Tag: music

GLOW up – 10 years of GLOW! Starting in February

by hrtristram, posted in Uncategorized

“𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐲, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞-𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜, 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩”

GLOW choir Brighton is back this February – starting Sat 8th!

All voices welcome! Come and get a dose of uplifting vocal harmony and queer community spirit. ❤

This term we are singing Saturdays at St Luke’s, and Wednesdays at The Queery Brighton, plus performing at Trans Pride Brighton 2025 and other excitements!

“𝐀𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐆𝐁𝐓𝐐𝐈𝐀+ 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐤𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬.”

Songs this term will include Revolution!

Standing in the way of control!

And a wide variety of other songs (GLOW favourites and new offerings) in many moods and genres to soothe the spirit, warm the heart, energise and rejuvenate, connect and express, calm and sweeten, encourage and uplift! And do many good things music can do!

“𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐞𝐬.”

Memberships and booking:

GLOW Choir now runs on a monthly membership basis, with a variety of options to suit different budgets, schedules and passion for singing!

We still offer a drop in option for those who need this, but encourage regular and semi-regular GLOW members to join a membership if possible. Find 2025 prices and membership options, below. 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞:

Glow Memberships – Spring/ Summer term 2025

New members are very welcome!

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐮𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞? We would love to sing with you! Book a drop in place for the date you’d like to attend, using the drop in links at the bottom of the membership page above.

February dates – see the graphic attached!

For all the dates and venues this term including singing at trans pride, follow this link:

GLOW Spring/Summer Term Dates

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐢𝐬 𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐟𝐨𝐫? GLOW choir is for LGBTQIA+ people and allies, and all voices are welcome!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠? 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐯𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐝, 𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 music, to soothe the spirit, raise the roof, make positive ripples and heal the heart! From around the world and across time and genre.

𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬? 𝐍𝐨𝐩𝐞! All voices are welcome and it’s all taught by-ear so you don’t have to be able to read scores.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐆𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭? 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐲! Bringing people together in solidarity to enjoy the benefits of singing together. Strength in community. LGBTQIA+ voices. Exciting, empowering, uplifting fun! Silliness, depth, accessibility, inclusion, learning, a space to let go for a bit.

What are people saying about GLOW? (see quotes throughout this post from anonymous survey of choir members):

“𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲”

“𝐈𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐆𝐁𝐓𝐐𝐈𝐀+ 𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐢𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐬 less pressured as there are no auditions or expectations of musical ability. Glow is also unique in its emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility for neurodivergent and disabled folks, and its explicit support for trans rights.”

“𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞, not only through the joy that singing with others brings but also through the sense of community it offers. I always feel welcome and included at Glow, and I always leave choir sessions feeling uplifted and calm.”

“𝐀𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 and LGBTQIA+ folks can be completely themselves. Hannah-Rose is a warm, affirming and creative choir leader who has worked really hard to develop GLOW in this way.”

𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 a membership or book a taster or drop-in session. ❤️
https://getbrightonsinging.com/glow-memberships-spring-term-2025/

Standing in the way of control!

by hrtristram, posted in Uncategorized

I hope this song and video will bring some hope, perspective and strength in these difficult times. ❤

I’ve made this harmony song arrangement of Gossip’s Standing In The Way of Control, I started it at the beginning of last year, then got busy with life things and set it aside, but this year felt called to finish it due to world events, and also rethink the way I was arranging it, to create the offering you can hear below.

I’ve made a video to go with it based on acts of courage and resistance, and joy in the face of oppression. I hope this will be uplifting to anyone who sees it and a source of something good in these times.

If you find it good, please do share it with someone who would be uplifted by it today.

Please also consider donating to Rainbow Railroad whose work getting LGBTQIA+ people out of danger and into safety is important work worldwide.

We will be singing this arrangement with GLOWchoirBrighton this term so if you’re close enough to Brighton do come and sing with us this term! All voices are welcome at GLOW, Brighton’s choir for LGBTQIA+ people and Allies.

GLOW starts again in February, and I’ll be publishing GLOWchoirBrighton booking info very soon, I’ve been focused on creating this arrangement and video, as well as time going to health and life stuff, and processing everything that’s been happening, so publishing GLOW membership and booking info has been a little delayed.

If you’re a choir leader or someone who sings with others and would like to get resources and permissions to do with this song arrangement, pop me an email on hannahrose@getbrightonsinging.com

Solidarity and strength ❤

About singing – oh yes you can!

by hrtristram, posted in Uncategorized

Take a look at my TedX talk on the power of group singing – amongst other things:

Oh yes you can! (*if you want to – you are in charge!)

