BUILDING Harmony – a new networking choir designed to help construction professionals de-stress and get to know one another – struck a chord with attendees during a successful launch event in Glasgow.
Held at the revamped Adelaide Place Baptist Church in the city centre, the evening was led by design, engineering and project delivery company BakerHicks colleagues and experienced choir singers Claire Rosset (head of architecture – Scotland) and Molly Armstrong (sustainability graduate) – the idea being that singing can help break the awkwardness sometimes experienced at more traditional networking events, whilst also providing an outlet for people to de-stress. The event attracted guests from a wide range of construction-related disciplines and organisations, many of whom had no prior singing experience.
Claire and Molly were quick to put everybody at ease by setting the tone for what would be a relaxing and pressure-free evening, with the additional promise that they would have everyone singing well.
Starting with some warm-up routines, Claire and Molly then moved on to the different exercises and techniques to help the less experienced members of the choir find their voice and tone. After an hour, a full rendition of Pharrell William’s hit Happy was brilliantly performed, with attendees even being split up to perform their own parts in the song!
“I wasn’t surprised,” Molly told Project Scotland, when asked if she was taken aback by how well everyone sounded. “It’s all about confidence. Everyone was nervous – myself and Claire included – but the minute everyone started to warm-up and realised that we’re all in a safe space, the confidence started to go up.”
Claire added that it was nice to see people who work in a high-pressure sector have the opportunity to let loose and enjoy themselves. “There was a few of my team there and I know what sort of work pressures they have,” she explained. “And it was really nice seeing them letting go and having a bit of a laugh.”
One of the BakerHicks team members in attendance was senior architect Richard Barclay. Admitting he was nervous about coming along, he revealed he was motivated by the happiness he gets from secret singsongs when driving!
“I can’t sing,” he modestly told Project Scotland. “But as a group, the singing is much stronger. I felt part of that group because we’re all doing the same thing – everybody is on the same level. There’s a strange connection that allows you to just harmonise; it’s hard to explain, but when you’re singing your part and you can hear what everyone else is doing, you start to understand Claire and Molly’s idea of harmonising – how you get all the vocal nuances and bring them together.”
With a raft of designers, architects, and law experts involved, Richard said he hopes to see contractors come along to the next event. He urged them to give it a go like he did, adding that it wasn’t as intimidating as he first thought and compared it to singing as part of a crowd at a music concert or football match.
Other attendees included Cheryl Ferguson (construction solicitor at Dentons), Siobhain Forde (associate director at Stallan-Brand) and Michael Kenny (facilities manager at Marie Curie Hospice).
“It was absolutely amazing,” Cheryl told Project Scotland. “I suspected that it would be a good – but it surpassed my expectations. It was really good fun. Construction law is quite high pressure, and this is a really good way to let off steam; everyone was smiling and you can see that everyone has had a really good time.”
Likening the post-singing feeling to the natural high felt after finishing a good workout, Siobhain said she was walking out feeling relaxed. “You just have to forget everything and concentrate on the singing,” she added. “It’s a really nice group of people and you can tell everybody is enjoying it and that made me so happy.”
Michael revealed he is always first to the microphone at karaoke events, so it was no surprise to see he too was buzzing with the outcome of the event. He explained he wasted no time signing up after a colleague at Glasgow City College – where he also teaches facilities management – asked if he had heard about the construction choir. “It was really good,” Michael said. “I didn’t know anyone in here until tonight, so it was all new, but they are a great bunch of people.”
The collective joy felt by the group is perhaps explained in a 2015 study by the University of Oxford, which revealed that choir singing is particularly beneficial for psychological boosts as well as improving breathing, posture, and muscle tension. It can also aid in pain relief due to the releases of neurochemicals.
A feedback form was included on the back of the event’s song sheet, with Molly and Claire keen to gauge people’s reactions ahead of the next outing, planned for May 10 – and then every second Wednesday of each month thereafter. Judging by the elated scenes and great singing, the sector should stay tuned as the duo hinted to Project Scotland that performances in front of live audiences may be in the works eventually!
