THE East Lancashire hills are alive with the sound of music — not least thanks to the Clitheroe Pop Choir.

Seventy amateur singers, mainly women aged 16 to 70 with just a sprinkling of men, enjoy weekly rehearsals and regular performances under the inspiring guidance of their musical director Susan Sykora.

In true Military Wives’ style — the chart-topping TV choir made up of soldiers’ wives and girlfiends — these singers have all found friendship, fun and support along with their voices.

The snazzily-dressed Clitheroe-based singers are also hot on the killer heels of the recently formed Vogue choir, consisting of the fashion bible’s staff, led by TV choirmaster Gareth Malone.

While Gareth is now on our screens with Sing While You Work, encouraging workplace warbling, Susan has picked up the baton in East Lancashire to encourage us to burst into song and three-part harmonies.

For professional vocal coach Susan, enjoyment is the key factor.

“People come along and make new friends who have a shared interest,” she said. “Our singers are all different, they are from all different walks of life and professions.

“Some have never sung before in their lives, or just in the shower or at school, others have been in a school or a church choir before.

“Singing really is a positive and uplifting thing to do and I would say anybody can sing — at least, I’ve never had to turn anybody down.

“With things like singing in harmony, you’re learning new skills as well, and we have social gatherings which are great fun. Singing is also really good for health — it helps with breathing, and the choreographed moves we do help with co-ordination.”

The Clitheroe Pop Choir is a large group, with members hailing from as far away as Yorkshire and Preston, but, as Susan jokingly points out, luckily they are all “very, very well behaved”.

Just like Rock Choir, Britain’s largest “no auditions, no need to read music” choral movement, experience isn’t necessary, just a wish to sing pop, soul and rock songs with great gusto.

As Susan writes her own musical arrangements as well as some of her own songs, running the choir is time-consuming, leaving her little time to sing herself — though she was previously a professional singer with the dance band at the Ritz hotel in Manchester and formed the now-defunct band Glory with guitarist husband Duncan.

Susan — who in true showbiz style prefers not to reveal her age — is also mother to 17-year-old drummer and St Mary’s College music performance and technology student Callum.

But Susan’s hard work is appreciated by the choir. The women — and a handful of men — all go home “on a high” after getting together with their fellow choralists, she said. “The choir is fantastic,” she said.

“Everybody is so enthusiastic and the rehearsals are always fun and lively — you get together with a group of like-minded people you probably wouldn’t otherwise have met.”

The choir has just released its first CD entitled Everybody Shine, available from Townsend Records in Clitheroe.

On Thursday, December 6, they will perform at a 1970s “school disco” night at St Michael and St John Social Centre in Clitheroe.

On Sunday, December 9, at 7pm, the choir can be seen live at the United Reform Church in Clitheroe, while they will also sing at Clitheroe Christmas Market on Saturday, December 15 at 11.30am.

  • For more information about the choir, contact Susan on 07561 531655