Nicola's Singing Challenge

Less than four years ago, I joined a choir. Prior to then I had never sung in parts and my music reading skills back then could be described as rudimentary, at best… happily, they’ve grown in leaps and bounds since.

The crazy person in me has signed up to a Sing for Pleasure trip to Siena which includes singing Handel's Dixit Dominus on 18th April.

The music is fiendish - harder than anything I've ever attempted before. There are pages in the score where there are so many notes that there is only ONE BAR per system. I have bought a choral trainer and even slowing it down to a speed of 50% it scares me. I'm working hard to learn it and my score is almost always within reach. The recording is on a loop in my car!

This is my "marathon moment"!

I will learn this music and I might even sing it from memory. I would love to use my Marathon moment to raise funds for two music charities that are dear to my heart.

Trust Music provides musical, pastoral and financial support to a wide range of young musicians in my hometown ( Bolton). It does amazing work making sure that all children (and adults) have opportunities to engage in music.

Sing for Pleasure is a national charity that encourages the enjoyment of singing, by running training courses and various singing events. It offers choral conducting scholarships and bursaries to young people every year, to help them sustain the UK’s vibrant choral tradition and bring singing to hundreds and thousands of people in their local communities.