The Winkleigh Singers
WORKSHOPS
The information shown here is correct at the time of publication. The Winkleigh Singers Management Committee and other event organisers reserve the right to make such alterations to programmes as may become necessary.
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Workshop held on Saturday 9th July 2011 with Deborah Miles-Johnson This is what some of the people who attended had to say at the end of the day: Brilliant voice coach – clear teaching method delivered with humour. Extremely valuable workshop experience. Real value for money Very enjoyable and educational day for all levels of singers Great to have the young people with us. Time flew! Worth every penny. She’s superb. |
When my grandfather asked me if I wanted to go to a singing workshop with the Winkleigh Singers, as he is a member, I thought, why not, it might be fun. And when he said it was with someone called Deborah Miles-Johnson, as if that was something important, I didn’t know what he was on about. He then told me that she had worked with and trained the voices of the BBC choir. A while before the workshop I did some research and found out all about her. And come the day I was nervous, but ecstatic. When the workshop started, I was having second thoughts about whether this was a waste of time and I remembered I don’t like singing in front of people, but after the first song I was sure I would never regret this. With the raw power of our voices together, we sounded like a professional choir. It was literally breathtaking. We sang in foreign languages and listened to soloists singing pieces of their choice. I was able to close my eyes and just sink into the music. If I was asked my favourite piece then it would have to be Zadok the Priest. I also enjoyed doing breathing exercises and singing into our hands. Before the workshop, Deborah had said she “Doesn’t really do children” but I think she is an amazing singing coach for all ages. It was an opportunity of a lifetime and if it is ever on again, I recommend it to anyone who likes to sing, never mind your age. It is a great day out for the whole family.
Isobel Pan, age 11
Workshop held on Saturday 6th November 2010
with Bonnie Bradley Bailey (voice tutor) and Roland Smith (musical director)
This was the first stage in the choir's commitment to a long-term programme of encouraging young people to join them, on an equal footing, for training and performance of choral music.
Where else, other than at a Winkleigh Singers workshop, can you find out the musical significance of apple, pineapple, huckleberry and hippopotamus pies? ...or sing a choral arrangement of Pachalbel's Canon? ...or find out who (according to our Hon. Patron) was the inventor of the musical scale and why it has only seven notes?
More than thirty people from teens to... (probably best not to say) filled the room and started the day with a most constructive voice training session with Bonnie Bradley Bailey; not just singing but breathing, posture, tuning and "making the sound". We followed this by learning and rehearsing Alan Bullard's A Christmas Feast for SATB choir and Youth Choir, a "highly enjoyable and amusing" piece. The day concluded with a most convincing performance of the whole work.
"The workshop was fantastic. All my friends from South Molton choir really enjoyed it"
"Thanks for a great day - I really enjoyed it..."
Earlier workshops have been directed by:
Mike Brewer (director of The National Youth Choir of Great Britain)
Nigel Perrin (former high voice of The King's Singers)
Evelyn Tubb (soprano soloist and voice tutor)