LIFE-CHANGING
LEADER EXPERIENCES!
Wondering what it’s really like?
From building friendships to inspiring communities through music – here are some real choir leader stories from those at the heart of the role.
LIFE-CHANGING
Sarah Hollick
“Becoming a Rock Choir Leader happened almost by accident for me”
I stumbled across a local performance and was so uplifted by the songs and the energy they were giving that I had to speak to the conductor to find out more! Little did I know I was listening to one of Caroline’s founding member choirs, as I was living in Farnham – birthplace of Rock Choir!
I was on maternity leave at the time, having been working as a keyboard and vocal teacher in a music school, so I decided to go along and see for myself as a means to find the musical outlet I was really missing. Tom George immediately recognised I could be a potential RC Leader and took me under his wing, which I’m eternally grateful for!
I spent two terms in Tom’s choir, which gave me a really deep understanding of what Rock Choir feels like to the members. Eventually, I interviewed and trained, and was offered an opportunity to take on choirs in West Sussex.
Over the next few years, I built my schedule up from 4 to 6 choirs, while working around my young daughter. It can be incredibly difficult for women to balance careers and motherhood, and I felt so lucky that I had the opportunity to build my income whilst not having to take extra time away from home.
I was always able to work around school pick-ups and drop-offs, and the fact that we take long holidays scheduled within the school term was ideal. So many families struggle with childcare across school holidays, but this is something I didn’t have to worry about.
Eventually, the time came to make some changes in my life, which meant moving to a different area of the country and settling down nearer family and having a second child. This meant that I had to say goodbye to the wonderful West Sussex choirs.
Rock Choir loves to keep leaders in the family, and wherever possible, many leaders are offered the opportunity to move their job with them. In my case, after a period of leave, I was able to take on choirs in North Wiltshire from an outgoing leader. This fit perfectly for me — by this point, my husband Andy was also involved in RC and had started up choirs in Somerset!
A further opportunity arose to take a position in the HQ team, which I was pleased to accept. Since 2023, I have been running choirs alongside a part-time WFH role, which has given me the chance to develop my career in new ways, taking on more responsibility in the company.
As you can see, my last decade with Rock Choir has been incredibly diverse. It’s not only been a brilliant job that fits around my life, but also a fantastic way to work with like-minded people, have amazing fun, and perform in incredible venues that I wouldn’t have had access to otherwise!
Daniel Rogers
“I knew I’d found where I was meant to be”
I joined Rock Choir in September 2018 after leaving a demanding job as an assistant manager in a busy restaurant chain. Despite having a music degree, I was stuck in 60-hour weeks and barely had time for family, friends, or music. A quick Google search for “music jobs near me” led me to Rock Choir – and the next chapter of my musical journey began.
I came on board just in time for our first Proms in the Park performance, where I witnessed 10,000 Rock Choir members unite in a flash mob. The sense of community was incredible, and I knew I’d found where I was meant to be.
Since then, my choirs have grown from 75 members across four locations to over 350 across six. Rock Choir has supported me throughout, helping me build and nurture these communities while growing in confidence as a leader and musician.
I’ve performed for crowds of up to 40,000, brought music to care homes and charity events, and even met a few celebrities along the way.
Joining Rock Choir was the best career move I’ve ever made. I’m finally doing what I love!
ANGELA MORAN
BBC PRESENTER CASE STUDY
INTRODUCING ANGELA MORAN
It’s fair to say Angela made a huge impression right from the start whilst working as a Rock Choir leader, taking to the role like a duck to water!
She is the second Cambridge graduate to work for Rock Choir, having joined us shortly after finishing her PhD at Cambridge. The position as a Rock Choir Leader allowed her to return to her home county and work immediately in a relatively well-paid and flexible music role.
Angela ran evening and morning choirs in the West Midlands for many years and was held in great esteem by her choir members. Throughout her tenure with Rock Choir, she appeared as a leader on television and radio countless times, including at the BBC and ITV. In addition, she performed live with Rock Choir at the NEC, BBC Proms in the Park, and the O2. Angela finished her career with us on a high by taking her choirs to record at Abbey Road alongside multi-Emmy and Grammy award-winning Sting producer Mark ‘Kipper’ Eldridge.
Check out her Rock Choir experience with choir leading, training, performing, and recording and how this led to her unexpected career development, as she reveals why Rock Choir: ‘was the making of her career’.
ANGELA’S BBC CAREER
Angela recently presented on the BBC’s ‘A Very British History’ series, airing on BBC Four.
The episode she fronted, entitled ‘Birmingham Irish I Am’, documents, among other things, the experiences of Irish immigrants and their children in Birmingham in the 20th Century.
The entire programme is underpinned by Angela’s broad breadth of knowledge stemming all the way back to her Cambridge PhD subject matter, music history studies and her multi-instrumental skills.
