News

Sing Brighton!

1 October 2008

Brighton Early Music Festival is on a mission to get everyone in Brighton & Hove (and beyond) singing. The festival, which celebrates music's early roots, is led by two professional singers, and has received a grant from Arts Council England for Sing Brighton! a three year project with lots of different opportunities inviting you to learn to sing or to develop your style.

"We will form four new vocal groups and build singing opportunities for people of all ages and experience," Deborah Roberts, Artistic Director, explains. “First of all, we are starting the new Sing Brighton! Starter Choir for those who have never sung in a choir before or who are a bit rusty. You only need to be able to sing a simple song to take part."

The Starter Choir opening sessions are free and the next rehearsal is on 18th October. "There's been lots of interest," adds Clare Norburn, also Artistic Director, "so you won't be alone. You'll also get a chance to meet and hear more experienced singers, so you can get a sense of what you're aiming for."

The festival is also looking to singers of all ages, from beginner to professional, classical to pop, to inspire non-singers. “Singing is widely recognised for its health benefits and for the huge amount of enjoyment it can bring to participants. We hope that people who are already converted to singing will share their experiences of how they got involved in singing and what they love about it," adds Clare Norburn.

Sing Brighton! launches with a special concert bringing together four local choirs, with singers of all ages, from their teens to their 70s. They will sing inspirational a cappella music by 16th century British and Scottish composers, including a renowned piece of choral writing by English composer Thomas Tallis. His motet Spem in Alium which opens the festival on October 25th is a real tour de force with 40 different vocal lines all happening at once.

Visit www.bremf.org.uk/singbrighton for more information about Sing Brighton! and theStarter Choir.