International Choir Festival InCanto Mediterraneo

Chris Rowbury's Blog Entries

  • How to have fun AND rehearse for your next concert

    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last week I wrote about choirs that choose not to perform. None of the choirs or singing groups that I have run were formed as performing groups.   Stellenbosch University Choir South Africa   I’ve always made it clear that our ... read more
  • Choirs that don’t perform - why on earth not??!!

    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last week I wrote about Audiences at choral concerts.   Sangstream rehearsal by fiddledidee   But what if your choir doesn’t perform?   choirs don't have to perform When I started my first community choir back in 1997, t... read more
  • Audiences at choral concerts: who are they?

    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   In July 2010, after ten years leading Woven Chords, we had our final concert together.   Little old ladies by Arty Smokes   As always, we had hoped for a full house packed with an enthusiastic audience. But we ended up with around 60 ... read more
  • Tackling complex song structure without written music

    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   The choirs and workshops that I lead are run on the principle that music should be accessible to all. This means that I don’t use written music to teach since I can’t assume that everyone can read music.   Map of the structure of... read more
  • Why do we stop singing when we grow up?

    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   The average age of people who attend the choirs and workshops that I run must be around 50. I would say that about a third of any group is of retirement age, and the majority of the rest are in their early 40s to late 50s.     photo by... read more
  • Improve your harmony singing - residential weekend in Cambridgeshire

    This weekend filled up really fast last year, and even though it's not until next May, over half the places have already gone!   Full details and booking form on my website: chrisrowbury.com   BETTER HARMONY SINGING — THE SMALL GROUP CHALLENGE Friday 2 May 2014 5pm to Sunday 4 May 2014 2pm The Claret Centre, Buckden Towers Hig... read more
  • Choosing the right songs for a concert

    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last week I wrote about Choosing a running order for your concert or CD.     This week I want to tackle the slightly easier task of selecting which songs the choir is going to perform.   look out, a concert is coming! Once agai... read more
  • Choosing a running order for your concert or CD

    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   It’s only September, but many choirs are already thinking of their Christmas concerts. Christmas is also the time of year when choirs release new CDs.     Choosing songs is not too hard, but programming them in a sensible order c... read more
  • Does your choir respond to where it's based?

    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   I lived in Coventry in the Midlands of the UK for almost 13 years (gosh, doesn’t time fly!), although I’m originally from South London. In 2010 I moved East to Suffolk.   Both my partner (who is an artist) and I aren’t linked... read more
  • Choirs: is old age an issue?

    [this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   This post is one of a series of occasional Questions and Answers that I do on my own blog. Just use the contact form if you want to submit a question.   After reading my post Over-rehearsed or under-prepared: which is better? Dawn contacted ... read more