ROCK Choir, which traces its origins to Farnham and has grown to become the UK’s largest contemporary choir, is offering a chance to beat the winter blues this month by taking part in a free ‘Get Happy’ taster session.

A recent experiment conducted by BBC’s Trust Me I’m a Doctor found Rock Choir members, of which there are almost 30,000 nationwide, experienced a dramatic rise of 40 per cent in endocannabinoids, the ‘happy’ chemicals released in our brain, after taking part in a Rock Choir session.

This significant result was compared to just 20 per cent up-lift after they had taken part in dancing and cycling and should have a profound effect on the way our well-being and mental health is supported from now on.

Farnham, Guildford and Godalming Rock Choir leader, Thomas George said: “I regularly receive personal communication from members who claim their journey in Rock Choir has improved their lives or helped them in various ways to recover from personal issues and trauma.

“Singing is such a wonderful tonic – we always laugh, we always have fun in our session. We have lots of varying levels of abilities, there’s no pressure, no need to read music, no need to audition, it’s just fun!”

Rock Choir members are offered a wide variety of social and performance events and can get involved in as much as they like from the busy Rock Choir calendar.

Farnham ‘Rockies’ recently performed at Guildford Cathedral to help raise awareness and much-needed funds for charity Age UK Surrey, and many also travelled to London’s Hyde Park in September to take part in a special BBC/Rock Choir flash mob at the iconic Proms in the Park.

Drawing an audience of 40,000 it was the largest flash mob ever witnessed in the UK with more than 12,500 Rock Choir members from across the UK taking part.

Rock Choir was founded in Farnham in 2005 by musician and singer Caroline Redman Lusher, and was the first choir in the UK to offer the general public the chance to sing pop and chart songs with no entry audition and no requirements to read music or have any previous singing experience.

Rock Choir always welcomes new members. To book a free taster session, visit rockchoir.com or call 01252 714276.