Develop
skills
Last November Choir of
the Year teamed up with the BBC Singers and their Chief
Conductor David Hill to offer free conducting workshops
to the leaders of all choirs competing in Choir of the
Year 2010.
More than 60 choir leaders came to the workshops held
in the BBC Maida Vale Studios (22 November and BBC Studio
7 Manchester (29 November). The BBC Singers is the
UK’s only full-time professional choir and holds
a unique position in British musical life. Performing
everything from Byrd to Birtwistle, Tallis to Takemitsu,
the versatility of this 24-voice ensemble is second to
none. Equally at home on the concert platform as in the
recording studio, this world-class ensemble is committed
to sharing its enthusiasm and creative expertise through
its nationwide outreach programme. This includes regular
collaborations with schoolchildren, youth choirs and the
amateur choral community, as well as with the professional
composers, singers and conductors of tomorrow.
The workshops were designed to cater for a range of abilities
and gave conductors the opportunity to:
- Develop their conducting skills
and understanding of the voice
- Learn tips and techniques from David
Hill
- Sing alongside the 24-voice BBC
Singers, the UK’s only full-time professional
choir
- Participate in a conducting master-class
- Observe a short BBC Singers rehearsal
- Take part in specialised break-out
session on children’s voices, composing and
vocal technique, led by members of the BBC Singers
BBC Singers alto Rebecca Lodge got
everyone off to a great start with some warms-ups and
later on worked with the children’s choir leaders,
sharing her knowledge and experience of young, developing
voices. In the afternoon, eight brave choir leaders
took the floor in a master-class and conducted a piece
of music of their own choice with the BBC Singers. Resident
experts David Hill and Neil McKenzie gave constructive
feedback on technique and interpretation, with valuable
tips and comments thrown in from the Singers themselves.
We hope to offer more workshops with the BBC Singers
in future, so don’t worry if you missed out last
time!
For more information about the BBC Singers and their
forthcoming programme visit www.bbc.co.uk/singers
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What you
told us
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“Watching
David Hill was an education in itself. It was
an honour to stand in front of the BBC Singers…
it was a bit like taking someone else’s
Rolls Royce for a spin – sorry I took it
off-road!”
“Today’s choral conducting training
has been massively beneficial and given me skills
which I can confidently take back to our choir.”
“The most valuable advice today has been
from David Hill on removing anxiety techniques
associated with conducting “too much”
in front of a choir, usually young people. I came
away with renewed enthusiasm.”
“A fantastic day that has filled me with
confidence to go for it!”
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