Russell Scott proudly presents
Inspiring Workshop Leaders.
Inspiring Choirs.
Upcoming Events
NOW ON SALE
MANCHESTER
SATURDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2025
ONE DAY EVENT
9am – 6pm (7pm for Platinum ticket holders)
Manchester High School for Girls
Grangethorpe Road, Manchester M14 6HS
UK CHOIR FESTIVAL
THE BERLIN PHILHARMONIE 2025
NOW ON SALE
SAT 10TH – SUN 11TH MAY 2025
WEEKEND EVENT
TRAVEL OPTIONS AVAILABLE
Choirs will have the opportunity of taking part in workshops, performance masterclasses, a local concert and performance
at the world-famous Berlin Philharmonie Chamber Hall.
There will also be a number of joint festival songs to perform (to be announced shortly – music will be sent out in advance).
The UK Choir Festival is Open to All
Experience The UK Choir Festival
👇 WATCH OUR VIDEO 👇
Community Choirs ~ Gospel Choirs ~ Youth & School Choirs ~ Glee Clubs ~
Choral Societies ~ Chamber Choirs ~ Barbershop Choirs and more
Launched in 2016, The UK Choir Festival has been hailed by American Express Essentials as “One of the most ‘Awe-Inspiring Choral Festivals of the World’. We have welcomed over 5000 attendees since its conception from over 200 choirs. The festival aims to support, train and bring choirs together in a great setting where they can learn, develop and thrive.
The festival is designed for choirs of all abilities, ages and style, no matter whether you are a local community choir, a cappella choir, school or university choir, gospel choir, choral society or barbershop choir. If you sing….. you’re welcome!
Choirs love being part of this exciting and dynamic festival, where learning and making great music is at its heart. Choirs of all sizes attend from as small as a quartet to those with 100+ members, and individuals can also attend without their choirs if they choose do so.
The UK Choir Festival is produced to give choirs the opportunity to be taught by some of the best workshop leaders in the UK, in a supportive, informative, collaborative, non-competitive and inspiring conference-style setting. It involves practical and method teaching, and everyone is involved as we work on vocal technique, performance, stage craft, blend and balance, language, and work on new styles and genres of singing.
Attendees watch and take part in a series of workshops led by our experts who then come together for a joint session in the afternoon. There’s lots of singing, lots of great music-making and a lot of fun to be had – attendees come away feeling uplifted, excited and ready to work on the what they have learned.
The festival is non-competitive, but very much ‘hands-on’ for everyone to watch and learn from each other. At the end of each day, choirs get the opportunity to perform (if they choose to) in front of each other and the panel of workshop leaders who give each choir written constructive critique to help them leave with confidence, ambition and improved skills.
Ireland, Iceland, India and the United States
Highlights from Manchester 2024 - The 25th Festival Event!
The Joint Session
The festival includes The Joint Session where our 4 amazing workshop leaders come together for a 75min session working on a single piece in mass and masterclass styles. This collaborative session brings together the talent and expertise of all our workshop leaders of the day in an engaging and hugely interactive session for everyone to enjoy.
Even more with Platinum
Platinum Sessions have always played a big part in the festival with invaluable 1-2-1 feedback and Q & A with our workshop leaders. Don’t miss the opportunity at the end of the festival day to have your own 40min session filled with invaluable advice from our exceptional team of experts.
From Pop and Gospel to Classical, Vocal Tecnhnique and Performance,
there is something for everyone at the UK Choir Festival
The UK Choir Festival has worked with some of the best workshop leaders in the UK
- Manchester 15/02/25
- Berlin 10/05/25
- Berlin 11/05/25
- 08:30
Registration
- 09:00
Festival Welcome
Presented by Founder and Producer of the UK Choir Festival, Russell Scott.
- 09:15
Morning Warm Up
This inviogorating and lively warmup to start the day off, led by one of our esteemed workshop leaders.
- 09:30
- Charles MacDougall
Sounding Sublime: Refining Choral Sound with Charles MacDougall
How do I make my choir sound better? Delivered with his characteristic energy and charisma, Charles Béquignon-MacDougall will guide you through a series of accessible and practical exercises designed to improve the sound of any choir, helping them on their journey towards sounding sublime! This workshop will explore exercises touching on resonance, vowels, listening skills, ensemble, balance, and voicing, and show how using such exercises will improve your choral sound. With a career that has encompassed singing for some of the world’s finest vocal groups, alongside his work as a choir trainer working with children’s choirs, youth choirs and adult choirs at an international level, Charles is sure to inspire you with ways to refine your choral sound.
