Eighty singers enjoyed a fabulous workshop with Tony Backhouse, one of the leaders in the Australasian a cappella movement. Tony's own arrangements of classic gospel songs, Don't you want to join that number, Glad to be in the service and Nobody's Fault but mine were great to sing. Tony developed each song in its own [...]
Northern Harmony, the unique world-music vocal ensemble from Vermont in the US made their third visit to Bath, hosted by Songways, this time at the stunning St Swithin's Church. Larry Gordon and members of the group led a workshop for sixty singers, teaching a lively South African song, a rousing contemporary American shape-note piece and [...]
Singing workshop with Kathy Bullock from the US Eighty singers enjoyed a superb singing workshop with Dr Kathy Bullock from Kentucky, US, in the fine setting of St Luke's Church, Bath. Kathy led the singing with immense passion and warmth, from the wonderful St Luke's grand piano, and spoke eloquently, giving us an insight into the origins and context of the African-American [...]
Having discovered Brendan Taaffe‘s compositions through his vocal group Bright Wings Chorus, we have enjoyed excellent singing workshops with him several times in Bath & wonderful singing weeks in the South of France which he co-led with Jane Harris in 2016 and 2017. Seventy singers from a wide area gathered for Brendan's March workshop. Brendan [...]
We had a wonderful group of 55 singers for the Spring Singing Day at the beautiful Great Oak Hall at Westonbirt Arboretum. Singers local to Westonbirt were joined by others from Gloucester, Cirencester, Bristol, Portishead, Bath, Trowbridge, Bradford on Avon, and even Essex. For many, it was their first experience of Songways. After gentle warm-ups to put everyone at [...]
A wonderful group of 80 singers gathered in the beautiful setting and acoustics of St Swithin's Church in Bath for our second workshop with Ali Burns, Song Maker and Workshop Leader from South West Scotland. It was a rewarding day with a rich selection of songs, including Ali's stirring new composition, In dangerous times: In dangerous [...]
On a glorious early September day, 45 singers gathered in Wells for our first singing day there for three years. Singers from Bristol, Portishead, Worcestershire and Taunton joined local singers from Wells and regular Songways singers from Bath and Trowbridge. We began in the Bishop's Palace Chapel, an exceptional acoustic in which to sing. Jane [...]
We were delighted to welcome 15 singers from California to Bath on Thursday 8 & Friday 9 September 2016, with their leader, Lauren Carley. The visiting singers joined with 25 Songways choir members for two collaborative workshops, led jointly by Lauren and Jane, in St Swithin's Church followed by a lunchtime concert in Bath Abbey. [...]
Despite slightly unsettled weather, we had a rewarding morning singing in the beautiful hillside garden at Iford Manor, the scent of wisteria heady in the air. It was a lovely group including singers from London, Stroud and Tewkesbury. In the afternoon we sang in the ancient and resonant chapel at Farleigh Castle. Songs included lively [...]
