Lancashire Community Singing Champions
Leaders making a difference in their communities through song
County of Song is happy to announce the Lancashire Community Singing Champions. The aim of this initiative is to celebrate the valuable contribution of individuals working tirelessly in grassroots singing, as musical practitioners and as organisers. This group of singing champions shows the breadth of work going across Lancashire. These leaders make a real difference in their communities – providing activities week in week out, combatting isolation, raising money for charity. Their work shows the value of singing in our local areas, particularly in boosting health, well-being and social cohesion. County of Song will work alongside them to promote their work and to support their ongoing development.
The Community Singing Champions are Hussnain Hanif – Leading Nasheed singing practitioner, Nasheed Choir and Lancashire Music Service, Jayne Kelly – Connect Community CIC, Phill Fairhurst – Connect Community and Electric Pink Singers, Tanya Lawrence and Jackie Speight – Women Rockin’ Harmony and Fylde Coast Veterans Choir, Ryan Dixon – Singing for the Brain, Rossendale Memory Choir, “Forget Me Not” singing group at Pendlebrook Nursing Home.
Hussnain Hanif
Mohammed Hussnain Hanif, known locally as Hussnain, is a well-respected Nasheed exponent, TV / Radio broadcaster and socially engaged arts practitioner of Pakistani working-class heritage who was born and brought up in Brierfield. He has pioneered the Nasheed Choir, fusing Western and Islamic musical traditions. He has worked with In-Situ and Super Slow Way, with Lancashire Music Service on the Burnley Big Sing leading hundreds of young people in Nasheeds and has been host of the Communities and Traditions stage for Preston Encounter Festival.
Hussnain sets his work with Nasheed in context: “Nasheed is a form of Mid’ha (praise) which originates from South-Asian and Middle-Eastern traditions. This can be acapella singing whilst other versions will include percussion and string instruments. This particular music form is ideal as it connects British born South Asian communities to their cultural heritage through this art form. The Nasheed Choir is the World’s first Polyphonic Nasheed Choir set up in Pendle, Lancashire. We formed an iteration of The Nasheed Choir in Bradford and launched it in Bradford Cathedral. We are currently working on a project ‘Nasheeds in Education’ which will see us introduce Nasheed singing in school and education settings.”
Jayne Kelly
Jayne worked for over ten years as a service user consultant and support worker in NHS community mental health teams before setting up the new Connect CIC with Phill Fairhurst. Together they originally set up Connect Community Choir, the first of the five choirs they currently run between them. Connect community work with a range of groups, including older people, people facing a range of health issues.
Jayne has helped develop and support community groups for over thirty years and is passionate about breaking down barriers to enable people to be part of a creative community and develop the confidence and skills in their chosen activities and interests.
Jayne says about the work of Connect Community Choir: “One of our main aims as a not-for-profit community interest company is to work with other community groups, councils and funders to build a creative, connected, resilient and inclusive community and many of our musical events are focussed on reaching isolated members of the community. All of us in the choir particularly support new members who may be experiencing grief, loneliness, reduced confidence, and a range of mental, emotional and physical health conditions – we are here for each other and united through the joy and power of music. “
The members are clear about the impact of Jayne’s work: “The choir is so important to me and that’s because when I’m singing I’m free of anything else that bothers me the rest of the time: worries, sadness, feeling ill and making a mess of things, feeling alone – it all disappears and I’m with Phill and Jayne and all the lovely people sat next to me and we just lose ourselves in it. It’s truly wonderful. Every Tuesday it works like magic and I’m free and just me again’. B, Connect Community Choir member
Phill Fairhust
Phill works with Jayne as Musical Director of the Connect Community choirs, leading with a style emphasising wellbeing and inclusivity. Phill also leads the Electric Pink Voices, Blackpool’s new LGBTQ+ choir. This group offers a safe space, where members can express themselves creatively through music. The group has made quite an impact already in the 2 years it has been going with performances at Blackpool Pride, Manchester Pride and Encounter Festival. They have commissioned a piece “Love By The Sea” recorded at the Old Electric in Blackpool. In exciting news for Lancashire, Electric Pink Singers will be helping to host the Hand in Hand UK and Ireland singing festival in Blackpool in 2027.
Phill says about Electric Pink Singers: Quote from Phill Fairhurst on Electric Pink Voices
“Our specific demographic are community members who identify as LGBTQ+ and Allies. Mental health and loneliness feature highly in our community, and the choir offers a safe inclusive space, free from prejudice where members can find a sense of belonging and upskill in an artform while connecting with others through music.
I was really privileged to work alongside Michael Betteridge to set up the choir that's in it's 2nd year and going from strength to strength, now supported by Creative Lives”
One Electric Pink Voices member explained the difference Phill’s work with Electric Pink Voices has made:
“I’m excited to be part of EPV this year because of the joy the group brings me. The friendships I have formed in the group have helped me through some bad places mentally. The songs, the learning and the group mean a lot to me, and the future is looking rosy.”
Tanya Lawrence and Jackie Speight
Tanya Lawrence and Jackie Speight work together with communities across Blackpool and the Fylde coast. Their Women Rockin’ Harmony choirs are open to all women in Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre, with a pioneering approach combining song and movement. They have also just newly launched Fylde Coast Veterans Choir open to ex-Armed Forces personnel on the Fylde Coast working with develop the transferable skills of veterans to the choir group context.
Tanya and Jackie reflect on their journey with Women Rockin’ Harmony: “Building a choir from scratch is no small feat. It takes a firm hand, an uncrushable heart and something of a hard head. Since Covid restrictions were finally lifted and we welcomed a tiny cohort of nervous, beginner singers , our journey has included a few bumps, twists and turns along the way. ...
Today, we boast two teams of enthusiastic ladies who relish every moment of singing and moving together, delivering fully harmonised and choreographed renditions of iconic hits by female stars from the 70s to the present day.
Our humble beginnings saw us perform in the corner of a local college café, with no microphones or marketing. Exactly the kind of opportunity we needed after almost two years of not being allowed to hold choir rehearsals, let alone perform in public. From that modest beginning, our ladies' confidence has steadily blossomed. We've sung at outdoor markets, Christmas events, charity events, a local choral festival, entertained the Mayor and her guests and even staged our inaugural summer show in a modest 100-seater venue, helping to raise funds for a local good cause.”
Ryan Dixon
Ryan has musically led Alzheimer’s Society “Singing for the Brain” groups in Padiham, Chorley and Preston, and Blackburn since 2021. Ryan has also worked with adults with learning disabilities – and Singing and drumming groups at Mencap Chorley. He has worked with Rossendale Memory Choir & more recently “Forget Me Not” singing group at Pendlebrook Nursing Home. He was a key part of encouraging and facilitating the intergenerational concert “Connecting Voices” bringing together Blackburn People’s Choir, Vocalise Junior Choir and Singing for the Brain. Responses from the audience included “awesome”, “magical” and “joyous”.
Ryan says about the sessions he facilitates: “[They] aim to provide the participants with an immersive musical experience within a down to earth, friendly and inclusive group. They are encouraged and invited to sing, regardless of whether or not they have a previous musical background, and this most often creates a fun, joyful environment where people can really express themselves. In addition to the musical benefits, these sessions give participants a sense of community - a place to meet like-minded people and socialise.”
