Meet our members
Here is the first of a series of interviews with Tonic members in which they explain what Tonic means to them.
Mother and daughter sing together
For some a night out with your mum wouldn’t be top of the agenda. But mother and daughter Lynda Shane and Mandy Popeck wouldn’t have it any other way since they both became members of local choir, Tonic.
“I got involved with the choir soon after it started” explains Mandy. “It was always something that interested me and I started going along with a friend. I often talked about it with Mum, telling her about the places we had performed and how enjoyable the rehearsals were. She was always really supportive.”
After a while, Mandy encouraged her Mum to join her in the choir. “I had noticed that after Dad died, Mum would always be busy in the day but could sometimes find the nights lonely. The group couldn’t be more friendly and it’s always so uplifting. Even if you have felt miserable during the day, you always leave rehearsals feeling so positive. I knew it would be an ideal hobby for her.”
Lynda agrees. “We were always singing as a family and knew all the show tunes. I really enjoy going. As well as singing popular music we’re also singing pieces I would never normally aspire to. It’s wonderful”. The choir only perform non religious songs, so the ladies could be singing anything from Mozart to the Mamas and the Papas.
The mother and daughter always sit together, and both sing Alto. “Mandy is pitch perfect, but I sometimes find I drift off into the melody” admits Lynda. “She can read music, and I can’t, but that doesn’t matter as a lot of members aren’t able to do that.”
The ladies have also had some amazing, life changing performing opportunities with Tonic. Mandy was part of the choir which performed for the Queen for her recent Jubilee, and the choir has had the chance to sing at the Royal Festival Hall, Bentley Priory and the Roundhouse, as well as flashmobs and festivals.
“I think one of the most spine tingling moments was performing at Elliot Hall in Hatch End” said Mandy. We hit the last note of the Rhythm of Life and the audience erupted. It was fantastic.”
So, would they recommend keeping it in the family? “Absolutely. Sharing this with my daughter is lovely” said Lynda. “We couldn’t be closer.”
For some a night out with your mum wouldn’t be top of the agenda. But mother and daughter Lynda Shane and Mandy Popeck wouldn’t have it any other way since they both became members of local choir, Tonic.
“I got involved with the choir soon after it started” explains Mandy. “It was always something that interested me and I started going along with a friend. I often talked about it with Mum, telling her about the places we had performed and how enjoyable the rehearsals were. She was always really supportive.”
After a while, Mandy encouraged her Mum to join her in the choir. “I had noticed that after Dad died, Mum would always be busy in the day but could sometimes find the nights lonely. The group couldn’t be more friendly and it’s always so uplifting. Even if you have felt miserable during the day, you always leave rehearsals feeling so positive. I knew it would be an ideal hobby for her.”
Lynda agrees. “We were always singing as a family and knew all the show tunes. I really enjoy going. As well as singing popular music we’re also singing pieces I would never normally aspire to. It’s wonderful”. The choir only perform non religious songs, so the ladies could be singing anything from Mozart to the Mamas and the Papas.
The mother and daughter always sit together, and both sing Alto. “Mandy is pitch perfect, but I sometimes find I drift off into the melody” admits Lynda. “She can read music, and I can’t, but that doesn’t matter as a lot of members aren’t able to do that.”
The ladies have also had some amazing, life changing performing opportunities with Tonic. Mandy was part of the choir which performed for the Queen for her recent Jubilee, and the choir has had the chance to sing at the Royal Festival Hall, Bentley Priory and the Roundhouse, as well as flashmobs and festivals.
“I think one of the most spine tingling moments was performing at Elliot Hall in Hatch End” said Mandy. We hit the last note of the Rhythm of Life and the audience erupted. It was fantastic.”
So, would they recommend keeping it in the family? “Absolutely. Sharing this with my daughter is lovely” said Lynda. “We couldn’t be closer.”