[The views expressed in this blog are from my personal experiences from 25 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 across th...

Love Soul Choir is a non-religious, Pop, Soul, Motown and Gospel group open to singers over the age of 16 and currently set in Southampton, Bournemouth, Manchester and Reading, UK. ‘Oh, another one of those’ we hear you cry, well stop right there, we’ve g...  moreLove Soul Choir is a non-religious, Pop, Soul, Motown and Gospel group open to singers over the age of 16 and currently set in Southampton, Bournemouth, Manchester and Reading, UK. ‘Oh, another one of those’ we hear you cry, well stop right there, we’ve got news for you. Love Soul Choir is the first Choir of its kind to correctly balance harmonies, performance, tuition and socialising to give you the quickest route to developing yourself as a vocalist and…to get you singing!  

The "Rosh Tov" Choir from Rosh HaAyin, Israel, began its journey in September 2006. As its name implies (the phrase "Rosh Tov" in Hebrew connotes fun and a good atmosphere), this group has a light, vivacious character alongside its ser...  moreThe "Rosh Tov" Choir from Rosh HaAyin, Israel, began its journey in September 2006. As its name implies (the phrase "Rosh Tov" in Hebrew connotes fun and a good atmosphere), this group has a light, vivacious character alongside its serious professional aspirations. Its repertoire includes lots of rhythm: international and Israeli pop songs, Beatles, Gershwin, musicals - all arranged by Jeanne in five part harmony. Among its most successful performances to date: "Sealed With A Kiss" (2007, 2008), special tribute evenings to lyricists Yoram Teharlev and Shimrit Or (produced by the Rosh-HaAyin Municipality), second place in the Choir competition "Kol Rishon" (Rishon LeZion, Succoth, 2008), and semi-final status in the "Zemer Lach Artzi" competition, 2010. We owe a special thank you to Patrick Kelly and Alex Eshed of "SingIsrael", who have coached us periodically along the way. Comments about "Rosh Tov" from the esteemed judges of the &qu...    less

Downtown Voices (http://DowntownVoices.net) NOVUS New York Trinity Wall Street, New York City Full Concert Video: https://trinitywallstreet.org/videos/... Concert Program: http://shorturl.at/ouwFR Stephen Sands, conductor (http://StephenSands.net...  moreDowntown Voices (http://DowntownVoices.net) NOVUS New York Trinity Wall Street, New York City Full Concert Video: https://trinitywallstreet.org/videos/... Concert Program: http://shorturl.at/ouwFR Stephen Sands, conductor (http://StephenSands.net) Amy Schroeder, violin Jennifer Liu, violin Jessica Meyer, violin Mike Nicolas, cello Mitchell Vines, pianist Elizabeth Bates, soprano Ola Gjeilo’s Dark and Luminous Night portrays the passage of the soul from mortality to its union with God. Based on the 16th century poem by a major figure of the Counter-Reformation, St. John of the Cross, the piece depicts a soul leaving its “still house” and venturing into the night. Seemingly fearless, the soul is guided out of the darkness by the light of love; Luminous Night reveals the soul’s fulfillment. Lyrics: St. John of the Cross One dark night, fired with love’s urgent longings – ah, the sheer grace! – I went out unseen, my house being now all stilled. In darkness, and secure, by the secret l...    less

Downtown Voices (http://DowntownVoices.net) NOVUS New York Trinity Wall Street, New York City Full Concert Video: https://trinitywallstreet.org/videos/... Concert Program: http://shorturl.at/ouwFR Stephen Sands, conductor (http://StephenSands.net...  moreDowntown Voices (http://DowntownVoices.net) NOVUS New York Trinity Wall Street, New York City Full Concert Video: https://trinitywallstreet.org/videos/... Concert Program: http://shorturl.at/ouwFR Stephen Sands, conductor (http://StephenSands.net) Amy Schroeder, violin Jennifer Liu, violin Jessica Meyer, violin Mike Nicolas, cello Mitchell Vines, pianist Elizabeth Bates, soprano Ola Gjeilo’s Dark and Luminous Night portrays the passage of the soul from mortality to its union with God. Based on the 16th century poem by a major figure of the Counter-Reformation, St. John of the Cross, the piece depicts a soul leaving its “still house” and venturing into the night. Seemingly fearless, the soul is guided out of the darkness by the light of love; Luminous Night reveals the soul’s fulfillment. Lyrics: Charles Anthony Silvestri/St. John of the Cross Long before music was sung by a Choir, Long before silver was shaped in the fire, Long before poets inspired the heart, You were the Spirit of...    less