- 10:30
Morning Break
- 10:50
- Seb Farrall
Sharing the Choral Joy with Seb Farrall
We do what we do week-in-week-out because we LOVE singing, yet we only get a small window to communicate this with our audiences. Sometimes we can easily get distracted on the stage from connecting with our audience, so this workshop is aimed at equipping choirs, helping to enthusiastically spread the choral joy! Join Seb in this engaging and practical workshop as we delve into some creative ways we can captivate our audience. The workshop will demonstrate some ideas on how to improve performance presentation, keeping audiences on the edge of their seats, rather than looking at their watches. Seb will also demonstrate some ways that we can let our audience become temporary members of our choirs for the evening, giving them a chance to clap along, sing, or even dance! More than just thinking about some ways to better engage with our audience, we’ll get to test a few out with a bit of singing and moving too.
- 11:50
- Anu Omideyi
The Gospel Workshop with Anu Omideyi
Join this workshop to learn more about vocal techniques used to create rich, dynamic, colourful, belnded and powerful gospel sounds with Anu, an award-winning and highly experienced choir director. Together we'll explore the tools needed to give full expression and emotion to vocal delivery, whilst maintaining artistic excellence. Enjoy the beautiful and uplifting harmonic and vocal arrangements of gospel music in a fun, informative and warm environment. Be ready to sing at the top of your voices and leave inspired!
- 12:50
Lunch Break & Rehearsals
Choirs will be allocated slots during the extended lunch break to rehearse in preparation for the afternoon Performance Session.
- 14:10
Afternoon Warm Up
Before the afternoon session kicks off, one of our workshop leaders will get your voices warmed up once again, ready for the final workshops.
- 14:20
- Greg Link
Layering Up with Greg Link
Join singer and choir leader Greg Link for an energetic and invigorating a cappella workshop exploring a range of layer building songs to energise the body and mind. Sing smooth soulful choruses, enjoy upbeat and uplifting harmonies, and unpack a useful vocal warm up toolkit to utilise at your next choir rehearsal.
- 15:20
Afternoon Break
- 15:40
- All Workshop Leaders
The Joint Session
This final workshop is a collaboration by all the workshop leaders of the day working on one single piece in a Masterclass format, whilst giving everyone the opportunity to take part. Putting together all the learnings of the day, this session is aimed at consolidating whilst giving choirs the opportunity to work with all 4 workshop leaders at the same time.
- 17:00
Mini Break
- 17:10
The Performance Session
The Performance Session is often one of the festival's highlights. Choirs take to the stage to perform whilst being adjudicated by our panel of workshop leaders, giving positive and constructive feedback in written form to help choirs develop and thrive even more than ever before.
- 17:55
Festival Finale
- 18:00
The Platinum Sessions*
Platinum Sessions have always played a big part in the festival with invaluable 1-2-1 feedback and Q & A with our workshop leaders. We are excited to expand this further as we split the sessions into 2, so each choir receives 2x 20min sessions each with 2 workshop leaders, giving more value than ever before and much less waiting time as we work on 2 sessions at a time.
- 19:00
Close
* Platinum Ticket Holders only
- 09:00
- Simon Bolivar Hall, Berlin Library Complex
Registration
- 09:30
- Simon Bolivar Hall, Berlin Library Complex
Festival Welcome
Presented by Founder and Producer of the UK Choir Festival, Russell Scott.
- 09:45
- Simon Bolivar Hall, Berlin Library Complex
Morning Warm Up
This inviogorating and lively warmup to start the day off, led by one of our esteemed workshop leaders.
- 10:00
- Emily Dickens
- Simon Bolivar Hall, Berlin Library Complex
Pitch Perfect with Emily Dickens
Explore the world of Vocal Jazz and A Cappella singing with leading choral director and soprano Emily Dickens as you discover healthy, free and fun singing. Learn the techniques to master your own unique instrument before testing it out in our a cappella ensemble as we discover the key to connected ensemble singing, beautiful blend and the secrets to perfect choral balance. Expect choreography, songs you won’t forget and to dance away singing!
