Beccles Community Choir was founded by singer and community musician Stephen Amer.
The choir started life as a singing for wellbeing project run by Stephen on behalf of Suffolk Libraries. The aim of the project was to make singing and music accessible to anybody, whether experienced performers, people who had never sung before or individuals lacking in self-confidence or self-esteem.
Meeting weekly for 6 weeks, the group were invited to perform the songs they had been practicing at the Beccles Christmas Fayre to celebrate their progression and achievements.
Having enjoyed the experience so much, this group of people who had made music, formed friendships and built on their sense of community were sad to think they would no longer be joining together in song any more…
…..and so ‘Beccles Community Choir’ was re-launched in February, 2011.
Stephen is a professional music educator, creative arts practitioner and performer with 20 years experience. Through this time, he has developed strategies for engaging people with a range of complicated health conditions or other barriers to participating in the arts using a supportive, inclusive approach.
Stephen has extensive experience creating and leading choirs and ensembles ranging from small group sizes to 100+. He has worked with small charities, companies and third-sector organisations as well as alongside national organisations such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He runs community and health choirs, folk and sea shanty choirs, dementia singing groups, children’s choirs and sign language choirs.
Stephen also performs regularly with his Doo-Wop vocal quartet the TestostaTones, with his Mumford & Sons style folk group the Rogue Shanty Buoys and as a singer with various Big Bands among other acts, performing and touring in his own theatre shows, as well as at events across the UK and abroad.
AND NOW…
…the choir has between 40-50 people attend regularly who all enjoy making and using music to benefit our health in a variety of ways, including to improve posture, learn breathing exercises for relaxation and energising techniques and making friends.
Beccles Community Choir is celebrating 13 years (as of January 2024) as a long-term singing for wellbeing project and health choir under the banner of creative arts organisation The Voice cLoud CIC, of which Stephen is a founder and director.
The choir continues to be available to Beccles residents (as well as those living further afield) to explore how skills learned in music can be used for positive impact in other areas of life. The choir comprises members who all share a passion for singing and who are motivated to find ways of exploring the benefits of singing together.
Whether you are looking to make some new friends, pick up a new hobby or just make some time to do something you enjoy…
…Why don’t you JOIN US?