Ross residents were in for a musical treat at St Mary’s Parish Church on Wednesday, February 12 as Sing out Strong held one of their quick sing sessions.

Emma Rowland has been a choir conductor for 18 years, and recently set up ‘Sing out Strong’, the UK’s first family of wellbeing choirs and social-singing groups.

The group hold a quick sing session at St Mary’s Church once a month on a Wednesday.

Working in partnership with the charity MIND in Herefordshire, Emma set up ‘Sing out Strong’ in a bid to help raise awareness of mental health and the benefits - both socially and mentally - that singing can bring.

Emma herself was diagnosed with depression and anxiety in 2018, and spoke to the Ross Gazette about her plans for the group.

She said: “I know through my experience that music has been a huge motivation and inspiration for me to get up and out of bed in the morning, and given the number of people who struggle with their mental health I just felt that there was an opportunity to help others through choir-singing.”

Emma runs a number of regular evening choirs around Herefordshire including choirs in Hereford, Leominster and Cinderford, as well as her quick sing sessions which are more informal and focus as much on socialisation as singing.

She will soon be launching a new male choir in Ross, ‘Men of Ross’ which will run on Tuesday evenings twice a month.

Speaking about her new venture, Emma said: “With all of the choirs I run the common theme is the women outnumbering the men. I’ve noticed in Ross that there are very few choirs or groups where men can go to sing.

‘‘Coming from Wales where there is such a strong historical and cultural tie to music and choir-singing, I hope to encourage men to come along and experience first-hand the benefits of choir-singing.”

For more information visit www.singoutstrong.co.uk or visit them on Facebook @SingOutStrongWellbeing