Sing for Pleasure (SfP), the national choral charity, has announced its Diamond Conference celebrating of 60 years of since the charity's formation. Taking place on Saturday 23 November 2024 at Stoller Hall in Manchester, 'Shaping the Choral Future' will explore the role of choirs and singing in contemporary society.

The conference will bring together the choral community for a day of workshops, panel discussions, keynote addresses, as well as singing. The programme will delve into topics such as dementia choirs, leading big sings, community choir repertoire, establishing a successful singing school, mental health, singing and the menopause, supporting young people through voice change, social prescribing, the future of church music and performance ideas.

The Chair of Sing for Pleasure Miles Wallis-Clarke said of the announcement: 'We are incredibly excited to mark our 60th anniversary with such a significant event. The Diamond Jubilee Conference is an opportunity to reflect on our rich history while leading the conversation about the future of singing across three key areas: learning and participation, singing for health and wellbeing, and singing’s place in society. Since 1964 we have been at the heart of the UK’s choral tradition and we continue in our mission to champion the transformative power of the human voice.'

The conference programme, unveiled today, features SfP tutors, and guest speaker and musicians Nav Arles, Catherine Beddison, Baz Chapman, Katy Lavinia Cooper, Kathleen Cronie, Barbara Eifler (Making Music), Ruth Evans (National Youth Choir), Don Gilthorpe, Jane Hampson, Sue Hollingworth, Kerry Lyons (Dementia UK), Hugh Morris (Royal School of Church Music), Themba Mvula, Stuart Overington, Shivani Rattan, Matt Roughley, Aga Serugo-Lugo, Imelda Shirley, Natasha Thompson, Suzzie Vango, Miles Wallis-Clarke and Ula Weber. The day will open with a keynote ‘Big Sing’ by Matt Hamilton, Director of Choirs and Singing at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Choral Director at The Hallé.

Conference attendance is £99 for SfP members and £154 for non-members and sign up is now open. singforpleasure.org.uk