What does it really take to lead hundreds of everyday voices into a single, confident sound—and keep joy at the centre week after week? We sit down with Scotland-based Rock Choir leader and arranger Jen Bonnar to unpack the craft behind community singing that changes lives. From a childhood in classical choirs to careers in electronics engineering and learning and development, Jen’s unusual path built the clarity, empathy and stagecraft she now brings to multiple choirs across the west of Scotland.

Jen opens up about the moment she first stepped onto the podium to cover a gospel choir in need, how staying a choir member sharpened her instincts as a leader, and why she designs rehearsals where mistakes are not only allowed but welcomed. We dig into the practicals: teaching choreography as a memory tool, anticipating cues so large groups feel safe, and shaping warm-ups that prime singers for dynamics, blend and diction in the songs that follow. She shares frank tactics for handling low-energy rooms, shifting plans on the fly, and using specific praise that actually drives improvement.

The stories soar too. Recording at Abbey Road—complete with Beatles lore and spine-tingling playback—shows how big moments can lift ordinary singers to extraordinary performances. Arena-scale shows with 15,000 Rock Choir voices and guest artists like Emeli Sandé and Sam Ryder deliver the thrill of shared sound at massive scale, while care homes, high streets and charity runs reveal the heart of community music-making. And yes, we laugh through live-performance chaos: rogue trolleys, a reversing car, and Santa’s sleigh cutting off the conductor. Through it all runs Jen’s core message: lead with clear signals, generous humour and unwavering belief in your singers.

If you care about choir direction, community music, rehearsal design or simply how to help people feel brave enough to sing out, this conversation will meet you where you are and lift you a little higher. Listen, share with a fellow director, and leave a review so more choir leaders can find us.

Find Jen Bonnar:

https://rockchoir.com/choirleaders/jen-bonnar/https://rockchoir.com/locations-choir-leaders/https://rockchoir.com/https://www.facebook.com/Rock.Choir.Jen.Bonnar/Contact the Studio

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Find Russell Scott:

Website: russellscott.org Instagram: @russellscottofficial Facebook: facebook.com/russellscottofficial X: @russellscottuk (c) Russell Scott 2026. All rights reserved.

Id. d’épisode : 1000753533729

GUID : Buzzsprout-18790543

Date de publication : 4/3/2026 à 21:00:00