In 2023, The Pink Singers, London’s LGBTQ community choir, turned 40! Homemade Musical Hope Machine was commissioned as part of a number of projects and celebrations to commemorate this anniversary.

Its first performance was at Cadogan Hall, London on 20th January 2024, with piano accompaniment by John Flinders and conducted by Murray Hipkin.

The piece draws on multiple sources of material. Firstly, from the choir's rich archive of videos, images and memorabilia – from the very first sign up sheet in 1983 through to the present day. Secondly, from surveys and focus groups to understand how current members find the choir, what they have gained from it, why they belong to it, and what they would like to convey in a commissioned piece about the choir at this point in its history.

The lyrics are drawn partly from the source materials themselves, and partly from Let’s Sing, a poem by Jaie Monroe written especially for the choir and inspired by these materials.

The title Homemade Musical Hope Machine is also reference to the academic work of Dr Ben Walters (aka “Dr Duckie”) on "Homemade Mutant Hope Machines", which, in his words, describes "projects that help people without much clout build better worlds on their own terms". I think this encapsulates what The Pink Singers does quite well.

Project involvement: full piece commission

Date: January 2024

Pink Singers 40th anniversary project, Sing It Loud, Sing It Queer was supported by National Lottery Heritage Funding.