Sam discovered her passion for music from an early age and went from putting on concerts in her fairy outfit to starting her own choir group which in the space of a year went from one group to four with 125 members.
Sam Readman grew up in Ingleby Barwick and went to Conyers School. She now lives in Great Ayton with her boyfriend and dog, Bertie.
The 23-year-old was a shy child but her confidence flourished whilst she was performing. The Ingleby Barwick-born was dancing and singing around her front room in the infamous fairy costume for her mum and dad and absolutely anyone else who happened to pop round.
At the age of five, Sam joined Ingleby Dance School and was given her first solo in the winter dance show, ‘Who will buy’ from Oliver. After that Sam began singing lessons and by 15 she had completed her Pop Vocal singing Diploma.
Sam completed exams to a high level in classical singing and musical theatre. By 16, she was gigging in local pubs and sang at a few weddings and events. Sam studied Popular Music at the Leeds Conservatoire at 18 and graduated with a first class degree.
It was at 16 that Sam discovered her passion for choirs, she said: “I had always been in the school choir, however wanted to start a smaller a cappella choir, so approached my music teacher to ask if I could organise weekly rehearsals on a lunch time.
“We performed at both the Christmas carol concert and the end of year concert. This gave the head of music the faith in me to let me take over the whole school choir running weekly sessions at the age of 17, no other pupil of his had ever done this. We went on a music tour to Paris performing in Disney and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
“I arranged all of the choral parts, it was an amazing experience which also taught me a lot and gave me the passion to make my career in music focussing on choral conducting. There is no other feeling like uniting a group of people in song.”
Sam came home from university in 2020, in the middle of the pandemic and couldn’t follow her dream of starting a choir until September 2021. Now she runs four choirs with 125 members after only a year.
On discussing why the choirs have grown so fast, Sam said: “After lockdown everyone just wanted to be out in the world again trying new things, so my choirs came at a perfect time. I wanted to change the stigma that all choirs focus on hymns or classical, that you have to read music and you have to know if you are alto, soprano.
“In my choir’s I don’t care if you think you can sing or not, if you like singing and are enthusiastic that’s the only thing that matters. As I am also a singing teacher I give tips and tricks in choir that help people along the way!
“Many of the choir members did not want to sing to an audience, they just wanted to come along and sing, however by the time we did our summer concert almost all choir members participated and we performed to a sell out audience raising £1,560 for My Sisters Place.”
The four choirs have a weekly hour session and costs £5 per session, paid monthly.
The choirs have had great reviews from those who take part weekly, some members suffer from depression and anxiety and have expressed how much the choir has helped them. One of the members said: “Choir, for me, started in a room of strangers but is now a room full of friends who enjoy music and singing.”
Another said: “I wouldn’t miss it for anything! Fun, friendship and a flipping good time.” Sam added: “I think for me the most important thing is the fun and laughter! We just don’t take ourselves seriously.
“Our choirs are all abut having fun singing things like ‘Dancing Queen’ from Abba, a bit of Tina Turner, some Adele. I always say to members that there is no pressure to practice to be amazing, choir is about taking away your worries not give you any.”
People wanting to take part are welcome to pop along to one of the four sessions to see if they like it. If anyone wants more information you can get in touch through their Facebook page here.
This content was originally published here.