I had always fancied joining a choir since arriving in France in 2009 as a language assistant. I sang at school and university and had missed singing while working as a primary school teacher in the UK.
Once in France, I saw a few different local choirs perform but struggled to find the courage to join as I did not know anyone. My mum kept telling me to just do it!
As luck would have it, in late 2013 I was doing some English with a college student and his mum was in the next room learning ‘Amazing Grace’ for her choir that had recently formed.
She was struggling with the pronunciation and I just sang it for her. She looked at me and told me that I was going with her to the next rehearsal. The rest is history!
I became known as "notre anglaise" and many of the members have become very good friends. One of them has even been to visit my home in the UK twice!
Through the choir, I have met a huge range of people, mostly older than me, but I have always got on well with the older generations. Plus, some of them can be very useful in an emergency...dentist or opthalmo.
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Close-knit community
The choir has become my "home away from home" and the members are my second family. I could not imagine not being without them now.
When we reorganised how we operated, we had to create a new association. Volunteers are rare these days and so I agreed to help as I was already on the committee for the existing association.
I am a big people pleaser and love the contact. In fact, I think I am one of the only members who knows everyone else by name and which part they sing!
I also conduct when the cheffe de choeur sings solos and I sometimes have my own solo with the rest of the choir behind me. For the moment it is ‘Love is in the Air’ – mainly because it is English and has a lot of lyrics!
We are well known in the area. Our cheffe de chœur is a professional singer and has four choirs in and around Vendôme. She does all her own arrangements and we sing just about everything: French, English, Gospel...there is something for everyone.
Sometimes we sing alone, and other times we come together with some of the other choirs and can be as many as 60 on stage.
We have participated in several concerts under the Festillisme scheme in the Loir-et-Cher, which allows communes to hold concerts for which they can receive a subsidy.
Last April we hired the main Minotaure theatre in Vendôme and we sang to an almost full house, and in March we organised an evening of disco songs interspersed with a DJ set. That went down really well.
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How to join a choir
It is easy to find local choirs on Google, and to compare what is on offer. You can often listen to highlights of concerts on choir websites to get a feel for the kind of music mix and level.
From traditional classical music to folk, gospel, rock and pop, there is a huge range of groups to consider.
The more traditional groups are likely to audition informally during rehearsals. Community-oriented groups aim to include everyone, even complete beginners.
A weekly evening rehearsal is the most common offering, but some offer one-day or all-weekend workshops as well or instead. These are likely to include food and drink – so an opportunity to sit down and talk to people as well.
Another avenue is via a local Forum des Associations – the ‘clubs and associations fair’ that takes place in many towns at the start of September.
Alternatively, if you know anybody who is already a choir member, ask them to take you along, even if it’s only to listen at first: it is a good way in.
Social and health benefits
The social benefits of choirs can be numerous – from the meals already mentioned to weekends and awaydays, regular concerts and community events. Many celebrate the galette des rois in January. It is easy to chat to different people in these social settings and a great way to find new friends.
“I joined a local choir in Parthenay (Deux-Sèvres) two years ago and it was overwhelmingly welcoming, a very positive experience,” said Danielle Piéton.
Ehryl O’Rourke, from the US, joined a choir in Paris and enjoyed the musical and social side.
“I think any type of healthy hobby gathering is a nice way to meet new people. Singing releases endorphins. In a place like Paris, which is 75% cloudy most of the year, it is important to find hobbies like a choir that bring you happiness.”
Language and musical barriers
You might wonder if there are any barriers to joining choirs, such as language or musical ability. But even without much French it is possible to sing – in fact, music overcomes or circumvents language difficulties in many ways.
“Language wasn’t much of a barrier for me, as most people spoke English despite being all French,” said Ehryl.
“However, if you were to join a choir with mainly older generation French, it might get difficult for some.”
It is not even necessary to read sheet music for many choirs, although the more advanced ones may ask for this. A lot of people can learn from listening, and start to follow music that way.
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Men wanted in choirs
Women are always the majority in mixed choirs, so men are typically welcomed with open arms.
“Tenors are always in demand, “ says Sandy Anderson in Paris, so although most choirs start their season in September, if you want to join later in the year “for a tenor they would make an exception”.