- 11:00
- Mat Wright
- Simon Bolivar Hall, Berlin Library Complex
Perform with Artistry with Mat Wright
Great choirs sing with flawless and seemingly effortless technical skills. Great intonation, rhythmic accuracy and phrasing, resonance, balance, dynamic sensitivity and tone quality underpin great performances. But what is it that elevates performances so that they move audiences and performers and produce extraordinary emotive moments that transcend technical precision? Exceptional choirs are able to communicate a story with integrity and are able to convey a deep emotional connection through their performance. Audiences watch performances to be moved by what they see and hear, and the relationship between performers and audience members is crucial and is often misunderstood. Audiences love to see performers emotionally invested and perform with a genuine and authentic connection. They will always forgive a wrong note but they will never forgive a lack of energy, passion and commitment! During this workshop we will explore how we can elevate performances and make them compelling for audiences.
- 12:00
Lunch Break
- 13:00
- Craig Lees
- Simon Bolivar Hall, Berlin Library Complex
Workshop with Craig Lees
Singing rock and pop repertoire with your choir is now more popular than ever. But how do you ensure your performances truly stand out? In this exciting workshop we'll explore the secrets to crafting dynamic, authentic, and stylistically aware performances that both your choir and audiences will love. Together we will dive into the tools and techniques needed for singing, performing, and arranging Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) with your choir and we'll create a fun and engaging musical arrangement that you can take back to your choir and enjoy singing.
- 14:00
- Volney Morgan
- Simon Bolivar Hall, Berlin Library Complex
The Gospel Workshop with Volney Morgan
Dive into the uplifting world of gospel music! Whether you're a shower singer or just curious, this class welcomes all with open arms. Gospel music isn't just about singing; it's about feeling the rhythm, embracing the spirit, and connecting with a community that shares your passion. In this immersive class, you'll learn vocal technique, harmonies, and the soul of gospel music. The ever energetic Volney Morgan will guide you through beautiful melodies and powerful lyrics that will resonate with your heart and soul. Experience the joy of singing in a group, where every voice matters, and feel the energy that only gospel music can bring. Join us and let the music move you. Feel the beat, find your voice, and become part of a community that celebrates togetherness and the transformative power of music. Let's make a joyful noise together!
- 15:00
Afternoon Break
- 15:30
- All Workshop Leaders
- Simon Bolivar Hall, Berlin Library Complex
The Joint Session
This final workshop of the day is a collaboration by all the workshop leaders working on the joint pieces to be performed at the main concert, whilst giving everyone the opportunity to take part. Putting together all the learnings of the day, this session is aimed at consolidating whilst giving choirs the opportunity to work with all 4 workshop leaders at the same time.
- 18:00
Dinner Break
Evening Concert
A wonderful opportunity to perform a 15min set of repertoire of your choice in the beautiful St. Matthäus Church. This concert will be open to the general public.
- 22:00
Close
- 09:00
- Simon Bolivar Hall, Berlin Library Complex
Festival Welcome
Presented by Founder and Producer of the UK Choir Festival, Russell Scott.
- 09:15
- All Workshop Leaders
- Simon Bolivar Hall, Berlin Library Complex
The Joint Session
The second joint workshop focuses on working more on the joint pieces to be performed at the main concert.
- 10:30
- All Workshop Leaders
- Simon Bolivar Hall, Berlin Library Complex
Choir Performance Workshops
Each choir will get the opportunity of working and performing on their concert repertoire in a 'masterclass' format with our esteemed panel of workshop leaders
- 12:00
Lunch Break
Choirs will be allocated slots during the extended lunch break to rehearse in preparation for the afternoon Performance Session.
- 13:00
- All Workshop Leaders
- Simon Bolivar Hall, Berlin Library Complex
The Joint Session
The final joint workshop focuses on polishing up the joint pieces to be performed at the main concert.
- 14:00
Mini Break
- 14:15
- All Workshop Leaders
- Simon Bolivar Hall, Berlin Library Complex
Choir Performance Workshops
Each choir will get the opportunity of working and performing on their concert repertoire in a 'masterclass' format with our esteemed panel of workshop leaders
- 16:00
Afternoon Break
- 17:00
- All Workshop Leaders
- Berlin Philharmonie Chamber Hall
Concert Rehearsal
Transfer to the Berlin Philharmonie Chamber Hall for Technical Rehearsals in preparation for the evening concert which will be open to the general public.
