For many of us in the UK choral singing is a treasured part of our musical heritage and tradition. From small amateur choirs to large choral societies we encounter a vast range of music of all styles, but if you saw the words ‘Choral Signing” would you assume that’s a spelling mistake?

Signing songs in BSL (British Sign Language) is increasingly popular and when done well can be incredibly expressive and emotional. It’s something I have been doing for over 30 years now: I run 7 sign language choirs, and during lockdown I have created around 250 videos both performing and explaining signed song for schools, music services and Hubs, choirs and other arts organisations.

The process of signing a song is not as simple as you may think. Many think it’s just a case of finding a sign to fit the words but it genuinely is a process of translation, and you have to both respect BSL (the fourth most common language in the UK) and those who use it. In an ideal world, of course, a Signing Choir should always be led by a Deaf person, or at least have a high level of Deaf involvement.

I was born Deaf but have always been a musician and for 30 years have been signing concerts, theatre shows and operas. It hasn’t always been as easy ride as there are plenty of (hearing) people who say I shouldn’t be doing this because I’m Deaf and because I’m not qualified. Surely, though, a Deaf person who is also a musician is the best person to deliver this highly skilled art form?

Among the choirs I’ve worked with are The Sixteen, Halle Choir (Beethoven 9 at The Barbican in early 2020), Britten Sinfonia (Bach St John Passion – in German!), Royal Northern Sinfonia, and many other smaller choirs across the UK. I love the musical and linguistical challenges of translating a piece and expressing it in a visual language, and hearing audiences often find it inspiring too. Let’s face it, you can sing a piece for decades – Messiah, anyone? – but never really think about it means, so when your eyes catch a visual version of it the impact can be huge.

Almost all of that work has been done solo, yet I have long wanted to have a small elite signing choir who can sign together, revealing the harmony counterpoint, construction, even subtext, of a piece. That’s one reason why I was excited when The Fourth Choir contacted me with the idea of a programme involving several signers, and which you can discover for yourself on October 30 at Milton Hall. We’ve devised a concert on the theme of meetings, both earthly and heavenly, but which also covers the meeting of Deaf and hearing worlds and languages.

Working out 3- and 4-part translations has been fun; I can see them in my mind’s eye but what they will look like on stage is another matter! We had to find Deaf BSL users who are also musical, and I can’t wait for Raffie Julien, Stacey Ghent and Sean Chandler to join me and the Fourth Choir for what promises to be a unique concert.

Find out more about the concert on October 30 at Milton Hall: thefourthchoir.com