Meet the choir where they arrive tired from work and leave feeling energised
The People’s Show Choir in West Bromwich is bursting with revived ‘life and energy’ under a new conductor. We talk to the choir’s new leader Fern Warwick and why she finds rehearsals so ‘uplifting’.
Despite studying maths at the University of Birmingham, Fern always had a love for music that had been nurtured from a young age.
Fern was a chorister at Carlisle Cathedral and even went to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland to take part in its junior courses at weekends. Growing older, singing turned into playing instruments including the trombone, piano and organ.
If you attend some churches in Birmingham, you may have heard Fern tinkling the organ ivories as a regular organist across the city.
You’re more likely to see Fern every Wednesday during term time at West Bromwich Community Centre from 7pm to 8.30pm for the TPSC weekly get-together. A time when people from all walks of life come together to take a deep breath, relax and sing their hearts out.“I love it so much,” said Fern, originally from Carlisle in Cumbria. “There’s such a friendly bunch at West Bromwich TPSC.
“People often turn up saying they are tired from work, but the session ends up being uplifting for them, and that’s true for me as their conductor. It lifts my spirits too.
“When I arrive at the choir, I may feel exhausted, but the members bring so much life and energy into it for me. It’s so easy working with this choir as they respond so well to whatever we do.”
Fern is enthusiastic as she explains how she “gets a thrill” from their rehearsals and coming together to sing with others. That’s the beauty of The People’s Show Choir. You don’t need to be able to read music, you just need the willingness to turn up and have a go.
It’s about feeling good about yourself, meeting others and having positive mental health as much as anything else. Part of The People’s Orchestra(TPO) charity, it was set up as the organisers know only too well the benefits that music and singing can bring to health and wellbeing.
“There’s lots of different types of people from all different backgrounds and ages at the choir,” adds Fern, who also leads TPSC’s Dorridge choir.
“It felt really good to make music with people from all backgrounds and it was such a melting pot at university. I enjoy continuing that on now.
“Our West Bromwich choir is a really great atmosphere to be in and there’s over 50 members now. We have a cuppa before we start when everyone has a good chat. Everyone is made to feel at home.
“We make everything as accessible as possible and I try to make sure people can come to me if they have anything they’re not sure about or want help.
“The focus is on having a lot of fun and being a community first along with making music.
“There’s no pressure and everyone is always welcome to come, sing, chat and enjoy the rehearsals.”
Coming to the Midlands as a student to study Maths at University of Birmingham, Fern also continued her love of music and ended up getting experience freelancing as a conductor.
“I studied Maths but I wanted to get involved with music as I did a lot of it growing up,” explained Fern, now aged 23.
“I had a go at conducting a chamber choir at university and absolutely loved it. I decided to get further education in it and now I want to make it my job and do conducting professionally.”
Fern started conducting with group Sing For Pleasure. That’s where she met leading conductor and teacher trainer Ula Weber, who is heavily involved with TPSC and a Choir Leader for the Black Isle group in Scotland.
Ula mentioned to Fern that there was a job going for a TPSC Choir Leader in West Bromwich, and the rest is history.
Anyone interested in joining The People’s Show Choir in West Bromwich can turn up to rehearsals at West Bromwich Community Centre, in Gayton Road, West Bromwich, B71 1QS. There’s the opportunity to sign up for two free taster sessions via the website too.
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