Notes from a new Alto – Pauline Rowe
Joining the Royston Choral Society felt a little daunting for me at first. Although no audition is necessary, the standard of the Society is very high and many of the members have a professional or semi-professional background and years of experience. I, on the other hand, wasn’t even sure which vocal range I should be in. I thought I’d give soprano a try but soon realised it was well beyond my capabilities. I’m much more comfortable with alto.
I was also concerned about my poor sight-reading skills but fortunately there is a wealth of support material available.
Despite my lack of experience, I found that the members were welcoming to a new face and already feel as if I’m making friends. It’s rewarding to learn the material, and rehearsals are always enjoyable with Andrew [O’Brien] who, although demanding the best from us, does so with a light sense of humour.