Growing up, I loved to sing, but was painfully shy so I only would sing in the privacy of my room. I had always wanted to do more with musicbut needed an extra push to get there. When I entered middle school, I was given the chance to take a chorus class. This class helped me break out of my shell and pursue something I was really passionate about. I have been part of multiple different choruses since, and here are some reasons why.
1. Singing in a group builds confidence.
Some people love to sing but are too nervous to sing on their own. Joining a chorus can give someone the opportunity to sing and not to feel as vulnerable as they would singing by themselves.
2. A Chorus is a community.
Singing in a chorus helps to promote working together to achieve a great sound. It isn't about the individual, but about the group. The goal is to have a unified sound, so no one singer should be trying to stand out more than the other. In a chorus, most of the members are passionate about music and it is easy to feel at home with people who have interests similar to your own. Because of this, a chorus can promote a sense of belonging.
3. A Chorus entertains.
Most choruses have the opportunity to perform a few times over the course of a year and show off the work that they have been doing. It is a rewarding experience to be able to share what you are doing with others, and to partake in something that might make their entire evening.
4. You get the opportunity to travel.
The chorus that I am currently in has concert tours abroad every three years. Many choruses raise funds for these trips and offer the chance for their singers to travel to a new place and sing with their friends.
5. Choral music is great!
Okay, so maybe I'm a bit biased since I have been singing in choruses for about ten years, but I really do believe that choral music is fun to learn and listen to. One advantage of singing in a group, rather than singing by yourself, is that you can create harmonies with others just by using your voices. This results in the music having texture and an overall sound that cannot be achieved as a soloist. Being a part of a chorus gives you the opportunity to learn music that you might not come across in your everyday life. Some of the music might be challenging, but you can put the work in and share the accomplishment of learning a difficult piece with the friends that you've made along the way.
