Beat It
"We are happy because we sing!"
Beat It began as a desire to offer an additional support to people whose lives have been affected by cancer – whether they themselves have been affected by the illness, or family and friends. Presently, with the Covid-19 pandemic, there is more need than ever to have a place where people can support each other, enjoy making music and simply let go.
Shona Brown, SoundRoutes Singers’ Founder and Musical Director, has been contemplating a cancer support choir for some time: “Two years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer when my daughter was 8 months old, and I know first hand many of the ways cancer can affect our lives. I knew I wanted to work on a project like this and when I heard that Laura was looking to start a choir for people who have been affected by cancer I had to get in touch. ”
Shona
Brown
SoundRoutes Singers Founder and Musical Director and
Beat It Co-Founder
“As a musician and choir leader
I know the power that music has
to heal and lift our spirits."
Laura
Boyd
STV Entertainment Reporter and
Co-Founder of Beat It
“I felt an instant connection with Shona and after an initial conversation I realised we were very much singing from the same hymn sheet, so to speak, and our own cancer choir was born.”
Living with leukaemia herself, STV Entertainment reporter Laura Boyd was visualizing a similar concept and reached out on social media to anyone who may be interested in collaborating. Shona got in touch and the rest is history!
Obviously this is a choir with a difference: the traditional gatherings have to be put on hold and the choir is going digital! Weekly online Zoom sessions will replace the usual choir sessions – for now. This may have some limitations but it also means that people from anywhere in the country, or indeed the world, can join in with us from the comfort of their own homes.
People will participate as normal in the sessions, having fun learning new songs and exploring new music, and our aim is to produce a special song at the end of the initial block – with everyone singing on it! As Shona commented: “I hope that this can help people reach out to each other during this especially challenging time and bring us some much needed joy.”