[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   There is a time of blissful ignorance before you hear a song for the first time.   Later on, there comes a time when you know the song thoroughly, y...

[this is a version of a post which first appeared on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   It’s that time again here in the UK: Choir of the Year 2012 auditions are under way.     Quite often choir members come up to me t...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]You’ll know by now that I believe that everyone can sing. Apparently this irritates some people who really think that they can’t sing. Why is th...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   There is one vital ingredient to being a good singer.   Photo by Peter Smile   It’s not innate talent or vocal range or ability...

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   The OK Chorale have just started back after a long Christmas break. This term we’re working towards our annual spring concert. I need to plan a...

The idea for our Vocal Group goes back to the musical notions and ideas that we learned over the years as part of the Choir of the Liceo “A. Mariotti”, Perugia. The school choir itself has, over the years, gone from strength to strength despite the need ...  moreThe idea for our Vocal Group goes back to the musical notions and ideas that we learned over the years as part of the Choir of the Liceo “A. Mariotti”, Perugia. The school choir itself has, over the years, gone from strength to strength despite the need for constant renewal caused by the inevitable “turnover” as new students took the places of those who left. However, after this experience, which has included many concerts in the region, participations in Choir Festivals in Italy and artistic exchanges with youth choirs from Germany, Hungary, Spain, Denmark and the Czech Republic, our desire to continue singing and, of course, the joy which singing together gave us all made it obvious that the time had clearly come to establish a group which could allow us to continue our musical journey together. Thus, once formed, the joy of singing together stimulated our vocal group to initiate a musical journey of exploration of study which, we hope, will lead us on to ever more emotional musical experiences while, of cou...    less

Performed by Universitair Koor Antwerpen at their Christmas Concert "Once Upon A December" on December 19, 2017. Piano: Stijn Dierckx

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir] Last week I looked at What is unique about singing together. In this post, I’ll consider which aspects of singing together can be duplicated online and...

Vocal group Jazzva from Slovenia was formed six years ago. The members, who sing in some of the best choirs in the country, decided they want more musical freedom and creativity, wilder beats and louder sound of their own voices. Jazzva's repertoire c...  moreVocal group Jazzva from Slovenia was formed six years ago. The members, who sing in some of the best choirs in the country, decided they want more musical freedom and creativity, wilder beats and louder sound of their own voices. Jazzva's repertoire consists of many different genres, pop, rock, classical music, jazz, arrangements of folk songs and many more. As experienced choir singers, they are used to singing with as well as without electronic amplification. They also try to incorporate some choreography to their own music, thus making it even more interesting and fun. At the moment, Jazzva is officially the best a-cappella group in Slovenia. In 2010, 2011 and 2012 Jazzva won at Sredi zvezd, the Slovenian national pop-jazz a-cappella competition three consecutive times. They also got a prize for the best vocal arrangement of the competition all three times (the last two years the arrangements were made by the group's artistic director Jasna Žitnik). Seven singers and beat-boxer love challenges and wit...    less

[A version of this article first appeared as a post on my blog From the Front of the Choir]   Last time I looked at what music notation is for and if you need it to sing.   Sight reading by discopalace   This week I’d like to ...