Falkirk choir needs help for its offline singers

In an effort to prevent members missing out, the Freedom Of Mind Community Choir is about to launch a crowdfunding campaign on Wednesday.

Since March, when the COVID-19 restrictions meant members could no longer meet and sing together in person, the choir has moved online with pre-recorded singing sessions from its two music directors and interactive, online social gatherings.

In a recently recorded fundraising video, choir members highlight how joining the choir has helped combat feelings of isolation and loneliness, improved their mental health, and how the positive messages in songs uplift them, while the welcoming, inclusive group provides them with a sense of belonging.

The choir hopes the crowdfunding campaign to raise £1000, which runs until January 13, will help provide the equipment required to bring all members back into the fold once more and allow them to experience the benefits of singing together.

Freedom of Mind choir’s Kim Edgar said: “We want to make sure every single choir member can access our sessions, by fundraising for digital devices to loan out, alongside support to gain confidence in getting online.”

The choir recently launched a music video, as part of the Camelon Winter Festival Weekend, of the song Singing Helps Me Breathe created by choir members during lockdown over Zoom.

Working in partnership with Camelon Arts, filmmaker Jassy Earl and producer Mattie Foulds, members were filmed and recorded singing individually – at a social distance – in their favourite outdoor spaces, and their voices were then expertly mixed together.

Beginning life in March 2019, with support from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland, the choir met every Wednesday afternoon in Tamfourhill Community Hub.

However, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, all singing has moved online, with provision – including 29 YouTube singing sessions – delivered free of charge to choir members and interested members of the public from as far away as New York, Germany and Taiwan.

Visit www.crowdfunder.co.uk/freedom-of-mind-community-choir from Wednesday, December 16 for more information.