WRoCAH AHRC Collaborative Doctoral Award – "Sing together, eat together and build our choir together": An investigation of the balance of socio-musical factors shaping the experiences of members of choirs for people affected by homelessness

Session 2023 - Closing Date 17:00 (UK time) 8 March 2023

Before applying for this studentship, ensure you read the requirements on the WRoCAH website.

Award provides fees and maintenance at UKRI Rates (£17,668 in Session 2022/23) plus £550 enhancement per annum.

This is a AHRC WRoCAH funded Collaborative Doctoral Award between School of Music, University of Leeds and Choir with No Name.

Questions of identity and belonging are vital to homeless people suffering from stigmatisation and exclusion. The Choir with No Name runs choirs for people affected by homelessness, and this collaborative project will investigate the tripartite relationship between wellbeing, community, and musical interaction for its members.

Weekly rehearsals are structured around a chat, rehearsal and hot meal. Beyond the provision of shelter and the ability to connect with others, there is a need to understand how the musical interaction contributes to the choir members' experience. Research on the wellbeing effects of group singing has largely neglected how musical goals are defined and navigated. There is a need to understand how people feel during music-making:

Macro/meso level:

• How do aspects of relational choir organisation and musical interaction affect participants' sense of belonging, identity, empowerment and wellbeing within different settings?

Micro level:

• What happens within musical interactions with respect to singers' subjective sense of connection to others and the extent to which different musical goals are achieved?

Additional questions:

• What are the socio-affective correlates and musical goals associated with different models of organisation?
• What is the importance of singing together to achieve the Choir with No Name's mission of empowerment?

The CDA partnership will:

• contribute insights into the relational dynamics within a co-produced choir as compared to a 'traditional' choir, and implications for both musical and social outcomes
• explore the impact of the Choir with No Name's work
• enable the organisation to join wider policy conversations and campaigns
• create new evidence of the ways in which musical and social components of group singing support health and wellbeing, and recovery from homelessness
• support the setting up and delivery of new choir communities in Yorkshire

Engagement, outreach, dissemination and impact:

1. The studentship will contribute to the Choir with No Name's sharing of learning with other relevant organisations.
2. You will be encouraged to present findings at academic, arts and homelessness conferences.
3. You will be involved in developing the organisation's impact report.
4. The Choir with No Name are developing a training course for community choir leaders across the UK to create inclusive choirs. Your findings are expected to contribute to this programme, with the opportunity for you to gain experience in the development of training.

For further project information contact Dr Freya Bailes

Information about how to apply contact the Postgraduate Admissions team

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