It is still mandatory to wear a mask in a place of worship, along with cinemas, galleries and museums (and may be for some time). (2)

At Singers for Funerals, we decided to do our own tests to determine if wearing a cloth face covering / face mask would in any way affect:

• our ability to sing
• the clarity and volume of our voices

(We use the term ‘face mask’ to cover all kinds of face coverings that are neither a tied scarf nor medical grade PPE.)

Music at a funeral service is often one of the first things to be discussed, as music has a great effect on people’s emotions.

Choosing music for a funeral can seem a daunting task, as you can have almost any type of music you wish at a funeral. Don’t feel pressured by this thought. Take time to consider if the deceased had favourite songs, hymns or instrumental music they loved. These pieces of music would add a greater meaning to the service, rather than just the first thing that come to mind.

At Singers for Funerals, we often sing for Catholic funerals, including both simple and full mass services. Indeed, soprano Toni is the soloist of choice for several Catholic churches in Hampshire, and in particular the Southampton/Portsmouth areas.

So far this year we've sung over 100 individual songs and hymns for funerals, burials and memorials services.

​As you would expect, this total includes some of the most popular items, including:

When you’re organising a funeral, there isn’t always a lot of time to investigate lots of options for the service. So, you (and many families like you) may not even realise you can have live music at a funerals service. And that applies to the songs you and your loved one enjoyed, not just the hymns.

So, why would you choose to have live music? Here’s five reasons that families have told us.

​Singing at funerals across southern England does ensure we sing in many different types of venues. The contrast in venues is sometimes very marked, but as professional opera singers we're able adjust our voices to suit each venue accordingly.

Unchained Melody was originally written for ‘Unchained’, a 1954 movie about life in prison. In the movie an inmate sings about time passing so slowly when you’re locked up wanting to be with the girl you love.  

This song has surprised us by being a popular request for funerals. Not usual for opera.
Lascia ch'io pianga (Let me weep)

One of the skills you learn at music college as a student of singing is to suit your voice to the music, and that includes volume. Singing a song with piano is obviously different to singing an aria with orchestra, for example. However, it;'s only experience that teaches you the art of self-regulating and adjusting your voice to different spaces as well. And it's not always about the size of the space either.