A COLLEGE lecturer is gearing up for a busy year breaking down barriers through the power of song.

Sara Brown, who is the centre coordinator for Coleg Llandrillo’s Abergele campus, is in the process of organising an afternoon concert and an evening ceilidh event for WaterAid on Saturday, May 11 at the United Reformed Church on Colwyn Avenue, Rhos-on-Sea to celebrate the 15th anniversary of her forming the Abergele-based choir, Coastal Voices.

At the same time, she is also preparing a awareness-raising concert for multiple scleroisis (MS) with charity MS Cymru on Saturday, July 6 at St Asaph Cathedral.

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Ms Brown said: “There is strong scientific evidence that singing is very good for your mental health, it releases endorphins - feel good chemicals - and lowers levels of your stress hormones too.

“It’s also great at creating a feeling of belonging and a sense of community. In these difficult times, we are breaking down barriers - every voice matters.”

She discovered the inclusive nature of choral music in 2000 after going along to a one-day workshop with friends.

Ms Brown added: “It was a magical, fantastic experience. So much so, we all carried on learning songs and organising other workshops.”

The musical director has since gone on to join the Natural Voice Network and now directs three choirs, which also includes the Bangor Community Choir.

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In 2015, Ms Brown accompanied two of her choirs to France, where they toured the Pyrenees for a series of impromptu concerts and raising more than £2,000 for the Nepal Disaster Fund. In 2018, Ms Brown organised her choristers in a large concert at Bodnant Gardens to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage.

For more information, or to join one of the choirs, contact Sara at sarasings@ymail.com.