A virtual choir is aiming to transform the way young girls view opportunities available to them through the art of song.
Breaking The Record choir is a new singing project for girls aged 16-25 in the Liverpool City Region. The project is aimed at bringing together young females in order to find out their ambitions and to give them a sense of empowerment.
Vocal coach Jennifer John is collaborating with Breaking The Record to make the project happen.
She said: “It’s a chance for them to really, through conversation, explore the importance of having their voices heard as girls and young women in the world.
“Because we all know there’s a gender divide and it’s about really coming to terms with who you are and what it is you’ve got to say that will make a positive difference in the world.”
Ms John had an online video call with the young women from which she will use their words to put together a song that they will then perform together virtually.
She said: “One of the questions I asked them was, what’s amazing about you? At first they really struggled to answer it because, generally, women don’t really think of themselves like that. But by the end they said what was great about them, so that was really good to hear. It was a really good transformation that took place.”
With a focus of the project on female empowerment and addressing the gender inequalities that women face, the singer-songwriter believes this is a start to bridging the gap.
She said: “A lot of people in a position of power within the music industry are usually men. And men at the top are making those decisions about what they want the industry to look like, and so within that comes how they think women should be presented.
“You don’t generally see women as producers, as lighting and sound designers. All the people that make up the infrastructure of the whole music industry. There’s a real imbalance and we need to be saying to young women, ‘look these are all the opportunities’ and provide access for ways that they can get to those opportunities. Without fear and with confidence.”
Listen to Beth Harwood’s interview with Jennifer John>>>