The Experience    James Sills    FAQ    

TURN YOUR
AUDIENCE INTO A
CHOIR.

One room.
One voice.
One unforgettable shared experience.
Bring it to your event →
Energy   ●   Connection   ●   Trust   ●   Participation   ●   Belonging
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The audience isn’t here to watch.They’re here to take part.

James Sills leading an Olympus conference audienceConference audience singing together

Change the energy of the room in minutes. ↓

BOOK THIS FOR YOUR CONFERENCE →

The science of singing.

01

WAKE UP.

Singing is active, embodied participation. You have to listen, respond and engage.

02

FEEL GOOD.

Group singing is associated with positive mood and the body's social-bonding systems.

03

CONNECT FASTER.

Research suggests singing together can accelerate social bonding between strangers — the Icebreaker Effect ↗.

That’s The Choir Effect.
The thinking behind the experience

Experience The Choir Effect.

Conference Choir brings the ideas behind James Sills' forthcoming book The Choir Effect to life: trust, participation, synchrony and belonging — experienced together, in real time.

BRING CONFERENCE CHOIR TO YOUR EVENT →

What people say.

Saatchi & Saatchi

“I don’t think I have ever experienced a greater transformation.”

Olympus

“James possesses the ability to engage and involve everyone. The outcome was outstanding.”

ASDA

“An inspiring individual who will leave your teams on a high.”

Barratt Redrow

“The energy flowing after your session left people feeling inspired.”

The Do Lectures

“James brings the magic.”

James Sills speaking on stage at an event
Meet your choirstarter

James Sills

James Sills is an award-winning musician, author, speaker and choirstarter whose work explores the power of collective singing to build connection and belonging.

For more than two decades, he has brought people together through singing — from conferences and workplaces to festivals, communities and football stadiums. He has worked with organisations including Coca-Cola, Lloyds Banking Group and the NHS, creating shared experiences designed to build trust, energy and human connection.

James is a TEDx speaker and the author of Do Sing: Reclaim Your Voice. Find Your Singing Tribe. His next book, The Choir Effect: How to Build Trust, Connection and Belonging in a Fragmented World, explores what the experience of singing together can teach us about creating stronger groups and communities.

He founded The Sofa Singers in 2020, bringing together singers from around the world and receiving a UK Government Points of Light Award. He is also musical director of Bantam of the Opera, the choir of Bradford City supporters whose journey has taken them from the terraces to performances for King Charles III, BBC Sports Personality of the Year and Wembley Stadium.

His work has featured across BBC television and radio, NBC and the national press.

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Before you
ask...

Everything event organisers usually want to know about turning a roomful of delegates into a choir.

Do people need to be able to sing?
Not at all. Conference Choir is designed for everyone, including people who insist they “can’t sing”. There are no auditions, no preparation and no previous experience required. James makes it easy, inclusive and — most importantly — fun.
How many people can take part?
From an intimate leadership gathering to an auditorium of 1,500+ delegates. The principles are the same: get people participating quickly and turn a roomful of individuals into one connected group.
How long does a Conference Choir experience last?
Anything from a 15–20 minute conference energiser to a longer 45–60 minute experience or a multi-day programme. James can also weave short singing interventions throughout a conference, using them to lift or reset the energy of the room and build towards a collective finale.
What actually happens?
James gets the audience singing together — often in harmony — surprisingly quickly. Through humour, simple musical building blocks and lots of participation, delegates experience the shift from “me” to “we” in real time.
What songs do you use?
Familiar, uplifting songs that people can pick up quickly. The repertoire can be tailored to the audience, location, conference theme or desired atmosphere. No lyric sheets or music-reading required.
What AV or equipment do you need?
Usually very little beyond the conference's existing AV setup. For larger events, James will work with your production team in advance to make sure everything is technically straightforward.
Where does Conference Choir fit into the programme?
Almost anywhere. It can open a conference, energise an audience after lunch, reset the room between sessions, accompany a keynote or create a memorable finale. It can also become a thread running throughout the event.
Can it connect with our conference theme or objectives?
Absolutely. The experience can be designed around themes including connection, belonging, trust, leadership, communication, wellbeing and collaboration. James will work with your team beforehand to understand what you want delegates to experience.
Is this a performance or entertainment act?
Not really — because your audience is the choir. James isn't there simply to perform at delegates. He creates an experience with them. It's participatory, joyful and grounded in the psychology of human connection.
Will people feel uncomfortable or be forced to participate?
Nobody is singled out or made to sing alone. The emphasis is on creating a psychologically safe environment where participation feels inviting rather than compulsory. Even the sceptics have a habit of joining in.
Our delegates won't expect to sing. Will this actually work?
That's part of what makes it work. A room can go from uncertainty and nervous laughter to hundreds of people singing together in harmony remarkably quickly. The transformation is the experience.
What will our delegates get from it?
Energy and enjoyment, certainly — but something deeper too. Singing together creates an immediate experience of connection, trust, participation and belonging. It's what James calls The Choir Effect.
Can Conference Choir work with an international audience?
Yes. James has led singing experiences with people from around the world. Songs and delivery can be chosen specifically for an international audience, with participation designed to transcend language barriers wherever possible.
Do you work outside the UK?
Yes. James works internationally and has delivered large-scale singing experiences and events in the UK, Europe, United States and Asia.
Can Conference Choir be combined with a keynote?
Yes — and this is one of the most distinctive options. James can combine an experiential Conference Choir with his keynote work on connection and belonging, allowing delegates not only to hear about the ideas but to experience them together.
How much does Conference Choir cost?
Every event is different, so fees depend on the format, audience size, location and level of customisation. Tell us about your conference and we'll put together the right experience for your event.

Got an event in mind?

LET'S MAKE YOUR AUDIENCE SING →

One room.
One voice.

Bring Conference Choir to your event →