The Voices Foundation is giving the Nation back its voice

Hilary Finch, The Times

This is my dream come true

Yehudi Menuin

The tradition of choral singing is fundamental to the British way of life. From the male-voice choirs of the old
Welsh mining communities, through the numerous amateur choral societies which thrive in the cities of the
UK, to the sublime sound of the cathedral choirs, choral music is everywhere. But traditions need to be kept
alive if they are not to become irrelevant to today?s world ? if they lose their sense of adventure, then they also
lose their right to survive.

As a result of changes in the school curriculum in the 1970s and 1980s, singing ceased to be a part of the daily
experience of many children in the UK?s state schools. By 1990, the situation was very serious ? a generation
had never experienced the thrill of performing in a choir, and there was a risk that choral singing would die
from the roots upwards.

And then along came Suzi Digby, sparkling with inspiration and new ideas, following a period of worldwide
study of choral music techniques. Setting up The Voices Foundation in 1993, Suzi began persuading schools
that something of real value was in danger of being lost; that singing was much more than a leisure activity,
and that, through singing, children could acquire skills which would help them to become better adults.
Over the past 20 years, as a direct result of Suzi?s initiative, over a million children in schools have discovered
the joys of singing together, and some 60,000 teachers have received training in choral techniques. Singing is,
once again, seen as relevant and exciting. New choirs, for both children and adults, are springing up
everywhere, and television programmes about their beneficial influence on local communities are being
scheduled for peak-time viewing.

It is impossible to exaggerate Suzi Digby?s role in the saving of the UK?s choral tradition. The award of an OBE
in 2007 confirmed official recognition, but her true achievement is nationwide, where the sound of young
voices is once again to be heard in our schools

Trevor Ford, Chairman, Royal School of Church Music, London

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