Spring 2010 WORKSHOPS
The Spring 2010 workshops are now up and running and full to capacity. If you would like to go onto our mailing list to get prior notice of these w/shops please email us your details.
E: workshops@brightongoesgospel.org.uk
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 14 weeks and culminate in a Grand Concert – one during the Brighton Festival 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.