In March 2020 I was setting up a new local community choir. I had found a hall in which I planned to start the sessions in early April. I had recently sung solos in Handel’s Acis and Galatea with The Sixteen and I was looking forward to another year of the The Sixteen’s Choral Pilgrimage concerts around the UK. I had booked a touring caravan site in April to tie in a holiday with a concert I had at the Maltings at Snape, Aldeburgh. As usual, I was juggling my life; singing, directing choirs, teaching singing privately and in local schools and enjoying seeing family and friends in between. My life was abundant!
Paul Elvidge, a friend who practices as a coach, was helping me to develop the future of my choirs. I was so intrigued with the process of coaching that I decided to attend a free two day introductory course on coaching in London. The course inspired me so much that I decided to look into training as a coach myself. Why do I mention all these things? Because they are the things I feel passionate about. Along with my core value of family, my passions are quite simply singing, directing choirs, teaching singing, seeing others shine through coaching and of course getting away from it all as much as I can in our touring caravan.
However, in March 2020 Covid-19 happened. Suddenly there were no concerts. I couldn’t set up a new choir. All holidays were cancelled. Schools closed and people were told to stay at home. My work and social life, along with the rest of the country’s, moved online. My teaching and all my choirs moved to Zoom which doesn’t allow you to sing together as an ensemble but was better than nothing. Paul and I still met up on Zoom, but starting a new choir was definitely on hold. Paul suggested that he could help me through one of his other passions – creating websites. He offered to set it up for me. This, alongside learning how to create virtual video performances for choirs and training to be a coach have been the three most amazing achievements I have made during the Covid year.
I wanted the website to represent all that was important to me. Paul suggested that I should start a blog on the site. This is something else that I have really enjoyed doing this year, even if finding the time to do it has sometimes been difficult.
Firstly I needed a name for my website. I didn’t want to use my own name so I decided to look for something that would somehow encompass all my passions. Eventually I decided upon Vox Fulgentis. Roughly translated it means ‘The voice of those that shine’.
The name seemed to represent so much about me. I have spent 35 years singing latin texts. The words Vox Fulgentis sounded like the title of one of the many motets I have sung. ‘Vox‘ means voice. Much of my life has been focused on the voice. I have sung in choirs since I was eight and as a professional all my working life. I have taught others to sing and through coaching I have helped people to find their inner voices. Voice means a lot to me.
‘Fulgentis‘ is the latin word for ‘bright’ or ‘shining’. Over the years I have helped many people to ‘shine’ in their singing and music making. Now, having trained as a coach as well, I am helping people to shine in other ways, not just musically. I help people find their own voice as they talk through their passions and aspirations. I help them achieve their dreams whether it be in their career or other areas of their lives. I help them to believe in themselves and to make a positive impact on those around them. I love the resourcefulness and creativity of people and I feel privileged when I help them to find and realise the untapped qualities in themselves, qualities that can be found in us all.
I am so grateful for what this last year has taught me. My life still involves juggling the things that I love but it is also still abundant. I recently discovered an inspirational writer, Roy T. Bennett. One of my favourite quotes from him is “To shine your brightest light is to be who you truly are.” This last year has taught me that when faced with challenges we can still find new ways to make things happen and we can grow through the experience. We can also find our own voice in the midst of the distractions of life around us and therefore truly be who we want to be. Vox fulgentis!