Tom Greenwood – Rock Choir New Mills
Tom had known about Rock Choir for years through his wife, who had already been a member for some time.
Having spent much of his life around music, performing in and running his own rock band alongside a busy career in the science industry, he knew music had always been a huge part of who he was.
When life changed unexpectedly following a major operation, Tom found himself struggling to reconnect with that part of himself again.
“I needed to get back into music so thought I would give it a try.”
That decision led him to join his local Rock Choir in New Mills, Derbyshire.
Finding music again after difficult times
Tom openly describes the challenges he faced after surgery and the effect it had on his confidence, motivation and everyday life.
“After the operation things seemed to grind to a halt.”
Although his family were incredibly supportive, he knew he needed something positive to help him move forward again.
“I needed something special but what? Enter Rock Choir…”
Because he already knew some of the repertoire through his wife, settling into rehearsals and performances felt natural surprisingly quickly.
“It didn’t take me long to learn the parts and get gigging.”
Encouragement that made a difference
One of the things Tom values most is the support he found from those around him.
“My fellow Rockies gave me a lot of encouragement.”
That encouragement helped him rebuild confidence and reconnect with music in a way that felt enjoyable again.
“I’ve never looked back.”
Over time, Rock Choir helped him feel more like himself again, both musically and personally.
Returning to Edinburgh
One of Tom’s standout experiences has been performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
“Going back to the auld toon and singing at the Fringe.”
Returning to Edinburgh, a city world-famous for music, performance and creativity, made the experience even more memorable for him.
Special moments through music
Tom also remembers performing at Arley Hall Chapel in Cheshire as one of his favourite moments.
“I thought our performance at the Arley Hall chapel in Cheshire was electric.”
Another especially meaningful moment came when one of his own original songs was played during rehearsal.
“Having my original song played at rehearsal was special.”
For someone whose life has always been connected to music, that moment carried real significance.
“I feel good about singing again”
Rock Choir has helped Tom rediscover confidence and enjoyment through singing.
“Rock Choir has given me the confidence to get back to my old self and I feel good about singing again.”
He has even written a song inspired by his positive experiences and what Rock Choir means to the people who are part of it.
For Tom, joining Rock Choir in New Mills became far more than simply returning to music. It became a way of rebuilding confidence, reconnecting with creativity and finding a supportive community around him once again.
