4.85°C Hic Sumus have been cropping up at events throughout the city this past year. I caught up with Gary and Jen from the choir to find out more.
What inspired you to launch Hic Sumus, an LGBTQ+ and inclusive choir, in Colchester?
Gary: We could see a gap. It’s a lively community, with lots happening in entertainment and sport, but we couldn’t see any LGBTQ+ space for communal singing. There are plenty of community choirs (Jen runs another one, in fact), but we wanted to offer somewhere for people who might have another layer of anxiety to feel extra comfortable. Singing in public can be pretty scary for some people anyway! LGBTQ+ and inclusive choirs are successful in other parts of the country, so why not here?
How do you envision Hic Sumus contributing to the sense of community and inclusivity in Colchester?
Gary: Everyone and anyone is welcome at Hic Sumus – we have a mixed membership of every kind of person you can imagine, which is what makes it so wonderful. We don’t audition anyone, and nobody has to sing on their own (unless they volunteer to!). Despite only beginning in September 2023, we’ve already enjoyed performing at several community events, including Manningtree Has Pride, Cocktail Cabaret at the Mercury Theatre and Colchester Pride. As our repertoire grows, we’re looking forward to increasing the number of performances we have under our belt and widening the range further to reach more people.
Could you share some of your goals and aspirations for the members of Hic Sumus and the impact you hope the choir will have on their lives?
Jen: as the conductor, my favourite moment is seconds after we finish a performance – the look on the faces of all the choir when the audience is applauding and cheering because they’ve done such an amazing job. That’s what it’s all about for me. The smiles are huge, and I can see how much they have all enjoyed it, after the nerves and focus of doing the singing. The audience doesn’t see the months of hard work that go into a few minutes of singing, but that’s what ties the choir together into a family unit.
We’ve got performances on video that makes me well up every time I watch them; in fact, I only have to think about them. It’s not the singing, it’s the choir’s reaction at the end. The confidence and joy you can see in their faces. If we can keep on making people feel that, then we’re doing something right!
In creating an inclusive environment with no auditions and no requirement to read music, what message do you hope to convey to potential members of the choir?
Jen: I tell the choir that I strive for ‘casual perfectionism’ – when we perform, I want it to be great, but we’re going to make a mess together getting there, and it’s going to be fun.
People have to be comfortable together to be able to do that – we’re going to make mistakes (and I include myself in that!) and make them loudly; otherwise, we can’t correct them and be excellent later. And if things do go a bit wonky, never mind, we’re just singing a song!
How has the community responded since the launch of Hic Sumus, and have you witnessed any positive changes or impacts among the choir members?
Gary: We have been so well supported by the community and are so grateful for it. The day we announced the choir was being set up, Colchester Pride messaged us to book us for Pride 24! We’ve also been given lots of other performing opportunities as we have grown – that’s so important to have things to look forward to and to aim for.
The confidence of choir members has been wonderful to see; they’re not as scared of performances – it’s turning into excitement!
Jen, as the co-founder and musical director, what personal fulfilment or joy do you derive from leading an LGBTQ+ and inclusive choir like Hic Sumus?
Jen: sharing my love for music, and singing together with a group of people, I love it!
Are there any specific events or performances on the horizon for Hic Sumus that Colchester can look forward to?
Gary: We are currently planning our 2024/25 diary, but so far, we will be singing at the November Collidescope event on 12th November at Patch, and we are planning a Queer Carols service with the Open Table Colchester network.
In your opinion, how does music and singing together foster a sense of unity and understanding?
Jen: Choir members help each other constantly – finding their place in the music, working out trickier passages etc. When you’re singing together, you’re a team; you have to listen to each other and adjust, whether that’s your individual voice part or the whole choir; otherwise, it all falls apart quite quickly. We can all feel the collective buzz when a song is working.
And if anyone wants to join the choir, where and when can they find you?
Gary: You can come along for free twice at any time, but we’re running two special taster sessions on Thursday, the 12th and 26th of September, at Firstsite, from 7.30pm to 9pm. Register a place here: https://forms.gle/nsT4UytwHzp9pPgH9
We meet on Thursdays during term time at Firstsite between 7.30pm and 9pm.
Instagram: www.instagram.com/hicsumuschoir
Facebook: www.facebook.com/hicsumuschoir
