Carrie’s love affair with music began at primary school where – thanks to an amazing music teacher (that’s you, Mrs Childs!) – she was given free rein of the instruments. Playing xylophone, recorder, cello and piano, by the age of 10, she stepped in at the eleventh hour to lead the school Christmas musical on piano and at 17, was on stage supporting Gerry and the Pacemakers at Kimbolton Castle! Theatre and TV beckoned after Carrie’s performing arts degree and postgraduate diploma in musical theatre from Mountview. Her first role transported her to the wilds of Scotland in BBC period drama The Two Loves of Anthony Trollope. In the ensuing years she juggled theatre, TV and music, from singing alongside legendary Wicked composer Stephen Schwartz in Australia to teaching children whilst running Barnet Theatretrain. Finding joy in teaching, Carrie began vocal coaching adults and leading groups for Rock Choir, performing at the O2 and BBC Proms in the Park alongside Josh Groban and Michael Ball during her tenure. Carrie was finally able to fulfil her ambition of launching an all-inclusive contemporary adult pop choir, which would be collaborative in every sense. The Collaboration Choir began April 2022 in Cambridge, Huntingdon and St Neots and has since expanded as far afield as Nottingham and Derby. The soundtrack, largely chosen by members, includes uplifting pop classics, from Take That’s anthemic Never Forget to Faith Hill’s country hit There You’ll Be. Fund-raising has been a huge part of the choir’s journey, with over £10,000 raised for Dementia UK and over £15,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. For Carrie, who also has a vocal group and musical events company, seeing her ground-breaking choir unite a community of like-minded souls for singing, social activities and smiles aplenty, has been a dream. “Helping people realise that they can do things they didn’t know they could, is thrilling,” she enthuses. “Members sometimes turn up to practice feeling a bit lacklustre but as soon as the door closes, they enter a world of release, of freedom, of laughter, of music; it can be emotional, it can be silly, it can be all the things you’d want, and then they step back out feeling refreshed!”