Sometimes the most beautiful music doesn't come from hitting perfect notes—it comes from the courage to sing anyway. That's the philosophy behind tuneless choirs, and Sharon Marnell is bringing this wonderful movement to Vancouver Island, opening doors for anyone who's ever been told they can't carry a tune.

Marnell's journey into tuneless choirs began in the most unexpected way: while soaking in a public jacuzzi in England, treating two frozen shoulders. As she sang to herself, another woman arrived and delivered an intriguing compliment: "You sing nicely. You couldn't join our choir." The woman explained she belonged to a tuneless choir—specifically for people who aren't good singers. Marnell was fascinated.

With her background in music and teaching, Marnell went on to establish her own tuneless choir in England, then a second, and a third. The growth was remarkable. "We went from a couple people singing in the hall to 110 people performing at a music festival," she recalls with evident pride.

The tuneless choir concept was born in January 2016 in West Bridgford, England, when Nadine Cooper, who desperately loved to sing despite lacking traditional vocal talent, approached local choir leader Bernie Bracha with an idea. Could they create a choir for people who couldn't hold a tune? The answer was a resounding yes, and today over 30 tuneless choirs thrive across England. The movement has grown so much that a special weekend retreat is planned for February 2026 to celebrate the 10-year anniversary.

The secret to why these choirs work is delightfully simple. "As long as some people are hitting the right note, it sounds good," Marnell explains. "Sort of like when people sing along at a concert." The experience mirrors the communal joy we all feel when singing together at events—imperfect but genuine.

What Marnell witnessed during her time leading these choirs moved her deeply. "Many of the members avoided singing for decades because someone told them they were tone deaf," she shares. "But joining in with tuneless, that didn't matter. They sang their hearts out, they laughed endlessly, they formed real friendships. It was life changing."

After moving to Canada in 2024, Marnell knew she had to share this gift with her new community. She's launching two choirs on Vancouver Island—one in Langford and another in Sidney. Her invitation is warmly inclusive: "If you love music, if you sing in the shower, if you've been told you sound terrible, you're exactly who we want. You don't need any musical ability at all."

These choirs won't focus on learning music theory or being assigned vocal parts. Instead, they'll sing radio hits and showtunes—songs people already know and love—allowing everyone to simply belt out the lyrics with abandon. "We sing, we dance, we have loads of energy," Marnell says enthusiastically.

The goal isn't perfection or performance—it's joy, confidence, and connection. There are no auditions and no experience required. Just a love of music and the willingness to share that love with others who feel the same way. In a world that often demands perfection, tuneless choirs remind us that sometimes the best thing we can do is simply make a joyful noise together.