Sing for Happiness
Can singing change your mood? Take part in our groundbreaking project
Do you enjoy singing? Take part in our groundbreaking project!
Book to join the Sing for Happiness project here
We kicked off the Sing for Happiness project in 2024, and sang with over 400 of you! We made the news and went viral on social media. What’s more, initial results from the first round of research indicate that participants’ feelings of calmness, energy and mood were improved by singing together.
Now, the project continues in 2025, and you can now sign up to take part. We’d love to sing with you!
We’re working with friendly, experienced choir leaders from the Bristol choir community and specialist researchers from UWE Bristol to learn some great songs and find out how singing really affects our wellbeing. And we’d love you to take part and join hundreds of other keen singers!
Don’t know how to sing? Don’t read music? Never sung before? It doesn’t matter!
Maybe you’re a complete beginner, or maybe you’re already an experienced singer. Or perhaps you’re somewhere in the middle (do you sing in the shower, or in the crowd at a football match?) If any of these apply to you…then why not get involved? The project is open to anyone over 18, regardless of musical experience or ability – you just need to be keen to take part.
The project will include five in-person rehearsals at St George’s across Spring 2025, catch-up rehearsals online and a final massed performance in June 2025. You’ll learn popular songs and choir classics, and each session will be led by professional choir leaders from across Bristol. There will be online resources if you want to sing at home too. You’ll meet new people, learn a variety of fantastic songs, and you’ll have the opportunity to take part in a pioneering research project to find out whether singing can really make you happy.
Please see below for further details, including dates and cost to take part.
Book your tickets here to take part in Sing for Happiness 2025
When and Where?
The project will take place across 5 sessions at St George’s Bristol, and a final performance on 21 June (tickets and details to be announced later in 2025).
The sessions are in-person, however there will be online sessions and resources too, for anyone who wants to catch up or sing at home instead.
It is fine to take part in the sessions, but not the final performance, if you’d prefer!
All sessions run 10am – 12.45pm.
- Session 1 – Saturday 15 February 2025 with Wendy Sergeant and Rónán de Búrca
- Session 2 – Saturday 15 March with Matt Finch and Jo Sercombe
- Session 3 – Saturday 12 April with Kim Samuels and Kevin Frances
- Session 4 – Saturday 17 May with Kate Fletcher and Alex Hawker
- Session 5 – Saturday 7 June with Ben England
- Final performance – Saturday 21 June (full details to be announced)
The important details
Where can I sign up?
Via the booking button on this page! When booking, your ‘ticket’ is valid across the whole project (but will show the date of the final rehearsal). You don’t need to ‘apply’ – simply book if you’d like to take part!
What does it cost?
There is a £60 per person participation cost which covers the professional choir leaders’ time, hire of rehearsal spaces and performance venue and all related copyright fees.
However, if you’d like to take part but cost would be a barrier for you, please call or visit our Box Office during opening hours, and ask to book under our £10 concessionary rate. (0117 929 4929)
Our normal booking fees apply for bookings made online and over the phone.
Please see our FAQs and videos below for more information. We will be in touch with all participants prior to Rehearsal 1, with more details.
Please read the Participant Information Sheet for taking part in the research.
FAQs
I'd love to take part, but I think I'm a terrible singer. Does this matter?
No, not at all! The project is open to people of all singing abilities, including total beginners. You just have to be keen to take part!
Please note, the project is open only to people aged 18+
We cannot accommodate people below the age of 18 in our sessions or as part of the choir. This is due to licensing, recording, and consent required for the research project.
I haven't sung anything since school. Will I be out of my depth?
No – our friendly session leaders are experienced at teaching and coaching singers of all levels. They’ll make sure you get the most out of the sessions, and will take into account the singing abilities of the participants. There will also be online resources available for anyone who wants to catch up on a rehearsal, or do some more singing at home.
Do I need to know how to read music?
No – there’s no prior experience needed and you won’t have to learn to read music either.
What will I need to bring?
Yourself! You may also want to bring a bottle of water, clothes you’re comfortable moving around in, a pencil (in case you want to make any notes on lyrics sheets), and a smartphone if you’re taking part in the project research (there’s an option to complete the research surveys online via a QR code).
What if I can't make one of the sessions?
Don’t worry! You can come to as many or as few as you’d like. All songs covered in the sessions will also be included in the free online rescources if you want to catch up on what you missed. We’ll also do a final recap before the performance.
How can I take part in the research?
When you join the project, you’ll be asked whether you want to take part in the research. During the project, you’ll complete surveys about your mood before and after every session and the final performance. There will also be the opportunity to participate in a focus group, and a post-project evaluation.
Everyone taking part in the research will need to read the Participant Information Sheet.
Please note, the project is open only to people aged 18+
We cannot accommodate people below the age of 18 in our sessions or as part of the choir. This is due to licensing, recording, and consent required for the research project.
My question isn't answered here, help!
Please feel free to ask and we’ll be happy to help.