We are delighted to announce that REGISTRATION for our SPRING TERM 2012 WORKSHOPS is now open for bookings...
This new chapter in our 12th year will see Karen Gibson (Ms.G) as our Choir Director and Jason Thompson (JT) as our Musical Director.
We do hope you will join us for this new and exciting term, which will lead us to a Grand Concert in the Brighton Fringe, Saturday 12th May 2012 at the Hove Town Hall.
This new 12 week workshop term starts Thursday 23rd February, running on consecutive Thursdays until Thursday 10th May, culminating into a Grand Brighton Fringe concert, Saturday 12th May at the Hove Town Hall.
Please do check all the dates of all the workshop rehearsals along with the staging and last double rehearsal...
Due to the professional nature of our concerts, we respectfully request that all attend:
Wednesday 2nd May - Double Staging Rehearsal 6.30pm - 9.45pm
Thursday 10th May - Last Double Rehearsal 6.30pm - 9.45pm
If you are interested in joining us for this new and exciting 12 week Spring Term workshop, please click on the booking form link, download the booking form, complete the booking section and send the form, along with your payment to the address on the form. We do operate on a 'first come first served' basis. We have limited spaces available on the workshops so we do encourage those who do want to join, to book early to guarantee a place. Once we have received your booking form and payment we will contact you via email to confirm your place. Please be sure to clearly print your email address and contact details.
If you'd prefer to 'try before you buy', you can come along for a FREE 'TASTER SESSION', Thursday 23rd February, 6.30pm - 8pm. We do have limited spaces available on the workshop so unfortunately cannot guarantee a space on the w/shop if we're full to capacity by our start date: 23rd of February. Please book for a 'taster session' by emailing: workshops@brightongoesgospel.org.uk and leave your name, email address and a contact telephone number.
No experience needed, no audition, just enthusiasm and a smile. We very much look forward to seeing you and singing with you.
Best wishes,
BGG Committee
Our Workshops
Workshops are run twice a year, February and September. They are held on Thursday evenings at the Octagon building, Cardinal Newman Catholic School, Upper Drive, Hove, BN3 6ND. The Workshops run for 12 weeks and culminate in a Grand Concert – one during the Brighton Fringe in May and a Christmas concert in December.
If there are spaces available we offer the first session of each term as a ‘taster session’ for those who wish to sample gospel singing. However, we cannot guarantee that all those wanting to join up after the ‘taster session’ will get a place - due to us having to limit numbers for health and safety reasons.
The best way to guarantee your place in the choir is to send in your booking form and full payment for the whole term in advance. Places are secured on a ‘first come first served’ basis. Sadly we do have to turn people away from each workshop once places have filled up.
On Thursday evenings two workshops run consecutively.
6.30pm-8.00pm - Workshop Choir
BGG workshops are open to anyone (sixteen years and over) who wants to try singing in the gospel style, regardless of ability, experience, race, religion, or sexuality. All we ask is that you commit to attend a term's workshops and any staging and extra rehearsals organised for the end-of-term grand concert. The maximum number of members for the workshop choir each term is 100, so please make sure you book early!
- No auditions
- No experience needed
- No need to read sheet music
- We recommend you bring a recording device (optional) as the workshops are taught in traditional gospel style - call and response.
- Both BGG choirs will perform at the Grand BGG Concert.
- Bottled water is available for purchase at the workshops.
8.15pm-9.45pm - Performance Choir
The performance choir consists of more experienced members of BGG who have been singing for some time and who perform to a higher level at the end of term Grand Concert. Entry to the performance choir is open to anyone who has already sung in the Workshop Choir for one term or more and has spoken to the Choir, Musical or Artistic Director and had a mini-audition. You should be willing and committed to perform at the level expected. Entrance to the Performance Choir may also depend on the availability of places - we allow for a maximum of 50 members in the choir per term. Please see requirements below:
- The songs taught and arrangements are more complex and the pace of learning is faster; so it is essential for members to record each session and listen to the recordings and rehearse in between workshops.
- The choreographies (movements/clapping/timing) are more challenging.
- For all the above reasons, regular attendance to workshops/rehearsals is crucial; members need to be committed.
- Members may be singled out to sing on their own during the workshop.
- Members are expected to be prepared/warmed up before the session starts.
- The concept of twang and retraction need to be understood, whether actually mastered or not.