Workshops

Workshops are run twice a year, February and September. They are held on Thursday evenings at St George's Church, St George's Road, Kemptown, Brighton. Each workshop runs for 12-14 weeks and culminates in a grand concert, held at St George's, one at Christmas and one during the Brighton Festival Fringe. The first night of each set of workshops is open as a 'taster evening' to give people the chance to experience gospel singing, and decide if they would like to continue for the full term.

On Thursday evenings two workshops run consecutively.

7pm-8.30pm - Workshop Choir

BGG workshops are open to anyone 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 extra rehearsals organised for the end-of-term grand concert. The maximum number of members of the workshop choir each term is 100 however, so 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 true, traditional 'gospel style',....call and response.
  • All 3 BGG choirs will perform at the 'Grand BGG Concert'

8.45pm-10.15pm - Performance Choir

The performance choir consists of more experienced members of BGG who have been singing for some time and who perform to a high level at the end of term grand concert. Entry to the performance choir is open to anyone who has sung in the Workshop Choir for one term or more and is dependent on availability of places (we allow for a maximum of 50 members of the performance choir each term). Membership of the performance choir requires a higher level of commitment than that expected of the workshop choir:

  • 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 in between workshops
  • The choreographies (movements/clapping) are often more challenging too
  • 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 practice
  • 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.

Workshops 2008

Click here for details about current/upcoming workshops.

For any enquiry, please contact: Brighton Goes Gospel

"turn up tired and stressed after a hard day at work, but by the end of the evening I feel like new life has been breathed back into me...it's so energising ! "
Sue Leadbetter

'I really look forward to Thursday nights ... I've met so many new friends"
Jim Schofield

"The concerts are an amazing experience...I wouldn't have missed them for the world"
Mo Jackson

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