19 Jun 2025 Community

Huddersfield University students help The Kirkwood Chorus create their own song

Every Friday from November 2024 to April 2025, a group of music students from the University of Huddersfield walked into Brian Jackson House in Huddersfield and The Kirkwood Chorus group, not just to perform, but to listen, collaborate, and connect. 

What started as a placement module soon turned into something much more, the creation of an original song co-written with The Kirkwood Chorus, a group made up of patients, families, and community members.

For third-year student Lydia, studying Pop Music, the opportunity was both unexpected and deeply fulfilling.

She said: “There’s a placement module about professional skills, and that’s where Mary approached us and said, ‘Is there anyone who wants to come and help with this?’I've found it really fulfilling, because obviously it’s blending music with people feeling better and enjoying themselves. I stand at the front, and I see everyone, and they’re just all happy. It’s nice to see.”

Lydia helps lead vocal warm-ups and guides the group during rehearsals alongside fellow student Joey, who brought both musicality and energy to the project.

He said: “My role is mostly to do my best to learn the songs and try to project my voice, to give a guideline for everyone to follow. I’ve enjoyed being connected with the group and the project it’s been lovely seeing them leave the room smiling.”

The project was introduced by Mary Tyrrell Place from The Kirkwood, whose simple invitation sparked a creative journey.

She said: “It has been such an honour and a privilege to work alongside the university students. Their creativity and talent completely blew me away, they really did the University of Huddersfield and themselves proud.”

A key part of the students’ approach was to let The Kirkwood Chorus take the lead in crafting the lyrics.

“The method we wanted to do was to try and have them as the lyricists,” explained Leo, who studies Popular Music and Recording.

Continuing: “We created groups, got them to just talk about some of the factors in their life and why they enjoy this time together. We sat them all into separate groups, noted down what they were saying and like a jigsaw puzzle put the pieces together to make a song.”

The result was something both collaborative and meaningful.

“We all helped build the lyrics up,” Leo said, “but they did 90% of the work when it comes to the lyrical part, it’s amazing.”

Kyle, a pianist and final-year student in Music and Sound for Film, found himself drawn in far deeper than he anticipated.

He said: “Initially, I was there to play piano, that was it, but as the weeks went by and I became more involved, I started to realise how much more it was than just performing.

“One of the best parts of being involved in the Kirkwood Chorus has been the relationships, it’s about connection and community.

“There’s this stigma around the word ‘hospice’, people hear it and immediately think of fear or loss. But what I’ve come to understand is that The Kirkwood is about so much more than that. It’s about helping people live as fully as they can, with dignity and support.”

Even the music students learned new skills in the process.

“The whole process of building up to recording our song has been great,” said Josh, a Music Technology and Composition student.

“I haven’t done much lyrical songwriting before, it’s just not my wheelhouse, so it’s been really fun working in a collaborative group. We’ve had an absolute blast doing it. Everyone’s been really into the choices we’ve made.”

Josh also reflected on the emotional weight of what the group created: “We’ve had people tell us this is the best hour of their week. That’s such a lovely thing to hear, but also bittersweet when you think about what that might mean for the rest of their time.”

The experience offered a glimpse into music’s power beyond performance, something that left a mark on all of them.

He said: “This experience is definitely part of the therapy side,” said Lydia. “It’s a good insight into how you’re helping people through the love of music. It’s really inspired me.”

Leo agreed: “Music has always been a part of my life and it helps me get through a lot of things. So helping people get through it with music as well, it’s amazing.”

Kyle shared a personal reflection: “If you’d asked me at the start whether I thought I’d get this emotionally involved, I probably would’ve laughed and said no. I didn’t expect it to be so fulfilling, to feel like I was part of something truly meaningful.”

As the project wrapped with the group’s final performance, the students carried away more than just a mark on their placement.

“I’d love to be a musician, obviously,” said Leo. “Influencing some music therapy techniques, that’s something I’ve always been interested in as well.”

Josh plans to return to Worksop and begin his journey in music and work. Kyle dreams of composing soundtracks for film. Lydia may head to the stage or a cruise ship but the therapy path is calling too.

Whatever their direction, the memories of The Kirkwood Chorus will echo. As Mary put it: “Be so proud of yourselves and what you have achieved. You all have unique talents and are all destined for great things.” 

Check out The Kirkwood Chorus song HERE!