VOCALESQUE SINGERS SUMMER WORKSHOP

with Rob & Mandy Willis

4 DAY WORKSHOP with option of 6 nights accommodation

12th to 16th June

the event

Experience the pure joy of singing in a group with musical director and choir master, Rob Willis. Lift your spirits with a feast of gorgeous harmonies and join us for this 4-day singing workshop - fun, relaxed days of harmony singing in the fabulous, light-filed studio of our celebrated venue.   The emphasis will be on singing together and we will be working on songs from the pop charts as well as stage & screen with a view to an informal, private performance at the end of the course. There will also be fun routines & exercises along the way, designed to help you reach your full potential.

Enthusiasm and a love of music are essential, and a sense of rhythm desirable, but you don’t have to be able to read music. In fact, the event is open to anyone who either wants to improve their ensemble singing or simply try it for the first time!  If you don’t live locally, we offer beautiful accommodation on site or you can, of course, make your own arrangements.

Singers of all abilities and all voice parts are invited to join!

The benefits of singing are many and include:

• Improving confidence, self-awareness and working with others;

• Aiding relaxation & release: the connecting of body, breath & voice;

• Improving your aural skills, pitch and tuning;

• The sharpening of your rhythm and timing;

• And, of course, it’s great fun!

The emphasis of this 4-day workshop will be singing together; there will be fun routines and exercises - touching on the mechanics of singing and the development of your musicianship - which include relaxation, posture, breathing, sound production and tone, meanwhile working on songs from the pop charts, stage and screen. The music itself can be downloaded and the vocal parts recorded so you can practice them in advance. If you can’t read music, we’ll give you the basic skills to find your way around a score with arrangements that have all been carefully crafted to make them accessible to beginners. Indeed, there will be everything you need to reach your full potential as a singer in a friendly atmosphere of fun and laughter in an all-inclusive, none-judgemental way.

And whether you are a beginner or a little more experienced you will leave with a better understanding of singing, especially singing together. More importantly, we hope you will be inspired to sing more with others.

OPEN TO BOTH LOCALS AND RESIDENTIAL GUESTS (see below for accommodation prices)

About Rob Willis

& Vocalesque 

Rob Willis is a Musical Director and arranger with over three decades of experience in the music industry. He has a passion for singing together, particularly close-harmony groups and much of his time during a varied career, he has spent accompanying, directing and arranging for singers. He toured as conductor with ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ winner, Paul Potts, in Taiwan, Japan, New Zealand, the US and SA as well as Europe and the UK.  Rob has also contributed several arrangements and conducted on studio and live recordings.

From 1995 to 2000 Rob toured throughout the UK with Charlie Landsborough and worked on his album Once in a While making several appearances on TV and radio. As Musical Director for West-End, touring shows and of course, Pantomime, Rob has accompanied many of the ‘greats’ from the world of light-entertainment including Gary Wilmot, Brian Conley, Beverley Knight, Joe Pasquale, John Barrowman, Anthony Newley, Bob Monkhouse, Norman Wisdom and Cannon & Ball. Other highlights include working with The Three Degrees, The R.S.C., The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and The Moscow State Circus!

Rob and his wife, Mandy, recently formed Vocalesque Singers, an informal group that brings together singers with little or no experience, and seasoned vocalists to sing songs from stage, screen, the American Songbook, and the pop charts. His accessible but sophisticated arrangements add a professional touch to the arrangements and group.

 PROPOSED ITINERARY

DAY 1 - Monday evening 

PM arrival of residential participants . Brief welcome to all with aperitifs

DAys 2, 3 and 4 - Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday

09:30 Meet & greet - coffee, biscuits and pastries

10:00 - 11:15 Warm-up and exercises/games

COFFEE BREAK

11:30 - 12:30 - Work on songs 

12:30 LUNCH

14:00 - 15:15 Short exercise followed by more song work -perhaps in group/sectional/more detail 

TEA BREAK

15:30 - 16:30 Further work on songs and recap.

19:30 DINNER for residents

Day 5 - FRIDAY

Slightly later start (to be decided)

Group discussion about presentation and concert behaviour followed by short dress rehearsal

LUNCH

18:30 Presentation for family and friends of songs worked on with light refreshments

dinner for residents

DAY 6 - Saturday

AM Brunch for residents and departures before lunch.

Please note: This is a proposed itinerary only and is subject to minor modifications depending on local weather conditions, new opportunities and the revised outline of the workshop