【貳和唱】音樂會 時間 / 2015年6月28日 地點 / 高雄市文化中心至善廳 指揮 / 林志信 鋼琴 / 楊郁雯 Nocturnes By Morten Lauridsen 夜曲 莫頓‧勞律森 莫頓‧勞律森（Morten Lauridsen，1943─）是美國重要的當代作曲家，曾於1994至2001年擔任美國洛杉磯大師合唱團（Los Angeles Master Chorale）駐團作曲家，也在南加大音樂學院（USC Thornton School of Music）教授作...  more【貳和唱】音樂會 時間 / 2015年6月28日 地點 / 高雄市文化中心至善廳 指揮 / 林志信 鋼琴 / 楊郁雯 Nocturnes By Morten Lauridsen 夜曲 莫頓‧勞律森 莫頓‧勞律森（Morten Lauridsen，1943─）是美國重要的當代作曲家，曾於1994至2001年擔任美國洛杉磯大師合唱團（Los Angeles Master Chorale）駐團作曲家，也在南加大音樂學院（USC Thornton School of Music）教授作曲長達30餘年，並於2007年獲得美國國家藝術獎（National Medal of Arts）。他的音樂呈現出古典保守傳統的特質，以簡單的樂曲結構來表現合唱人聲之美，而且在此簡單與純淨的結構中，流露著歌詞豐富的內涵，與如詩如畫般的美感。 《夜曲》是一套四首的聯篇合唱作品，主體的前三個樂章完成於2005年，第四樂章則於2008年加上，其主題與第一樂章相呼應，是為跋。不同於一般的連篇歌曲，這套夜曲的歌詞並非出自同一位作者的同一套詩作，而是分別來自三個不同國籍作者的作品：第一樂章與第四樂章是德國詩人萊納．瑪利亞．里爾克(Rainer Maria Rilke，1875－1926)的法文詩，第二樂章是智利詩人巴勃魯．聶魯達(Pablo Neruda, 1904-1973)所寫之情詩，第三樂章則取材自美國作家詹姆斯．魯弗斯．艾吉 (James Rufus Agee; 1909- 1955)的詩作。作曲家勞律森精準而巧妙地掌握了它們共同的特點：夜晚、浪漫的愛情、以及神秘主義的語彙，藉著豐富的和聲色彩，使得這幾首不同來源的詩作完美地結合成為一個整體。 4. Epilogue—Voici le soir (Night has come) 跋—夜晚降臨 此曲的歌詞亦為萊納．瑪利亞．里爾克(Rainer Maria Rilke)所寫的法文詩。勞律森以豐富而帶有爵士色彩的調式和聲，再次激發了聽者對夜色與愛情的想像！在無伴奏人聲的吟誦之後，鋼琴再次加入，呈現與第一樂章相同的主題，全曲最後在縈繞不已的神秘氛圍中悄然結束…. voici le soir, pendant tout un jour encore je vous ai beaucoup aimées collines émues c’est ...    less

Noctis performing at their summer concert at St Michael's Without, Bath on July 2nd, 2016. Conducted by Francis Faux www.noctisChoir.com

(Only in German language) Der „SonntagsChor Rheinland-Pfalz“ entstand im November 2010, als „SWR SonntagsChor“, aus einer landesweiten Chorinitiative vom Südwestrundfunk Rheinland-Pfalz und den Landes-Chorverbänden Rheinland-Pfalz und Pfalz. Die aktuel...  more(Only in German language) Der „SonntagsChor Rheinland-Pfalz“ entstand im November 2010, als „SWR SonntagsChor“, aus einer landesweiten Chorinitiative vom Südwestrundfunk Rheinland-Pfalz und den Landes-Chorverbänden Rheinland-Pfalz und Pfalz. Die aktuell mehr als 50 chorerfahrenen Amateursängerinnen und -sänger vom „SonntagsChor Rheinland-Pfalz“ wurden seinerzeit aus über 600 Bewerbern, in mehreren Durchläufen, nach festgelegten Kriterien ausgewählt. Musikalisch begleitete der „SonntagsChor Rheinland-Pfalz“ bereits Johannes Kalpers bei der TV-Sendung „SWR SonntagsTour“ sowie - bis heute - zahlreiche weitere Rundfunk- und TV-Produktionen des SWR, u.a. zusammen mit Thomas Anders. Eigene Konzerte und Projekte stehen ebenso auf dem Programm des bisher EINZIGEN wirklich LANDESWEITEN Auswahlchores. Auch im sozialen Bereich zeigt der „SonntagsChor Rheinland-Pfalz“ sein Engagement: Ob als musikalischer Partner der SWR-Aktion „Herzenssache“ oder der „Kinderglück“-Aktion von Lotto Rheinland-Pfalz. Die Sängerin...    less

A powerful declaration for freedom and equality, Rich Campbell’s “Border” is angular, emotional, and desperate. The text draws from (and paraphrases) several sources: contemporary media, Emma Lazarus’ “The New Colossus,” the Bible’s Matthew 25:31-40, curr...  moreA powerful declaration for freedom and equality, Rich Campbell’s “Border” is angular, emotional, and desperate. The text draws from (and paraphrases) several sources: contemporary media, Emma Lazarus’ “The New Colossus,” the Bible’s Matthew 25:31-40, currency, and others. The changing meters of “Border” fill the work with an up-tempo, rhythmic energy that propels it forward. Campbell’s piece hardly relents, even as the pace slows this work presses forward with a colorful and often modal harmonic language. “Border” is a call for justice, empathy and compassion, a summons to our collective conscience.  less