Jane Smith moved to Louth in 1997, a small market town in Lincolnshire. She left behind in Bristol not only her family but also her other family of barbershoppers, both male and female. She missed singing, so started a mixed a cappella group in her village. Jane also kept up her singing and her love of 40s music by fronting a swing band in the area.
Until three years ago, she was travelling to Nottingham to get her ’fix’ of barbershop with Lace City. Family circumstances, however, meant that Jane found herself in sleepy rural Lincolnshire with no barbershop nearby, so she decided to ‘put on the show right here’ as the saying goes and start a brand new barbershop chorus in Louth – Zero Degrees Show Chorus – with help from daughter Becky (formerly of Lace City) and her husband Chris (musical director).
The inaugural meeting was in August 2014 and since then the chorus has grown to 33 members, chartering with Sweet Adelines International in March 2016 and competing in May at Gateshead the same year.
Jane has worked tirelessly and cheerfully as PRO, gig ‘fixer’, secretary, newsletter writer and generally holding the chorus together. Without Jane, the chorus would not have started and it would not have succeeded. The chorus has brought the barbershop sound to Louth and draws singers from all over the region. Jane is the face of the chorus and the first person new members speak to. She is welcoming, reassuring and has been invaluable to the chorus and the rest of the management team. She has a beautiful personality which shines out when she sings and shows off her front row moves. To show her passion for singing in harmony, she has even switched from baritone to bass, in order to help balance the chorus in the early days! That is dedication for you!!