Throughout time, people have sung and made music for myriad human reasons (see the TedX talk above for examples) and this is our birthright! We don’t have to be supremely impressive, world class musicians who fit the aesthetic standards of the times, to enjoy making music just as we are, today!

Singing and making music are something anyone can do, right away, and may enjoy and benefit from doing. This is your invitation to have a go, if you’re not already – at whatever is calling you!

This could be as immediate as humming or singing heartily along to your favourite tune/song, picking up an instrument and making a sound, singing a lullabye to someone, having a low-pressure sing-along with your dear ones, singing your feelings out loud somewhere this feels do-able, dancing to some great beats or making your nearest surface into a percussion instrument and discovering what rhythms are in your brain today!

As well as being something anyone can do, enjoy and benefit from: music and song also involve skills that can be developed over time with encouragement and focused practice. If we allow ourselves time to develop and/or improve these skills, rather than expecting our own or someone else’s particular idea of ‘perfection’ immediately, it is to our benefit.

Longer term steps to welcome more music into your life could include: joining a welcoming community choir or music group, booking an instrumental or vocal lesson, following online instructionals, doing some close listening, finding friends to make music with informally, or making a regular date with yourself to enjoy some practice time.

If we can approach our voices or musicianship playfully, with curiosity, compassion and somewhat regular showing up, and treat them like dear friends who are allowed to be human – we will have the space to flourish, improve, learn, and grow. The process of practice can itself be beneficial for mental health and brain function, as well as bringing the satisfaction, excitement and empowerment of improving at a craft.

And remember throughout your practice, the reason you wish to do it. And perhaps on a grander scale, the reason that music exists! For example, this could include: to express humanity, to connect us to each other, to help us understand each other, to help us regulate ourselves and each other, to help us find energy or clarity, to help us understand ourselves, to help bring about social change, to make us feel better, to woo, to worship, to heal, to soothe, to energise, to grieve, to learn, to remember, to tell stories, to have a sense of beauty in our bizarre existence… What other reasons can you think of for music?

Keep the reasons that make sense to you in mind, when you’re doing more detailed practice: and this could help you keep perspective when you’re stuck into the detail of a tricky scale, passage, phrase, or finding a dip in motivation.

“Music is life itself.”

Louis Armstrong

Life changing moments

by hrtristram, posted in Uncategorized

Hi, I hope you’re enjoying this Autumnal season, in your own way. Here are a few life changing moments I wanted to share with you –

It’s been an incredible couple of months!!

In my personal life: a month ago I married the most wonderful human, the radiant being that is known as Chris.

I’m so honoured to do this, and thank my lucky stars – and all the hard work of the activists and other beings who have got us to where we are – that this huge blessing is ours in this lifetime.

It is life’s greatest honour ❤

I’ve also been incommunicado for a bit because we’ve been away on honeymoon in the wilderness watching / listening to wolves, moose, hare, birds, and the wind in the leaves!

In work offerings, something very exciting happened this Summer too – I am now a qualified trans voice alteration teacher and gender affirming voice coach!

I completed a course with the wonderful Renée Yoxon which was life changing-ly good, and I can’t wait to share what I’ve learnt, and support trans, non binary, and genderqueer people with gender affirming voice practice.

Keep an eye out on https://getbrightonsinging.com/trans-voice-alteration/ – I’ll be uploading a booking form in the coming week or two, and taking new bookings from early October, as soon as I have everything ready to go!

I look forward to helping you with your voice wishes and goals, develop a voice practice in ways that work for you, and align your voice use with your sense of self. And hopefully, helping you find trans joy in your voice too!

Attached is my certificate!

I also wanted to share this blast from the past – it’s a certificate from the Natural Voice Teacher Training I undertook with Frankie Armstrong and Darien Pritchard, back in 2007 when I was in my early 20’s, fresh out of drama school and looking to do something meaningful, expressive and community oriented, ideally with lots of great harmonies on the regular – Frankie and Darien showed me how!

If we’re taking stock of life changing moments I would definitely include the discovery of, and time spent singing and studying with, Village Harmony Choir and Northern Harmony choir; as well as time with Chichester Festival Youth Theatre – amongst other life events, these have had some of the most positive influence on who I am, what I do and how and why I do it. Thank you to those humans whose energy, drive, spirit, creativity and ethos, made those things happen!

I can’t find photos of those things at present but here’s a link to me and my parents singing some shape note songs in honour of Larry Gordon who founded Village Harmony and Northern Harmony, at the time of his death:

May joy and love be with you today ❤ and here’s to the people who, by being themselves and following their own paths, help us feel free to be more of ourselves too.

Image is of Hannah-Rose at an LGBTQIA+ rights protest in London, speaking into a megaphone.