New tenor Ian Bell joined The Athenaeum Singers in January this year, and despite not having any experience in singing in choirs, performed in their highly successful concert featuring Puccini’s Gloria and a selection of Opera choruses in June, a mere five months later.
The seed that started this growth was attending a previous concert at the invitation of a choir member. Ian was looking for a new activity for the winter months and spurred on by his wife’s encouragement in telling him he had a good voice, was determined to meet the challenge and master the skills.
Ian was apprehensive at turning up to the first rehearsal but found he was made very welcome.
Sandwiched between two experienced tenors providing welcome support, he realised that when faced with unfamiliar music, the whole choir were embarking on the project together.
New singers are offered the first three rehearsals without commitment but for Ian, giving up was not an option!
Ian says the online support was brilliant. He spent a lot of time singing to his computer which offered endless opportunities to practice in the comfort of his own home, initially his own tenor line but later fitting this into a full performance.
There were discouragements, one being the ‘sheer amount of stuff to get your head around’. He didn’t read music, and initially it was a challenge just to turn the page at the right time. Another was being faced with words in several different foreign languages – Italian, German and Latin. But gradually his confidence grew, although he stresses, “You have got to want to do it – it would have been so much easier to walk away!”
Concert time arrived, and on the Friday night rehearsal before the performance, Ian remembers thinking, “This isn’t going to work!”. But the next day, with the orchestra and soloists in attendance, everything came together.
“It was so uplifting, one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done,” he said. He was on a real high throughout the exhilarating performance, so much so that the buzz “that was brilliant” ran through his head most of the following day. His family guests thought it was a wonderful evening and were amazed at the standard of the performance
Ian attributes a lot of his success and enjoyment to Music Director Thomas Mottershead, whom he describes as so helpful and inspirational. He stresses how important it is to watch Thomas, which builds your confidence and provides cues to keep you on track. In Thomas, the singers have an outstanding musician and teacher who helps everyone achieve their best, whilst keeping a relaxed and humorous approach.
It is hard to convey Ian’s enthusiasm in mere words, and he seems positively overwhelmed by the experience. Most of all, he wants to encourage others to grasp the opportunity and give it a go. You will be most welcome. The singers meet on Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm at Christ Church, Warminster, commencing on 2nd September.
For more information- see advert in this issue or go to www.athenaeumsingers.com
Report by Alison Arthur. Picture credit: David Darby
