Rainbow Chorus Plus (RC+) is a welcome confidence building initiative from the Rainbow Chorus, Brighton’s long-standing LGBT choir.
It is now in its second year largely thanks to support from the Rainbow Fund. The grant at the time raised a few eyebrows as some might wonder why is it necessary to fund somebody’s hobby?
The Rainbow Chorus, founded 19 years ago, prides itself on providing a safe place for anyone within the LGBT+ community to go along and sing with like-minded people and strives to be as inclusive as possible.
The choir includes many people with disabilities amongst its members, some people with HIV, and spans a wide age range, including older people who can often feel isolated and excluded from the Brighton scene. So singing with people who understand the pressures and the joys of being part of the LGBT+ community can be a lifeline for many. But, because of the big commitment needed and the fact the choir sings at many public events, it was felt there was a need for an even more inclusive forum for people to sing in. And so RC+ was born.
RC+ meets roughly once a month in Brighton, current members are a cross-section of all vocal ranges and abilities, and includes members of the performing choir itself who are keen to participate in learning different techniques.
Each workshop-style session is held on a Saturday, where people are taught breathing and voice techniques, get to sing in small groups and learn songs. Some members who would never have before dreamed of singing in public joined the choir to perform in the Rainbow Chorus’ summer concert. At RC+ sessions, the Musical Director, Aneesa Chaudhry has focused on specific aspects of learning choral singing and, a life skill applicable to all areas of our lives, building individual self-confidence.
And that’s where RC+ offers more than the fun of singing. It has many other benefits, not least that it’s actually good for your health!
The Alzheimer’s Society and Heart Research UK are among those acknowledging the numerous health benefits of singing. In particular, singing is a physical workout for the heart and lungs; it improves posture and sleep and leads to a decrease in stress hormones. During singing, endorphins are released into the bloodstream, leading to a sense of pleasure and well-being. For vulnerable members of our local community, this kind of initiative is invaluable.
There are social and psychological advantages too. A choir is a great place to meet new friends and nurtures a sense of belonging to a community. Loneliness is a big problem of our times and those of us with busy lives or who are able to work may take the value of being sociable for granted.
RC+ is proud to have recently been awarded a Mind Out Mental Health Award for its contribution to improving the mental wellbeing of LGBT+ communities. The choral association actively seeks and encourages members from our trans/non-binary communities to join, providing a safe and fun space to find and explore the range and depth of their voices.
Thanks to the Rainbow Fund, RC+ is available to members at a reduced monthly subscription of only £10. The first session being offered free of charge, and no one will ever be turned anyone away on the grounds of being unable to pay.
Want to know more? Drop them a line at membership@rainbowchorus.org.uk and they will answer any questions you may have.
Here are a few nice words from members attending RC+:
“I’m FTM and after being on ‘T’ for a few months, my voice has dropped deeper and at RC+ I can try out singing Bass parts in a safe supported environment.”
“I was feeling a bit down but I knew RC+ would cheer me up and it did.”
“Lovely experience coming together as a community. I leave feeling a greater sense of belonging – it is good for my soul. Really helpful and interesting teaching.”
“Great day. Very affirming for an LGBT+ person. Good tuition that involved all levels of music experience. Soul soothing and inspiring fun!”
“Lovely to come together to sing with such a warm, friendly bunch of people!”
“RC+ is a really uplifting experience. It’s a safe space to meet other people. It helps me feel more confident and part of my community, which is really important as I have been feeling so isolated. It is truly great to do something so positive and be part of a great sound. Thanks…”
“I felt empowered and had a great time.”
“I was feeling grumpy & overwhelmed with grief. After taking time out with RC Plus, I feel so much better. There is a strong sense of community in using our voices together.”
“As a trans person whose voice is changing RC+ offers a fantastic safe space to explore my “new” voice.”
Dates RC+ will meet in 2017:
♦ January 21
♦ February 18
♦ March 18
♦ April tbc
♦ May 6
♦ June 10 and 17
♦ July 1