[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 ag...

1st place Gold Medal || 1° posto Medaglia d'Oro Festival InCanto Mediterraneo 2013

A woman (wearing bloomers) on a wheel' By Joanna Forbes L'Estrange & Alexander L'Estrange Lyrics by Joanna Forbes L'Estrange Sung by the National Youth Girls' Choir of Great Britain Performed by the National Youth Girls' Choir of Great Britain with ...  moreA woman (wearing bloomers) on a wheel' By Joanna Forbes L'Estrange & Alexander L'Estrange Lyrics by Joanna Forbes L'Estrange Sung by the National Youth Girls' Choir of Great Britain Performed by the National Youth Girls' Choir of Great Britain with Beamish Youth Group Dan Moriyama - Piano Rachel Staunton - Conductor Music video by BLOC+BLUR Productions / Audio by Sonus Audio Filmed on location at and with the generous assistance of Beamish Museum Funded by a grant from the Women's Vote Centenary Grant Scheme, adminstrated by HM Government Equalities Office.  less

If you want to be part of our festival next year use the link below to register your choir https://form.jotform.com/202564080345551

'And Can It Be' recorded live at the Albert Hall, Nottingham, April 2019.

2012十週年音樂會 高雄市文化中心至德堂 2012-11-16 指揮: 朱如鳳 伴奏: 許溎芳 詞：余光中 曲：任真慧 此曲受高雄室內合唱團委託，以余光中的詩作入樂，遂選擇意象明晰、聲韻流暢的〈風鈴〉一詩，譜寫成這首作品。我將詩意詮釋為一種晝夜不捨的思念，這樣的思念可以在不同的年齡層、不同的時空下解讀，但思念跟渴望的本質如同貫串全詩及全曲的風鈴意象，來自心底最深的角落，恆常不變、緜延不絕。 ｢此般地傾聽你的心，在最甜美的歌聲中，如同海潮貼近彼端沉睡的鄉愁。」───引用自...  more2012十週年音樂會 高雄市文化中心至德堂 2012-11-16 指揮: 朱如鳳 伴奏: 許溎芳 詞：余光中 曲：任真慧 此曲受高雄室內合唱團委託，以余光中的詩作入樂，遂選擇意象明晰、聲韻流暢的〈風鈴〉一詩，譜寫成這首作品。我將詩意詮釋為一種晝夜不捨的思念，這樣的思念可以在不同的年齡層、不同的時空下解讀，但思念跟渴望的本質如同貫串全詩及全曲的風鈴意象，來自心底最深的角落，恆常不變、緜延不絕。 ｢此般地傾聽你的心，在最甜美的歌聲中，如同海潮貼近彼端沉睡的鄉愁。」───引用自作曲者2007年的日記，謹將此曲獻給每個人心中的回憶。 （任真慧 自述） 【歌詞】 我的心是七層塔檐上懸掛的風鈴 叮嚀叮嚀嚀 此起彼落　敲叩著一個人的名字 ───你的塔上也感到微震嗎？ 這是寂靜的脈搏 日夜不停 你聽見了嗎　叮嚀叮嚀嚀？ 這惱人的音調禁不勝禁 除非叫所有的風都改道 鈴都摘掉　塔都推倒 只因我的心是高高低低的風鈴 叮嚀叮嚀嚀 此起彼落 敲叩著一個人的名字  

[The views expressed in this blog are from my personal experiences from 25 years of leading non-auditioned community choirs in the UK, as well as adult singing workshops. My focus is on teaching by ear using a repertoire of songs from traditions across th...