Stef Conner, director of Surrey-based Timeline Songs, explains why the business should win the innovation in funding category of the Guardian Small Business Showcase competition.
I am a composer, singer and musician with a passion for music, history and ancient languages, from the classical tradition through jazz, folk and beyond.
I set up Timeline Songs in 2014, which involved starting a choir from scratch to produce inspiring, accessible singing events in beautiful historical venues.
The funding raised so far has all depended on my ability to be innovative and use my musical talents. I needed to raise awareness about my idea in the local area in Surrey, and I so joined in ‘come and sing’ events run by the National Trust. These helped me raise the money to market and set up the new choir and gave potential members a taster of what the choir would be like. It ultimately supplied most of the members of the new choir.
We have put on several successful performances, and my next goal was to raise money to record a professional CD featuring the choir and professional singers. We ran an auction event at the local pub where we rehearse. The choir and members of the public raised £1,000. That, along with monies raised by performances, has enabled us to record the CD and it should be released in time for Christmas.
All entries which meet the competition criteria are published and our judging panel select a shortlist of the three for each category. Winners are announced at an awards ceremony in summer 2016.
