Dawn Chorus

There are seven of them. They sing. Their names are Dawn. They are BBC Radio Devon's Dawn Chorus.

For many, the dawn chorus is characterised by early morning birdsong. Robin appears as does Jenny Wren, but BBC Radio Devon asked Dawn for a chorus too, as part of the BBC's Dawn Chorus season.

Following an appeal on radio and online, BBC Radio Devon's Dawn Chorus became a singing group of seven women, all called Dawn.

Aged between 22 and 68, the seven singing Dawns come from all over Devon.

One Dawn only sang in the shower, another is a member of an award-winning women's barbershop choir. Yet the Dawns responded to the appeal for women of the same name to come together to sing.

The Dawns recording in the BBC Radio Devon studio

"I was asked whether I was a Dawn and whether I could sing. I said yes, and that I sang in the bath," said Dawn Kingston.

For Dawn Sherrell, curiosity got the better of her: "I heard the appeal a couple of times on the radio and just wanted to find out what it was about."

The Dawn Chorus met for two singing rehearsals with Buckfastleigh voice coach, Sandra Smith and then recorded two songs.

 "I've just recorded a song with six other women called Dawn. I thought it would be fun, and it has!" said Dawn Crawford.

Voice coach Sandra Smith and guitarist Steve King

Another of the Dawns, Dawn Melville, said it was a completely new experience: "I've never sung before. It's been frightening, but it's been great fun."

The singers of BBC Radio Devon's Dawn Chorus are Dawn Sherrell (Tavistock), Dawn Kingston (Liskeard), Dawn Gingell (Yealmpton), Dawn Wall (Torquay), Dawn Crawford (Teignmouth), Dawn Melville (Plymouth) and Dawn Prince-White (Plymouth).

There was one obvious advantage to all these strangers coming together: "It's lovely. You don't have to remember anyone's name," explained Dawn Gingell.

The two songs performed by the Dawns were, aptly, Good Day Sunshine by the Beatles and Brand New Day by Wren Music's Marilyn Tucker and Paul Wilson.

The story of the making of this Dawn Chorus will be broadcast on BBC Radio Devon's breakfast show on Thursday 1 May 2008 and their recording can be heard on Friday 2 May.

You can also listen to the Dawns using the audio links on this page.

The Dawns in the top photo are, left to right: Dawn Prince-White, Dawn Crawford, Dawn Gingell (front), Dawn Melville, Dawn Kingston, Dawn Sherrell, Dawn Wall.