100 Days that Changed My Life

100 Days that Changed My Life

By Cheshire A Cappella's Gill Carr

I started singing barbershop in July 2025, aged 62, having never really sung before! I knew I was ready for a change of direction in my life, feeling like something was missing. I was not only given the warmest welcome from a fabulous group of ladies but was also incredibly impressed by the sounds I heard that evening.

From there on in, my sole purpose was going to Convention, despite there being no expectations from the chorus that I would do this, and not being a naturally confident performer! Nevertheless, perform I did, and having just returned from Harrogate, I feel compelled to share my experience of this fantastic weekend.

I travelled down with three others and went to a joint meal with Crystal Chords, with whom a few of our members also sing. What a way to start my first convention! I had to get my head around there being absolutely no rivalry whatsoever, just pure warmth and friendship from these wonderful ladies! This in itself was a totally new concept for me. My heart was lifting as we all sang together and entertained the guests in the restaurant. Dinner and a show - who knew?!

I spent Friday watching the quartets perform, which totally blew me away! By the end of the evening my jaw was aching from smiling and my hands stinging from all the hard applause. I learnt so much and loved every minute of it.

By Saturday, the adrenaline was well and truly pumping through my veins. The performance came and went by in a flash. I wasn’t at all prepared for the overwhelming feelings that followed as we ‘exited stage left’ and I unashamedly burst into floods of tears. But oh, what pure tears of joy they were! So proud! Feelings of warmth, friendship, and inclusivity, plenty of laughter and of course, fantastic singing.

The welcome feelings of warmth and inclusivity from there on in just kept increasing throughout the weekend. We ended with Coaching Under Glass on the main stage. I was there, exhausted but filled to the brim with sincere feelings of warmth, friendship, and inclusivity, plenty of laughter and of course, fantastic singing.

I feel reborn! 2026 - bring it on! First published in VoiceBox, November 2025.