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Jane Harris is a natural musician, an experienced teacher and the founder of Songways.  Jane trained as a community choir leader with Candy Verney, Director of Singing in the Round, and formed the beginner’s group, Singing in the Bath, successfully building the confidence and skills of new singers. More …
“A brilliant teacher – always patient, positive and encouraging”
“You have shown us the joy of singing, and taught us to listen and appreciate the different and beautiful sounds we can make. The whole experience is truly uplifting.”
“Your relaxed style and constant encouragement have given confidence to even the most nervous of us.”
Jane has sung with many choirs, ranging from classical choral works to early music, madrigals and folk songs. She has been involved in the music world for much of her career, having worked for the National Youth Orchestra and Welsh National Opera. She has run weekly children’s music classes at the Wiltshire Music Centre in Bradford on Avon for five years. Jane studied classical violin and enjoys playing Scottish and other traditional fiddle music.

About Songways

There’s nothing quite like singing in harmony with others. It can be uplifting, heart-warming, moving, therapeutic, a great way to make friends and a lot of fun. Add to that the experience of singing in exceptional venues with inspiring tutors and you have Songways.

Songways runs flourishing choirs in Bath and Bradford on Avon – more than 120 people sing with Songways each week. An ever-widening network of UK singers come to our singing workshops. Our singing retreats attract singers from the across the UK and the US.

Singing in beautiful and unusual places for the sheer joy of it is a special characteristic of Songways. The individual choirs have sung in many of the finest chapels and churches in the area including the Saxon Church in Bradford on Avon and Malmesbury Abbey. The three choirs combine regularly to sing in wonderful venues such as St Swithin’s Church in Bath, Holy Trinity Church in Bradford on Avon, Edington Priory and Bath Abbey.

Our singing workshops and retreats are open to all, not only members of Songways choirs.

Jane Harris leads singing workshops in stunning venues such as the Great Oak Hall at Westonbirt Arboretum and Wells Cathedral, Chapter House and Bishop’s Palace Chapel.

We also host singing workshops with inspiring guest tutors such as Tony Backhouse from New Zealand, Northern Harmony, John Harrison, Mary Cay Brass, Brendan Taaffe, Windborne and Kathy Bullock from the US and Alison Burns from Scotland. 

Our singing retreats include the Cambridge Colleges, Lundy island, Donegal and Italy. Jane co-leads the retreats with guest tutors including Helen Chadwick, Kate Howard and Pip Wright from the UK and John Harrison and Brendan Taaffe from the US.

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JANE HARRIS is an experienced choir leader and the Director of Songways, based in Bath. She has a clear, inclusive and enabling teaching style, uncovers the best in singers’ voices and draws people together with heartfelt, resonant singing. Jane has a rich, vibrant voice, has performed with the acclaimed Helen Chadwick Song Theatre and leads her own vocal octet, Rolling Harmony. Jane writes songs, often inspired by the natural world, and has published two songbooks, Everybody needs Beauty and Celtic Song Trio. She also plays the violin and is a member of the Natural Voice Network.

Having gained an MA in Engineering from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge and worked in the software industry, Jane moved in her mid-20s to work in the music world, first for the National Youth Orchestra and then Welsh National Opera. After ten years as a full-time mother, she moved into music teaching and led children’s music classes at the Wiltshire Music Centre. Jane trained as a community choir leader with Candy Verney, founding Songways in 2009.

Email Jane or call 07894 205255.

A brilliant choir leader – always patient, positive and encouraging

Superb choice of songs & inspirational leadership.

Collaborations

We love to collaborate with inspiring singers and musicians:

  • Helen Chadwick, songwriter, singer and performance creator | London
  • Pip Wright, choir leader | Cornwall
  • John Harrison, composer and choir director | Vermont, US
  • Village Harmony & Northern Harmony, a diverse range of choral, world music and harmony singing activities under the direction of Larry Gordon and Patty Cuyler | Vermont, US
  • Windborne, internationally acclaimed folk band | New England, US
  • Brendan Taaffe, songwriter, songleader, singer and instrumentalist | Vermont, US
  • Kathy Bullock, African American gospel singer and choir leader| Kentucky, US
  • Tony Backhouse, leading choral director, arranger and workshop leader | New Zealand
  • Alison Burns, song maker and community choir director | Scotland
  • Apollo5, award-winning vocal quintet | London
  • Jennifer Crook, singer, songwriter, harp and guitar player | Bath.

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