• 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
• Matthew Roughley

Listen; Hear! with Matthew Roughley

Blend, intonation, tuning… As singers and musicians we know that our greatest asset is our ears, but how can we fine tune our listening skills and ultimately improve our ensemble singing? Join vocal director and arranger Matthew Roughley in this engaging and practical workshop  exploring ways to improve your ability to harmonise, blend with other singers and take your musicianship to the next level. In this workshop you will be taken through a series of contemporary harmony exercises and arrangements that will help you to fine tune your ears!

• 10:30

Morning Break

• 10:50
• Stuart Overington

Find Your Groove with Stuart Overington

We’ve probably all been told at some point in a choir rehearsal to stand still or ‘look smart’ but when you watch great choirs you’ll see they are all moving. Movement and singing go hand in hand whether it’s about finding the groove of the song or simply breathing together. When done well it’s magical, when done badly it’s uncomfortable to watch. This workshop will explore how choirs use their bodies to keep the music together, communicate the text and free the voice.

• 11:50
• Steve Cook

Rhythm Nations with Steve Cook

Join specialist music teacher, choral director and arranger Steve Cook for an energetic and dynamic workshop exploring some infectious chants and catchy melodies from different genres – all designed to get you ‘into the groove’. Steve will ensure the ‘rhythm is gonna get you’ with some layered riff-based pieces, syncopated African songs, world music chants and some uplifting pop and soul choruses. After this lively session, you’ll have your finger on the pulse and be ready to ‘beat it’ back to your own choir rehearsals!

• 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
• Audrey Mattis

Spice Up Your Gospel Sound with Audrey Mattis

PICK YOUR SEASONING · Singing Gospel Choir songs chosen by Audrey will “spice up” your day! · Introducing Gospel singing in a truly authentic way, Audrey provides lots of background information into this style of singing ensuring that as well as having fun, each participant understands the style that bit more. MARINADE · Learn new songs at a pace and you will be singing 3 and 4 part Gospel harmonies in no time! Once you return to your choir base you can continue to sing these new songs to completion as you let the information steep. · Resources can be made available to all choir directors for further learning afterwards as every workshop is taught aurally without use of notation. HEAT UP THE PLACE · Feel the vibe and move to the rhythm of the song, learn the famous “Gospel choir 2-step”. · Learn about the dynamism of Gospel blend and tone using vocal acoustics – and even some vocal acrobatics if you dare! TASTE AND SEE · Our final workshop performance will leave you feeling invigorated and with a “pep in your step”. You will be amazed at how much you’ve learned in such a short space of time and Audrey will be available throughout the day to chat and share further tips about this style of singing.

• 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