A fellow North-Londoner! I’m a Hampstead girl! I used to sing with a tiny choir in Belsize Park, in the 80s…
I joined the Norwich Philharmonic when they wanted new members, then they had masses of new interest and we had to re-audition and I lost my spot because I can’t sight-read. Despite never needing to sight-read because we had weeks of rehearsals and rehearsal tracks are a thing. I paid my subs and was always fully rehearsed, but got booted. Never went to one of their concerts again!!
Now I’m in a fun choir, not big-choral, we have a great laugh, it’s intensely not serious, and I just enjoy it!