Dartmouth Rock!
Dartmouth Rock!
When Jean Judge moved to Dartmouth in July 2012 she began looking for an a cappella pop choir to join to replace the one she had enjoyed singing with back in Oxford. As no similar choir existed locally she and her husband Peter Johnson – also a singer - decided the only thing to do was start one themselves!
Having failed to find a suitable Musical Director Jean decided to take on the task herself. She has been singing all her life and over the years has been a member of various choirs, duos, trios and quartets. She has been involved with a cappella community choirs since 1998 and a few years ago began leading choirs herself. “To be honest, I really just wanted to sing in the choir rather than lead it, but we finally decided that if this was the only way we could get it off the ground I should do it.”
So, on April 23rd last year Dartmouth Rock! was born. To Jean and Peter’s amazement over 70 people pitched up on the first night. “A number of people told us they didn’t think a pop choir would work in Dartmouth, so we were delighted when so many people turned up.” says Jean. “We conducted a very intensive publicity campaign but I’m sure the fantastic turn-out was also partly due to what I call ‘the Gareth Malone effect’. He’s done a great deal to show people what a fun and rewarding experience it can be to sing in a choir.”
The membership of Dartmouth Rock! has now settled down to around 60 members who meet every Tuesday evening in term-time at 7.15pm in St Clement’s Church Hall. “It’s a very friendly choir. Our members come from all walks of life and I’m delighted to say their ages range from 20s to 70s.” says Jean. “They are such a lovely enthusiastic bunch and the feedback I‘ve received about how much people are enjoying singing in the choir is just wonderful … and they sound fantastic, too!” The choir sings a mix of unaccompanied songs in four-, five- and sometimes six-part harmony and their current repertoire includes songs by artists such as The Beatles, Adele, Fleet Foxes, Take That and Abba.
They have entertained friends and families on two occasions in St Clements Church but are now looking forward to their official debut concert on Friday, 4th April at 8pm in The Flavel. They will be joined by the a cappella quintet Pretty Noisy, of which Jean is a member. “We’re going to have a great evening” says Jean. “It’s a fund-raising concert, with all proceeds being shared equally between the Dart Memory Café and the Dart Music Festival Foundation, so we do hope people will come along and help raise lots of money for these two very worthy local charities.”
Anyone interested in joining Dartmouth Rock! is invited to call Jean or Peter on 01803 832318 or just go along to a rehearsal. There is no audition and no requirement to read music. “We would really like some more male voices, particularly tenors” says Jean “so any guys reading this who would like to come along and try us out would be particularly welcome.”
First published By The Dart March 2014