sang, it was fun and yet challenging; everyone was keen to work really hard to create the best sound possible while enjoying it along the way. I was excited at the prospect of having singing regularly in my life again and also to work towards the goal of performing at convention. Everyone was very warm and welcoming and so I decided to go back the following week.

What’s your thoughts on singing barbershop?

I love singing a cappella and I think barbershop style arrangements are often a really fun and technically interesting way to do so. Having competed a few years ago in the Sweet Adelines convention as part of a quartet, I know what a wonderfully mad world the world of barbershop is and am excited to be part of that again.