Investigating Amateur Choirs in the United Kingdom as Sites of Musical Learning and Ambition

Singing in an amateur choir is widely recognised as a source of enjoyment, social connection, and wellbeing. Choir membership in the United Kingdom, however, is at risk of decline through an ageing demographic and lack of diversity, and also through its relationship to historic music education practices, which encouraged singing and knowledge of choral repertoire in ways that are now less prevalent. In partnership with the Peterborough Sings! music education charity, in 2022 we conducted an online survey to investigate factors affecting the development of musical learning and ambition within amateur choirs. In this article, we report on data from choir members (n = 362) and choir directors (n = 78), representing over 350 different choirs in the United Kingdom. We focus here on choir members’ perceptions of musical learning and ambition, exploring three primary themes: namely, (i) the impact of audition policies on inclusion and belonging, (ii) the role of prior music education and training among members and directors, and (iii) ambition and affirmation through performing and competing. We compare the relationship between learning and ambition in the auditions, rehearsals, and performances of lower-voice, upper-voice, and mixed-voice choirs, and demonstrate how shared learning goals and styles contribute to success and satisfaction in choral singing.