Last Sunday, when I arrived at the NEC in Birmingham, I was greeted by endless excited crowds as far as the eye could see. I passed countless parked luxury coaches that had brought a 17,000-strong group of people from every corner of the UK to share one common interest…their joy of Singing together.

This was day two of Rock Choir’s ten-year anniversary celebration. The vocal collective phenomenon, created by singer Caroline Redman Lusher over a decade ago, now has a huge nationwide following each week where people meet to rehearse in towns and cities across Britain.

All these widely-spread-out groups practise for weeks on end for this big opportunity to come together and sing as one enormous choir. Within the show, the audience was treated to hit after hit, harmony after harmony and even some surprise famous singer additions. Over the weekend, celebrities including Kim Wilde, Chesney Hawks and Kiki Dee all took to the stage to join with the surrounding Rock Choir.

Also on stage, conducting their own sections, were the fabulous Rock Choir leaders. These are the super-talented singers/instructors who lead each separate group each week from around the country.

We are very proud to say that, from this pool of talent, some of these very artists lead our own One Voice team building and conference singing activities.

Just watching their passion, energy and non-stop commitment to the music on stage brought it home to me why the feedback we receive from clients, who have experienced them on our singing events, is so good.

Obviously, the power of everyone singing together in one room was tremendous and further compounded my belief in the power and benefits of group music making.

No matter if it’s in a small business meeting or en-masse in the NEC, the initial singing abilities of participants are not an issue. Instead, contribution and perseverance prove to be the positive strategies and stepping-stones to incredible progression and achievement.

Good luck Rock Choir for the next ten years of bringing music to thousands of people and a huge well done to Carrie, Pippa and Lizzie for your professionalism and spirit I saw on stage last Sunday.

Thank you to Roy Kelsey for providing the excellent photos from the event.