Northern Lights, a beautiful Choral CD, musicAlly describing the visuAlly awesome natural event in Norway.    the music by Young contemporary Norwegian composer, Ola Gjeilo, has been recorded by Chandos and the Phoenix Choir.  It has alr...

Voyces, a 20- piece ensemble of Young adult choristers, was formed with the aim of performing a chAllenging, quality mix of contemporary and traditional choral music. Members saw the need for a name which reflected their distinctive sound and musical obje...  moreVoyces, a 20- piece ensemble of Young adult choristers, was formed with the aim of performing a chAllenging, quality mix of contemporary and traditional choral music. Members saw the need for a name which reflected their distinctive sound and musical objectives. they chose Voyces – a uniting image, powerful in its simplicity, a word with a bit of a twist, reflecting the eclectic and often unusual repertoire of the choir. In using the archaic spelling – ‘Voyces’ – the choir acknowledges thousands of years of rich choral tradition whilst establishing itself in the 21st century choral landscape. the choir is fast making a name for itself premiering works never before heard in Perth or in fact the world. Voyces seeks to be an interactive and involved performing group in the local WA and wider Australian musical community. As a strong supporter of emerging Young composers and Australian composers, Voyces showcases their works on a regular basis.  less

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   OccasionAlly I give questionnaires to choir members in order to get feedback on how People are finding the weekly sessions, what songs they like best, how ...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] A while back I went to a workshop run by the amazing Su Hart who has spent around 25 years working with the Baka People of Central Africa. Living in the ra...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] With far fewer People around at the moment, I am starting to hear things that I don’t normAlly notice. It made me realise that in our usuAlly busy dail...

[the views expressed in this blog are from my personal experiences from almost 30 years of leading non-auditioned community choirs in the UK, as well as adult singing workshops. My focus is on teaching by ear using a repertoire of songs from traditions ac...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   And I mean English … not Irish or Welsh or Scottish. How is it possible to have an unplanned, spontaneous and genuine gathering of People who sing t...

With a clear start to my groggy day, i reminisce on the wedding the day before thinking how lovely it was to see my friend happily married and content. People had been gracious with the kind words regarding my music for the ceremony and I was grateful for...

the 1607 Ensemble is a closely-knit vocal quartet that was selected as Young artists at the Brighton Early Music Festival in 2007, and has gone on to perform in festivals throughout the UK and internationAlly in Utrecht and Capri. they have been featured ...  morethe 1607 Ensemble is a closely-knit vocal quartet that was selected as Young artists at the Brighton Early Music Festival in 2007, and has gone on to perform in festivals throughout the UK and internationAlly in Utrecht and Capri. they have been featured on BBC Radio 3’s ‘In Tune’ and ‘the Early Music Show.’ the members of the 1607 Ensemble hail from Britain, Canada, and the US, and their diverse musical backgrounds and affinity for a variety of musical styles are evident in their music. EquAlly at home singing Renaissance music and jazz, they also write their own compositions and arrangements, often combining old and new styles in music tailored to their unique vocal colours. One of the ensemble’s long-time interests has been the poetry of Clément Marot in 16th-century chanson. Drawn to the poet’s fantasticAlly varied output, they have recently recorded settings of his psalm translations, prayers, courtly poetry, and vulgar comic verse for their first commercial recording, Amour et Foy: Songs of Love and Songs ...    less

the mission of the Madison Youth Choirs is to create a community of Young musicians dedicated to musical excellence through which we inspire enjoyment, enhance education, and nurture personal, musical, and social development by the study and performance ...  morethe mission of the Madison Youth Choirs is to create a community of Young musicians dedicated to musical excellence through which we inspire enjoyment, enhance education, and nurture personal, musical, and social development by the study and performance of high-quality and diverse choral literature. MYC brings together a membership of almost 400 families and offers youth between the ages of seven and 18 the opportunity to participate in eleven separate choral groups. Focused on drawing connections between music and the greater world, the program offers choristers musical and social education opportunities through weekly rehearsals, annual concerts, and music retreats. the curriculum, focused on thematic musical study, is presented in an environment of sharing, growth, and recreation, Allowing MYC to teach discipline, build self-confidence, foster teamwork, and provide constructive activity and positive role models during formative years.  less