It's great to be back at rehearsals after the Christmas break.

Although it was only a break of two weeks, it did seem like a long time.

We quickly got back into the routine and on the first rehearsal of the new year (9 January) we were able to sing our hearts out to ‘Phantom’ – the sound was amazing!

'Sing Live on ice'

Shortly after this rehearsal we met again in Jesmond for a ‘big rehearsal’. We sang some new numbers and continued with our breathing and stretching exercises. I thoroughly enjoyed the day but it was really freezing in the church - someone had forgotten to put the heating on. In light of this I hope we aren’t expected to do ‘Sing Live on Ice’!

Everyone is now well acquainted and you can feel the ‘buzz’ when you walk into the hall.

For me the Sunday rehearsal was a turning point, as I could see and hear the changes in our performance as a choir. Everyone is now well acquainted and you can feel the ‘buzz’ when you walk into the hall. The quality of our singing has changed and it is an unbelievable transformation from only a few weeks earlier. If we keep this up we are going to lift the roof off the City Hall with our voices!

I always find the rehearsals good fun, but it's really hard work as there are so many things to remember: how you stand, how your tongue lies in your mouth, if you look like a gurner when you sing the vowels (!) ... never mind learning the words and melodies. It is all definitely coming together though and I am certain we are going to give one hell of a concert.