Voice Junction Choir: More Than Just Singing
Rocklands-based choir, Voice Junction, has been going from strength to strength since its inception in autumn 2021.
The musical genius behind it, Jane, has kindly agreed to answer some questions for us.
Q. Firstly, a huge thank you for giving up your time today to speak to us. Could you tell us what Voice Junction choir is?
A. Voice Junction choir is a singing group for children/teenagers aimed at building vocal, confidence and performing skills in a nurturing environment. At the heart of it is an enjoyment of coming together and making music whilst treating each member as an individual on their own singing journey.
Q. What motivated you to set it up?
A. As a Secondary Music and singing teacher for 30 years, it had always been my dream to set up a children’s choir in our area. As a busy single mum to 3 boys, I never quite found the right time. Then my youngest son, Ollie, started to show a real interest in pursuing singing in groups. I started looking, but everything was either too expensive or not quite what we were looking for. I also lost my brother and musical mentor in summer 2021 which gave me the jolt that life is too short to wait for the right time and that I should just ‘go for it’.
I wanted to start something accessible that Ollie and his friends could join and that could offer performance opportunities both in and out of our area.
Q. It seems as though you come from a musical family and that has continued with your son, Ollie. Did your other two sons inherit the musical gene as well?
A. They’ve all grown up playing something. Henry played guitar and clarinet and Jasper the drums. They love and enjoy music, but football proved to be a greater passion. I felt that it was important to provide them with musical opportunities but also to let them decide if it was something that they wanted to continue with. Not every child will want to pursue it however there’s no doubt that just the process of learning and music-making has a beneficial effect on their development.
Q. What’s been your highlight of the choir so far?
A. The highlight for me is genuinely every week seeing those smiling faces and the pride that the students feel when we’ve sung together and had one of those ‘magic moments’ where it just sounds amazing. I am also loving the opportunity to watch the individual students grow as people and as singers, I’m really grateful to be part of that journey.
In terms of performing highlights, performing at The Market Cross in Bury St Edmunds with my ex-student Steven Yallop was awesome. Our recent ‘Night at the Movies’ concert at The Banham Barrel was also amazing. There was a point where I looked at them all stood there and thought “Wow! Look how far they’ve come!”
Q. What are your plans for the future of Voice Junction?
A. Voice Junction is going from strength to strength. We have two performances at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds next term as well as our own Christmas Showcase at The Banham Barrel. The students will be working on their own individual solos as well as my choir arrangements and some will be entered for singing exams. The ‘Seniors’ have now been renamed the ‘Elites’ in recognition of their progress and the hope is that the ‘Juniors’ will feed through to that group as they get older. Most of all I’d just like the Voice Junction family to continue to be the happy and friendly group that it is with us all enjoying and feeling proud of the great music that we make
Q. So, if anyone local to Rocklands/Attleborough wants to know more, how do they get in touch?
A. They can contact me on j.n.sayer@googlemail.com or via our Facebook group Voice Junction Choir.
We also received some information from parents of Voice Junction students, which we are keen to share with you.
Carly: Jane is an extraordinary choir teacher at Voice Junction. As a parent of a student, Rumi, who has been attending for just one semester, I have been deeply impressed by the positive impact Jane has had on Rumi’s musical journey and personal growth.
From the very beginning, Rumi has been enamored with Voice Junction, and this can be attributed to Jane’s exceptional teaching skills and nurturing personality. Under Jane’s guidance, Rumi’s passion for music has flourished, and her self-confidence has blossomed tremendously in such a short period of time. It is remarkable to witness how a six-year-old like Rumi can now perform solo in front of an audience with great poise and grace.
One of the many remarkable qualities of Jane is her ability to connect with the children on a personal level, allowing them to feel comfortable and at ease. She encourages them to embrace their unique personalities and express themselves freely, no matter how wild or enthusiastic they might be (as Rumi often is!). Yet, Jane also possesses the remarkable skill of gently guiding them and channeling their exuberance into their performances, bringing out the best in each child.
I have had the chance to interact with other parents at Voice Junction, and it is heartening to know that my sentiments about Jane are shared by every other parent whose child is under her tutelage. Her dedication to nurturing young talents, her brilliant teaching techniques, and her genuine love for music make her an exceptional mentor.
In conclusion, I cannot emphasize enough how grateful I am for the positive impact Jane has had on Rumi’s musical journey and overall development. Her passion, talent, and ability to inspire young minds are truly commendable, and I believe that she plays an integral role in shaping the musical future of the children at Voice Junction. I wholeheartedly support Jane as an outstanding choir teacher, and I am confident that she will continue to inspire and nurture young talents for years to come.
Lisa: Amelia has improved so much since starting with Jane at Voice Junction. Jane has worked hard with her to find her true voice, and it’s been wonderful to see her sing in a variety of performances. Jane is knowledgeable and so helpful, especially when Amelia was singing at the Norfolk Show. Jane gave her the advice and support she needed even though the performance was through a different group. She’s invested in her students and it shows.

Amelia
Jessica: Mia started Voice Junction at the beginning of 2022. She has always had a passion for singing and being a little performer around the house from a very young age which she gets that from her performer uncle, but I had struggled to find a group that was just singing. Most groups include dancing and acting too which Mia didn’t really want to do, so Voice Junction was absolutely perfect.

Mia
Jane is an amazing lady who has such passion to help all the children in the group excel and she has been so encouraging towards Mia. When Mia has been nervous, she has given her the gentle pushes that she needed, and her confidence has grown immensely over the last 18 months! What started off as a few tears and jitters before a show is now pure joy and excitement as she can’t wait to perform, and her voice has become so much stronger too. Mia adores Jane and she is looking forward to all the exciting things Voice Junction has planned very soon!