It’s a great watch, and this all stemmed from being headhunted by the BBC.
We spoke with Angela about her time as a Rock Choir Leader, here’s what she had to say…
What was your favourite event that you took part in when working with Rock Choir?
There are so many events to choose from that it’s hard to pick a favourite!
The national events rank highly in my mind, though, and I was fortunate to join Rock Choir just in time to perform at the O2, which is something I will never forget.
But I think my all-time favourite was Rock Choir 10 at the Genting Arena because it featured so much – new arrangements of songs, live accompaniment, an acapella performance by all the leaders, and of course, appearances from Kiki Dee and Chesney Hawkes!
What was your relationship like with other Choir Leaders in your area?
Working as a regional team was fantastic as it meant members could have performance experiences that might not otherwise have been possible.
We came together to sing at Symphony Hall, for instance, ran regional workshops in Rugby and at Stoneleigh Park, and events could be shared out to other nearby choirs if the local Rock Choir was double-booked.
My Midlands team met every few weeks during term time, which was always a great chance to catch up and share good practice and ideas.
How did you find the Rock Choir training?
The training was very comprehensive and exceptionally well planned.
Every minute was accounted for, but social time, team meals and regional catch-ups were always built into the schedule.
It was great to sing together as a team, to hear advice and experience from other leaders and, often, outside specialists too.
The thing I remember and respected most about the training was the constant call for leaders to have input. The door was always open for any Rock Choir leader to share their knowledge, to lead a session, or to request training in a specific area.
Training was thus moulded to what leaders felt would be most relevant.
How did you find the support from Caroline and HQ?
Not only was Caroline always just a text away, but she also made the effort to come and meet my members in person.
During our first-ever term in Stratford-upon-Avon, Caroline came to run a rehearsal in preparation for the national Liverpool Echo Arena show. She also performed on stage with us at Symphony Hall (alongside Toyah Wilcox) and appeared as a surprise while we were recording at Abbey Road.
The atmosphere was electric when Caroline walked out into Studio One!
The support from HQ was equally unparalleled. The leaders have a dedicated phone number to contact the office at any stage, and people from HQ would often come up to assist with local events.
The Rock Choir set-up is such that there is the freedom to manage your own gigs, setlists, line-ups, events and so on, but within the security of a wider network that is aware, cares and has your back.
What would you say to fellow Cambridge Alumni and those due to graduate?
Studying at Cambridge is ideal preparation for being a Rock Choir leader.
The community in Cambridge is so diverse that running inclusive choirs, and dealing with a breadth of people, makes for an easy transition.
For me, it was really refreshing to delve fully into practical music-making after a period of intense study, and Rock Choir provides the perfect opportunity to reach further into the local, wider population.
Cambridge is such a hub for music lovers, and through Rock Choir, you can make your own musical links, become involved in various events, and experience the ‘nowadays impact’ beyond the formal study of music.
How do you feel Rock Choir developed your skills as a musician?
Leading choirs every night is an incredibly helpful practice for keyboard, singing and conducting as you are using all these vital skills regularly.
Being a professional performing musician requires finely-tuned communication skills, so standing in front of large Rock Choir choirs really develops these too.
What was the most rewarding part of the role?
There is nothing as rewarding as seeing the blossoming of people who discover their voice in your choir.
It wasn’t only their musical development that spurred me on, though, as my choirs became a strong support system for each other and me.
It’s incredibly humbling to journey with the Rockies from their very first free taster session – when invariably people would arrive declaring that they couldn’t sing – to seeing them take their place on stage in full Rock Choir performances.
How did Rock Choir fit around your other commitments?
The Rock Choir schedule completely complemented my other work.
Whilst I always prioritised Rock Choir rehearsals and gigs, the regular evening requirements meant my daytimes could be free for other private teaching and performing.
There was the freedom to take on weekend Rock Choir events at your discretion around prior commitments. By following the school teaching term, choir leaders largely had control of Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays to take on other work and gigs or just to have a rest!
How did Rock Choir help your outside work or contribute to your later career success?
Playing, singing, conducting, and performing each weeknight was really beneficial to all aspects of my future playing, presenting and teaching career, as these skills became second nature.
I also really benefitted from gaining knowledge in music technology.
For the first time in my musical life, I managed sound levels, mixing desks, PA systems and such, and that has stood me in good stead for future bookings and successes.
What song did you do for your initial interview, and how did you find the audition?
I sang Closest Thing to Crazy by Katie Melua for my audition.
It probably summed up how I felt then, but thank goodness I did feel crazy enough to audition to be a Rock Choir leader!
It was the making of a career from which I’ve never looked back.
The audition was a pleasant, informative and gentle experience. I got to play through a Rock Choir arrangement, Ain’t No Mountain High Enough, learn more about the company, meet current leaders and discuss my personal goals.
I immediately felt welcomed as part of the team!
