The Glasshouse

This blog is by Voices of the River’s Edge choir member Olivia Shaw.

I always loved singing in primary school assemblies, during music lessons in high school, and at the yearly carol service. Like many others, I didn’t pursue singing after leaving school. In 2021, I started working remotely full-time and missed those little social interactions with people. It took me a while to realise that joining a choir could fulfil that need – I could sing in a supportive environment, socialise with friendly faces, feel a sense of progression, and have the chance to sing on a stage.

I’d just started looking for community choirs when I saw the call for people to join the Night Choir and sing at BBC Proms at The Glasshouse in 2023. It was open to all abilities and ages over 18, which made it significantly less intimidating. It didn’t matter whether people had experience or could read music; they just needed to love singing. I had such an amazing time throughout the process.

My only question was, “How can I get more of this?”

 

I’ve been in Voices of the River’s Edge choir (VOTRE) at The Glasshouse for just over a year, and it’s been a joy. VOTRE is a choir that welcomes singers aged 18-35. So far, I’ve performed in three (three!) BBC Proms, both in Gateshead and at the Royal Albert Hall, which is an incredible experience for someone who, just a year ago, would’ve said they couldn’t sing.

Now, I’m fully immersed in Share the Stage: A Child of Our Time, where musicians of all levels will perform in Sage One on 24 November. We’re over a month into rehearsals and I’ve come full circle, from a hesitant new singer to welcoming new choir members to The Glasshouse community.

It’s my first time encountering this moving, spiritual oratorio by Michael Tippett. With the talented guidance of Audrey Lawrence-Mattis and Tim Burke, the choir has the space to understand the poignancy of the text and the musical symbolism while working out how we’ll convey the messages to the audience.

Tippett’s music is powerful, and I’m sure he would have hoped that we wouldn’t still need his messages of understanding and reconciliation today. Yet, 80 years later, they remain as relevant as ever.

In the rehearsal room, there’s a gorgeous sense of positivity and community. During breaks, we chat about all sorts of things – like plant care! I just discovered my Jade plant can create baby plants, and I’d love to catch up with everyone at future rehearsals to share our plant progress.

A highlight for me so far has been when almost all the singers gathered in Sage One; you could really sense how all the moving parts would come together. Hearing the harmonies with the singers is already magical, so I can’t wait for next month to see it all come to life with the orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia, and Chorus.

I hope the audience is open to going on a journey at the concert. At times, it gets dark, but the emotional payoff is huge. The line “Here is no final grieving, but an abiding hope” captures the essence of this beautiful oratorio, and I’m thankful we’re coming together to perform it.