‘I don’t care who joins my choir’: Investigating attitudes to diversity and inclusivity in lower- and upper-voice choirs in the United Kingdom

Recreational choral singing has long been a mainstay of amateur and community musicmaking in the United Kingdom, and there is much existing evidence for the potential social, physical and psychological benefits of participation. However, participation in lower- and upper-voice choirs is declining due to low recruitment rates, the ageing of members and the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this article, we draw on the findings of a recent online survey of 907 participants in mixed-, lower- and upper-voice choirs to examine the factors underlying these issues. Using descriptive statistics to show demographic trends and qualitative thematic analysis to identify experiences shared across choirs, we highlight how the development of some lower- and upper-voice choirs has been affected by a homogeneous demographic with limited recognition of – and, in some cases, resistance towards – wider societal issues of diversity and inclusivity. We analyse choirs’ use of inclusion policies, and contrast examples of good practice with evidence of widespread exclusionary attitudes among individual choir members, especially in relation to race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality. We conclude by making initial recommendations for how choirs might recognise and address such challenges, and call for a shift in the research agenda to pay greater attention to exclusionary factors in amateur and community music participation.