Meeting some of the singers in the University Chamber Choir. This week, Steph Richardson in the altos.

How did you get into choral singing ? I have sung in many musicals, but University was my first hefty chamber choir experience.

Steph Richardson

What’s your favourite piece ? Of this year’s repetoire, probably ‘Our Love Is Here To Stay‘.

What’s your best/worst memory about singing in a choir ? Best: conducting Carol of the Bells from the back of the Cathedral at Christmas 2011. Seeing some members of the choir crying as we sang (and I conducted) Lullaby (Billy Joel) for the last time. Worst: Having an ichy foot in performance during the whole of ‘He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven‘.

What do you find is the most inspirational aspect of  choral singing ? When everyone’s different voices really come together it can be mesmerising and you can hear the depth of the song. The interesting thing about singing in a choir is that every part has a different tune to sing, so every choral singer has a different memory of the piece. Each person’s separate part is the melody to them. This is how the music comes together so well. To me, the alto line is the main, and often the most beautiful, line.