Description
WHO IS THE WORKSHOP FOR?
Singers who:
- are able to hold their vocal part on their own and are willing to sing one, two or three to a part
- are good music readers and confident reading a choral score
- may already have some experience of singing in a small ensemble.
WHAT WILL THE WORKSHOP INVOLVE?
This will be an experiential day, a deep delve into vocal harmony, guided by Jane and Claire. We’ll explore creative ways to blend our voices, tune in to each other, breathe together and practise deep listening. We’ll include warm-ups and vocal technique to develop your voice, increase range and resonance, build support and experiment with different vocal styles. There will be opportunities to sing in quartets, octets and other small ensembles during the day. To round off the day, we’ll give an informal performance at 3:30pm for family and friends.
WHAT WILL WE SING?
Music for the workshop will be drawn from Rolling Harmony repertoire – expect close harmonies, richness, subtlety, a range of styles, precise rhythms and interweaving vocal lines.
Access to learning tracks and scores will be provided in advance so that you can come already knowing your parts. We will use scores on the day.
Examples of repertoire
Come, come whoever you are by Angela Reith, a beautiful setting of words by Rumi
Owen Sound by Don Jamison, a US composer based in Vermont with whom Jane and Claire have worked directly
Flow water by Damien Kehoe, an Irish composer from Waterford
Welcome in another year by Zoe Mulford arranged by Windborne, an internationally touring vocal quartet from Massachusetts, with whom Jane and Claire have worked several times
TUTORS
Jane Harris, Director of Songways, is a workshop leader, choir director and singer based in Bath. Jane formed Rolling Harmony vocal ensemble in 2019, with whom she has performed across the South West and beyond.
Jane loves to collaborate with other singers and workshop leaders, including world-renowned Windborne (touring vocal quartet from Massachusetts), Moira Smiley (singer, composer and song leader from the US) and Dr Kathy Bullock, gospel leader from Berea, Kentucky. Jane has also worked closely with US composers John Mark Harrison and Don Jamison.
Jane leads singing retreats including Sing the Cambridge Colleges, Halsway Manor and L’Abbazia di Maguzzano near Lake Garda. The retreats are popular with an ever-widening network of singers from the UK, US and Canada.
Claire Stronach is a workshop leader, choir director and singer. She is one of the original members of Rolling Harmony vocal ensemble.
Claire comes from a background in theatre, working as an actor for 15 years, having trained in New York and London and having spent many years touring UK and Europe. As a result she loves to bring a sense of play and creative exploration to working with small ensembles in order to facilitate enhanced group blend and performance.
Currently, Claire leads five choirs as well as running singing walks, day workshops and for several years she worked with Somerset Health and Wellbeing network leading singing workshops for people experiencing trauma and isolation. Every summer she co-leads Women’s Voice Camp retreats in Sweden with her Swedish colleague Kajsa Norrby.
VENUE
The John Wood Chapel is a beautiful space with excellent acoustics, set within the the Mansion House at Prior Park College, Bath*. We will also have use of the elegant Senior Common Room to allow us to split the group into smaller ensembles and for our breaks. This in turn opens out onto the terrace with its exceptional view over Bath.
* Note that this is a different chapel to the larger Chapel of Our Lady of the Snows at Prior Park College.
