Debbie Rogers – Rock Choir Peterborough
Debbie joined Rock Choir after moving back to the UK to begin her retirement following many years living and working overseas in Singapore and the United States.
After a long international career in Human Resources, she describes feeling fairly burnt out and ready to find something completely different to enjoy for herself.
One of her neighbours mentioned Rock Choir, and as she had never heard of the organisation while living abroad, she decided to investigate further and attend a taster session with her local Rock Choir in Peterborough.
Walking into something new
From the very first rehearsal, Debbie knew she had found something special.
“The moment I walked into my taster session… I was hooked.”
By complete coincidence, she even bumped into someone she had sung with at school more than 40 years earlier, making the experience feel even more unexpected and personal.
Through weekly rehearsals, she rediscovered her soprano voice and quickly immersed herself in choir life.
Performing after just six weeks
One of Debbie’s standout memories came very early in her Rock Choir journey.
Within weeks of joining, she signed up for her first public performance.
“Some fellow Rockies thought I was either mad or brave… probably a bit of both!”
Determined not to miss the opportunity, she threw herself into learning the repertoire, using the online resources and following advice from those around her.
“Just smile and sway if I forgot the words!”
That experience gave her the confidence to keep saying yes to more performances.
“An unforgettable day at Rock Choir LIVE”
Another unforgettable moment came when Debbie secured a last-minute ticket to attend Rock Choir LIVE at BP Pulse Live in Birmingham.
The huge anniversary show, filled with thousands of voices singing together, made a lasting impression.
“I realised I’d found my tribe.”
For Debbie, one of the best parts of the whole experience came afterwards, singing together on the coach journey home alongside fellow Rockies.
The power of singing together
Certain rehearsals have also stayed with her emotionally.
During one session, the choir walked around the room while singing Sam Ryder’s “Mountain”, a song whose uplifting message has become a favourite in many Rock Choir rehearsals.
“The emotion and positive energy in the room was palpable.”
For Debbie, moments like this perfectly capture the support and connection that comes from group singing.
A retirement chapter filled with music
After decades in a demanding career, Debbie says Rock Choir has given her the chance to finally commit to something purely for herself.
“Of all my new retirement hobbies this is the best!”
She also loves that local performances in Peterborough help raise money for charities and community causes, making the experience feel even more rewarding.
“I hope to be a Rockie for a long time to come!”
From rediscovering singing to finding friendship, confidence and community, Rock Choir has become an important and joyful part of Debbie’s retirement journey.
