Brighton’s LGBTQ+ Rainbow Chorus has been awarded a grant from Postcode Society Trust to support the running of its RC+ workshop choir for the next 18 months. This is made possible thanks to players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
Running for eight years, this award-winning LGBTQ+ group was set up to allow as many people as possible to experience the joy of singing in a group setting. The workshops aim to improve confidence and encourage a sense of community and belonging, helping to break down prejudice and support isolated LGBTQ+ people.
RC+ workshops are relaxed, fun workshop-type sessions, held monthly, where people can learn some great songs either by ear or with sheet music. The sessions are led by the experienced Rainbow Chorus music team, where attendees don’t need to worry about whether they can sing in tune, read music or attend regularly. People are given the flexibility of whether to sing the tune of a song, a higher harmony or a lower harmony.
The workshops explore topics to improve singing generally, including musicality, singing technique, breathing, posture, phrasing, tuning, listening, and improvising, which are then applied into practice, helping build confidence and making people stronger individual singers.
The workshops have a real mix of attendees including those who haven’t sung before or in a long time, Trans and non-binary folk who might be trying out new voice parts, as well as members of the main Rainbow Chorus. The sessions last two hours and people are looked after in the session and at the social afterwards.
In November 2021 the Federation of Gay Games honoured RC+ with the award for Outstanding Contribution to Trans and Non-Binary Culture Participation – this was a great honour and true testament to the hard work put in by many to make RC+ a safe and welcoming space.
The next RC+ workshop is on the 14 June 2024 at 7pm in St George’s Church, Kemptown, BN2 1ED. There is an accessible entrance and toilet in this space.
Gareth Pugh, committee member of the Rainbow Chorus, said: “I’m in awe of the work at the RC+ workshops, a not-for-profit project helping LGBTQ+ people to learn to sing together, improve their wellbeing and meet new people. It’s a wonderful initiative with so many benefits, both for the wider community and for personal mental wellbeing and development.
“I would encourage as many people as possible to get involved and support their work. Thank you to players of People’s Postcode Lottery for supporting such an important project!”
A RC+ choir member added: “RC+ has a really beautiful energy. You’ve created something quite unique, and I feel lucky to be a part of this. You’re giving a very much needed safe space which helps people in validating who they are and giving them a voice’.”
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