By Raine Leary, Bass

My journey to becoming a fully fledged Barb began with a one-day summer workshop. The invite said, “Come and learn a song in a day”, and it caught my eye on a local what’s-on listing. I thought it sounded fun, and it definitely was.

We learned “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen. I didn’t know much about female barbershop choruses, but I quickly discovered there are four parts: tenor, lead, baritone, and bass. For the day, we could choose which part to try. I picked lead, since it usually sings the melody, and I already knew the song. At that point, my singing experience had been mostly limited to the shower and the car.

My First Workshop

We started with some warm-ups and guidance on breathing and smooth singing. Then we practiced in our parts before coming together on the risers, which is the tiered staging where we stand to sing. I was already hooked!

One thing that struck me immediately was how friendly and welcoming everyone was. There were about 30 established Barberettes that day, plus me and a couple of other newbies. The group made sure each guest was positioned between experienced members, which made it easy to follow along.

By the end of the day, I was amazed at how good the song sounded and how much fun it was.

Joining the Chorus

After the workshop, Emma, our brilliant musical director, invited us to attend a few Wednesday evening rehearsals. I did, and I was impressed by how organized, friendly, and focused the sessions were.

We newbies did a quick vocal assessment to see which part suited our voices best. To my surprise, I was placed in the bass section. I hadn’t thought of myself as having a deep voice, but I do actually gravitate toward bass harmonies naturally. Bass now feels like my spiritual home!

I was given a guest folder of music and joined the risers to sing along with a few simpler tracks, positioned next to experienced basses so I could hear and follow along. 

We newbies were invited to learn “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys, and when ready, we could audition to join the chorus officially.

Marcia, the bass section leader, shared teaching tracks with me, which I listened to on repeat over the next couple of weeks.

The Audition

I was nervous! Emma and the four section leaders were there, but they worked hard to make me feel relaxed. They reassured me that if I didn’t succeed the first week, I could try again.

I did make a couple of mistakes due to nerves, but I passed and was officially accepted into the bass section of the Barberettes. I went home on a high!

Once I had signed the forms, I received full access to all teaching tracks for the entire repertoire and my first Barbs performance outfit: black trousers with a diamante stripe, a red sparkly top, a “B” brooch, earrings, and lipstick. I hadn’t felt so bright and blingy for years!

Learning and Performing

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been immersed in learning the repertoire. As it’s autumn, we are practicing both the main list and the Christmas repertoire. That means everything from “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Somewhere Only We Know” to “Gaudete” and “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas”.

Each week, we receive the song list in advance, so I can focus on learning the ones I don’t know yet. I’ve been amazed at how many “sing-outs” the chorus has booked. Most members attend as many as possible, and you just note your availability.

My first performance was at South Hill Park, singing from the balcony during a Design and Craft Fayre. I loved it! Even when I forgot a word or two, I just mouthed along until I caught up. The acoustics were amazing, and the power of 30+ women singing together was unforgettable. We received lovely comments from attendees, and we’ve already been invited back next year.

Celebrating 50 Years

The Barberettes are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year! To mark the occasion, we’ve been learning “Bohemian Rhapsody”, the Christmas number one from 50 years ago.

We also had a fantastic 50th birthday party: bring-a-plate-and-bottle, karaoke, dancing, and a chance to thank Emma for her years of incredible leadership. It was a wonderful celebration of music, friendship, and shared purpose.

Finding My Tribe

Like many people, I’ve always loved singing and hoped to join a group one day. I’m so glad I found the Barbs at the right time. Meeting regularly with a group of women of all ages and backgrounds, all focused on learning and performing together, has been a joy.

I feel I’ve truly found my new tribe. I’m excited to learn and perform many more songs in the coming years and grateful to be part of such a fun, friendly, and focused chorus.

If you’ve ever thought about joining a singing group, why not come along to a session and see what the Barberettes are all about? You will be made to feel very welcome.