| Workshop for choral leaders 19th June 2010 2010 marks the climax of a three year Arts Council funded project - Sing Brighton! Organised by Brighton Early Music, this is an initiative aimed at encouraging more singing in the region, and specifically the singing of high quality music that reflects European traditions over several hundreds of years. As part of this scheme, Brighton Early Music is organising a workshop day for choral leaders to introduce them to what is broadly known as ‘Early Music’. The day will be led by choral directors John Hancorn and Deborah Roberts, who direct a number of local choirs including the BREMF Singers and Consort of Voices, The Bremf Community Choir, East Sussex Bach Choir and Brighton Consort. ‘Early Music’ does in fact represent a vast sweep of repertoire which is becoming ever more available in free editions from websites such as CPDL (Choral Public Domain Library). However, there is still a pervading idea that this music is ‘difficult’ or not exciting or relevant to modern times. This workshop day will help break down some of these barriers by working on a range of pieces that should dispel such myths! This workshop is open to leaders of all types of choirs, and they are welcome to bring along some of their singers too (subject to space), so that we can make up a singing group for directors to practice with. Singers should be able to read music to a reasonable level. Over the weekend of November 6th and 7th, Brighton Early Music will be organising a Big Sing Weekend. On the Saturday this will include a number of choral events all over the city, culminating in a massed singing event in the centre of Brighton. Choirs who give regular public concerts or take part in church services can apply to give a short 15 – 20 minute public recital in The Unitarian Church or on one of Brighton and Hove’s buses! These choirs will need to include at least one piece of early music, and their director should either have attended the workshop day or already be familiar with the repertoire available Others are invited to organise their own events throughout the city, making use of churches or other public buildings or public ‘busking’ spaces. The city of Brighton and Hove encourages busking, but does issue some guidelines that can be read here. please email if you wish to take part in either or both of these events, giving some background information about your choir. |