Singing From the Same Hymn Sheet? The Role of Choirs and
Collective Belonging
Weeks Centre for Social and Policy Research Symposium
30th January 2015, Clarence Centre, London South Bank University
10am-6pm
Free Event, Lunch and refreshments provided, All welcome, Register by contacting Dr Emily Falconer falconee@lsbu.ac.uk
Symposium Programme
9.30am: Arrival, Tea, Coffee, Pastries
10-10.15am Dr Emily Falconer (Weeks Centre for Social and Policy Research), Welcome and
Introduction
10.15- 12.30pm Panel Session One (Chair and respondent: Dr Kerry Baker, Weeks Centre for Social and Policy Research)
Dr Emily Falconer and Professor Yvette Taylor (Weeks Centre for Social and Policy Research)
Sounding Religious, Sounding Queer: The role of choirs for queer identifying religious youth
Ambrose Hogan (Institute of Education) Changes in Catholic practice: singing, repertoire, diversity and belonging
Friedlind Riedel (University of Gottingen) Divine Deviance: Atmospheres of Congregational
Worship
Rev Professor June Boyce-Tillman (University of Winchester) Choral improvisation and community creation - Giving difference dignity
Dr Laryssa Whittaker (Royal Holloway) Congregational singing in the ‘Rainbow nation’:
Music and cultural integration in a post-apartheid South African Church
Professor David Gilbert and Natalie Hyacinth (Royal Holloway) Music, singing and creativity in suburban faith communities
12.30pm-1.30pm Lunch and breakout discussions
1.30pm-4.00 Panel Session Two (Chair and respondent: Dr Yvonne Robinson, Weeks
Centre for Social and Policy research)
Rebecca Bramall (University of Brighton) Sing while you work: the ‘rise of the choir’ in
austerity
Dr Kelvin Mason and Dr Peter North (University of Liverpool) Dr Gavin Brown (University of Leicester); Lotte Reimer and Jenny Patient (Campaign Choirs) Singing for our lives: The future life-histories of the street choirs
Dr Gavin Brown (University of Leicester) Rousing Solidarity: the practices of choral singing in
British anti-apartheid protests
Dr Eiluned Pearce (University of Oxford) Singing Together: Uncovering evolved mechanisms for community cohesion
Dr Caroline Bithell (University of Manchester) Community Choirs Go Viral: Reclaiming
Community through the Natural Voice and World Song
Professor Stephen Clift (Canterbury Christ Church University) Singing for health and wellbeing: theoretical perspectives and research evidence
Mark Porter (City University) In perfect harmony? Models of cohesion and divergence in musical collectives
4.00-4.15 Break
4.15- 5.30 Panel Session three (Chair and Respondent: Jill Wilkens, Weeks Centre for
Social and Policy Research)
Dominic Stichbury (Musical Director and Choir leader, Chaps Choir, London UK) Blokes or
Chaps? Masculinity, class and power dynamics in all-male choirs in London
Diana Parkinson (Middlesex University) How gender affects community singing
Shilpa Shah (Musical director and Choir leader, My Hearts Sings, London UK) Women’s
Choirs: race, feminism and intersectionality
Anna Bull (Goldsmiths) The construction and experience of the gendered authority of the conductor in elite youth choirs in England.
Professor Graham Welch (Institute of Education) Singing Cities: Boys, gender and social inclusion
5.30-6pm Singing ‘taster’ workshop: Dominic Stichbury
6pm Wine reception and video performance from the Chaps Choir, London, UK
This Symposium is a free event as part of the Weeks Centre for Social and Policy Research
To attend, you must register by emailing Dr Emily Falconer, falconee@lsbu.ac.uk
Chaps Choir, Photo by Paul Hudson
