Laura Lean – Rock Choir Edinburgh
When Laura Lean moved to Edinburgh in 2010 to be with her partner, she knew that starting a life in a new city would mean building new friendships and finding her own place.
Like many people arriving somewhere new, she wanted to meet people and feel settled. Around that time she discovered that Rock Choir was launching in Edinburgh that autumn, and it immediately caught her attention.
“I’d always wanted to learn to sing properly but lacked the confidence to join a ‘serious’ choir. Rock Choir looked both friendly and fun, and that ticked all the boxes for me.”
Laura joined the Edinburgh evening choir led by Choir Leader Elaine Williamson, and through the weekly rehearsals she soon found herself surrounded by people who shared the same joy of singing.
A Second Family in the Choir
Over time those weekly rehearsals became something much bigger.
For Laura, Rock Choir became a place where friendships grew naturally through music, laughter and shared experiences.
“Finding a second family and making wonderful memories with them at every opportunity!”
It soon became a constant in her life in Edinburgh, bringing people together who simply enjoyed spending time together and sharing a good sing.
Those friendships extended far beyond rehearsal evenings.
Memories That Will Last a Lifetime
Looking back over her time with Rock Choir, there have been many happy moments with her fellow members.
“There are so many happy times but if I had to single any out, I had my hen night in Paris with all my Rockie pals and some of them sang during our wedding ceremony.”
Sharing those milestones with the friends she met through Rock Choir made the occasions even more special. What began as a choir soon became a group of friends supporting one another through some of life’s biggest moments.
Learning to Sing and Finding Confidence
Singing was something Laura had always wanted to do, but before joining Rock Choir she never imagined how much her confidence would grow.
“I love Rock Choir because not only have I made friends for life, I’ve actually learned to sing properly!”
Over the years she has even stepped forward to sing solos, something that once would have felt impossible.
“I have had the opportunity to sing solos, and this has totally bolstered my confidence in so many areas.”
With encouragement from Elaine and the other members around her, Laura discovered a new level of confidence both inside and outside the choir.
Standing on the Stage at Usher Hall
One moment that really showed Laura how far she had come was performing at Edinburgh’s prestigious Usher Hall.
Singing on stage in front of thousands of people might once have seemed unthinkable, but the experience changed the way she saw herself.
“Before Rock Choir I was terrified of speaking in public or doing presentations at work. I figured if I could sing on stage in front of thousands of people at Edinburgh’s prestigious Usher Hall, talking to a roomful of people is a doddle in comparison.”
For Laura, Rock Choir Edinburgh has become far more than somewhere she goes to sing. It is a place where friendships grow, confidence builds and we come together through music.
What started as a way to meet people in a new city has grown into something she describes best in her own words:
“A second family.”
