Feb
05
2015
The singing Office Manager
By Jessica Toms.
“I don't sing because I'm happy; I'm happy because I sing.” William James
Being an Office Manager can sometimes be challenging. Some days my role can include making the working environment lovely and bright or introducing lots of new treats for delegates to indulge on; and on other days I could be sorting out a jammed photocopier machine or a broken internet connection.
That’s why I believe it’s important to have something you enjoy doing to help take your mind off a stressful day at work. It gives you a bigger perspective on life and stops you sweating the small stuff. So, last year, I joined The London Concert Chorus which is a singing club in Beckenham (Kent). Each Tuesday my poor colleagues are subjected to me singing new songs that I’m learning, normally when I am preparing course materials or clearing up the kitchen.
Singing with the London Concert Chorus at the world famous Royal Albert Hall sold it to me. I have always been ambitious and have been singing since the age of five — but I never did see myself becoming a professional in the music industry. It is quite a fickle environment and if you don’t have the right image, then you don’t make the cut. I attended The BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology in Croydon, one of the only free performing arts school in the country. The school prides itself on providing an excellent general education that helps prepare young people for the future. They encourage their students to go on to specialist colleges and universities or into employment in various creative industries. The school taught me that education was important and even if you wanted to be the next Adele you had to have something to fall back on.
I love singing – it exercises your heart and lungs and releases endorphins that make you feel happy. I love hearing a well-known piece that sounds like it is being sung by a chorus of angels. I love the buzz that rushes through your body when you sing your solo, when you hold the microphone and you hit that first note or end with a window shattering rift that would give Whitney Houston a run for her money, or singing an acapella with your choir and telling your story through a song which takes your audience with you. To me, these are the most amazing feelings ever!
Being in a choir is great, especially if you’re a shy or nervous person as it brings out the best in you. It teaches you about punctuality, commitment, responsibility, self-awareness, trust, attentiveness, consideration for others (no one likes a prima-donna, choirs are all about team work). It also improves your listening skills and most importantly it makes you happy.
You will feel a bit nervous to begin with but don't worry if you make mistakes - you learn as a group to get the right notes when you rehearse. You don’t have to be able to read music as, like me, you can just pick it up by ear. If I struggle with the first note I hum it in my head. Being an Alto you often have to sing harmonies, so you could have a million notes going around in your head but you get there in the end.
Not every choir will ask you to audition but, if they do, what usually happens is that you take a piece that you know and sing to the choir director/master. It’s nothing like the Britain’s Got Talent or The X Factor and you won’t be booed off the stage.
There’s a choir out there to suit everybody and all abilities, but you have to find what’s right for you. British Choirs on the Net is a website with contact details for choirs all over the UK. Your local church may have a choir, or social media is a good way to find local singing groups.
You’re never too old to give up on your dream. I am 33 this year and I always said that one day I would perform at the Royal Albert Hall and walk the same stage as greats such as Old Blue Eyes, The Beatles and my fellow BRIT school student Adele. And that’s what I did. I have now performed on the famous stage six times with The London Concert Chorus in a concert that is conducted by Jonathan Cohen, with support from soloist Alison Jier and the 30-piece London Concert Orchestra.
Be warned: approach singing with caution. Once you start you might not be able to stop, it’s like a virus which you can easily pass onto someone else. Remain alert at all times in case the bug gets you!
Jessica Toms is the Centre's Office Manager. She is responsible for all aspects of office management at the Centre including administrative tasks, supporting the rest of the team, and the preparation of all materials for forthcoming training courses.
