Sally Mitchell, HR manager at law firm Wilson Browne Solicitors, talks to Andrew Gibbs about her love of singing and life as part of the Northants Sings Out choir that reached the final of this year's Britain's Got Talent show on ITV.
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EVER since she was a child, Sally Mitchell has loved to sing. She grew up with song – her father was a vicar – and her love of music has followed her throughout her adult life.
By day, Sally is human resources manager at Northamptonshire law firm Wilson Browne Solicitors, looking after the personnel side of the business. Out of office, her life is just as busy; one of the cub pack leaders in Brixworth and a member of the Wellingborough Community Gospel Choir.
She is also one of 65 singers chosen from the five choirs that make up Northants Sings Out who made it to the final of TV talent show Britain’s Got Talent. The choir finished in the final’s top ten but nonetheless the aftermath has been “surreal”.
Northants Sings Out has been booked to perform at a string of festivals including A Perfect Day in the grounds of Delapre Abbey, Northampton. The choir performs versions of classic songs from every genre of music, adapted by musical director Gareth Fuller.
Her fondness of song stems from her father, a vicar, who led his church choir at services and other occasions. “I have always sung in church choirs,” Sally said. “It has always been such a huge part of my life. There is something so joyful about going out into the community, performing and watching people just enjoy the music.”
Musical genes seem to ruin in the family. Sally’s parents both sung in the choir. “My brother is a very talented pianist, playing the organ in church,” Sally added. As well as her soprano voice, Sally also played the cello in her junior and secondary schools.
“I have always just loved singing. I was always in the orchestra at school because I really liked being part of something.”
She joined Wellingborough Community Gospel Choir when she and her family moved from St Albans to Northamptonshire in 2020. It is one of the five choirs across the county that make up Northants Sings Out.
The choir had been signed up for the TV show by musical director Gareth. They travelled to Manchester for the auditions, making it through to the semi-finals and final, broadcast on ITV. Among their performances were versions of religious songs, pop and R&B. The choir’s version of Madonna’s 2000 hit song Music drew the attention of the artist herself, who shared a clip of the choir’s performance with her 19.8 million followers on social media.
Sally’s family background favours the more traditional music but, as part of Northants Sings Out, she has learned another side to understanding and performing music. “Gareth keeps telling us all: ‘Don’t fight the funk’.”
Practice began only after Christmas ahead of the first recordings earlier this year. “They were songs that we know and we all know how Gareth works. We go to concerts and he gives us the first note of the song and we just know exactly what we are doing. Then there is the choreography which we have to learn too.
‘Gareth is an absolute legend, such a creative and wonderful man but so humble with it”
The Britain’s Got Talent journey required support from Sally’s family and colleagues at Wilson Browne. “They have all been amazing,” she said.
“A lot of the practice take place in the evenings and at weekends but it has been full on and I have needed a couple of days off, which Wilson Browne have been great about.
“My husband has been amazing too – I can’t thank them all enough”
Reflecting on Northants Sings Out’s success on Britain’s Got Talent, she added:
“It still gives me goosebumps and that is the joy of music. It takes you to another place.”
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