- 19:00
Pre-Concert Break
Festival Concert at the Berlin Philharmonie
The culmination of a fantastic weekend concludes at the world famous Berlin Philharmonie where each choir will perform a 20min set. In the second half of the concert, the joint pieces will also be performed. This concert will be open to the general public and listed on the Berlin Philharmonie programme of events.
- 22:00
Close
All workshops and workshop leaders correct at time of press but subject to change
Tickets
Great Options... Great Value
GOLD
FOR CHOIRS AND THEIR CHOIR DIRECTORS-
Unreserved Seating
-
Access to all workshops
-
Complimentary Festival Programme
-
Opportunity to Perform
-
Performance Feedback
-
Complimentary Refreshments
PLATINUM
FOR CHOIRS AND THEIR CHOIR DIRECTORS-
Unreserved Seating
-
Access to all workshops
-
Complimentary Festival Programme
-
Opportunity to Perform
-
Performance Feedback
-
Complimentary Refreshments
-
Priority Seating
-
1-2-1 Platinum Session with Workshop Leaders
GENERAL ADMISSION
FOR INDIVIDUALS/NOT ATTENDING WITH A CHOIR-
Unreserved Seating
-
Access to all workshops
-
Complimentary Festival Programme
-
Complimentary Refreshments
Prices above are for UK Events only. For international events please visit the event ticket page
Hold tickets for 14 days whilst you finalise numbers and collect ticket monies from choir members.
READY TO BOOK ?
Simply Click the BOOK NOW button under the event you wish to book
Information:
General Admission tickets are for guests only and those not attending with their choir. General admission tickets are seated individually.
* A 3.5% booking fee is applied to all bookings at the time of purchase. All prices are inclusive of VAT.
Bookings are non-refundable, non-transferrable and non-exchangeable unless the event is cancelled.
Terms and conditions apply.
FAQ
Choir leaders should book their attendees in a group booking selecting the correct ticket type. Additional tickets can be purchased at any time up to the event, a code will be sent post-purchase to use when adding extra attendees. Choir leaders should purchase the same ticket type as their choir, unless attending on their own without their choir in which case they need a General Admission ticket. Attendees who are attending without their choir should purchase a General Admission ticket. GOLD and PLATINUM tickets have a minimum order of 8 tickets.
Unless otherwise stated, there is nothing to learn or prepare for the festival. All music taught will be done by either rote or with lyrics/music printed in our complimentary festival programme which is given to all attendees upon arrival. We do not use an OHP to ensure maximum engagement at all our events.
Choirs have the option of performing. We encourage all choirs to perform, and whilst it is not mandatory, choirs get a fantastic experience from doing so, as almost all choirs perform. Choirs are welcome to perform a cappella, with acoustic instruments (a grand piano is available for use) or backing track. Pianists who are playing for choirs but not attending the full day will not need a ticket (unless arriving before the performance session), but we must be notified in advance of their attendance. Shortly before the festival choir leaders will be requested to submit details of their performance. Performances are non-competitive, but are constructively critiqued by our workshop leaders in written form (this is not X-Factor!). Notes are handed directly to choir leaders at the end of the event.
We offer a limited number of Platinum Sessions where choirs can benefit from a 40min 1-2-1 session (or 2x 20min sessions) with our workshop leaders, to work on the notes from their performance, ask questions, and get direct support and guidance from our experts.
Unless otherwise advised, attendees are welcome to take photographs and videos (without the use of flash) during the festival including choir performances.
The festival is non-residential but we are able to help with any accommodation or travel requirements.
For UK and International ACCOMMODATION ONLY requirements please contact our travel partner, Room4Groups.
For international tour package enquiries (including flights) please Complete your Enquiry here for more information.
We provide complimentary tea and coffee at all UK events. Attendees are welcome to bring food and drink with them for snacks/lunch. There are several places to grab food and drink in the local area.
A full service cafe serving breakfast/lunch and snacks is available at our Manchester venue.
There is good parking at all our venues along with access for coaches and buses. Full details are provided in the information packs available shortly before the event.
All venues are disabled-friendly and have accessibility for all attendees. We ask choir leaders to notify us within good time of any disabled access requirements so we can accommodate them and ensure a great experience for everyone. Whilst we cannot guarantee seating or special requests, we will do everything possible to accommodate. Disabled parking is also available but subject to capacity.
For any other questions please Contact Us.
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