Flashmob Choir! It actually happened!
On Saturday 24th October we surprised shoppers in Birmingham City Centre with a special ‘flashmob choir’ event in the Pavilions Shopping Centre. The event was covered by Central News who interviewed audience members about the experience. We also had Birmingham Mail journalist Phil VInter ‘undercover’ in the choir trying out singing for the first time since he was a child! See both videos below for all the coverage:
The Ulfah Collective
On Thursday night the Ulfah Collective held their open rehearsal. Here is our video of the exisitng members talking about their experiences in the collective.
The Ulfah Collective are made up of practicing Muslim women. With an age range of 13 to 42 and a core team of five which expands to fourteen members for larger performances, they are from Pakistani, Somali, Bangladeshi, Arab and Jamaican backgrounds. The varying backgrounds and cultures bring together different interpretations of Islam that are catered for, by women only audiences and performances with just the hand drum. They write their own lyrics and vocal compositions. Their performances have included Wembley Arena (London) to an audience of 12,000 alongside Robin Gibb from the Bee Gees and Ruby Wax.
Notorious
Notorious also rehearsed last night with lots of new people trying out their open rehearsal.
Notorious with a difference has been running since 1997 and aims to perform a wide range of music in a wide range of places. There are no fixed weekly rehearsals, no auditions and they perform in unusual venues.
photos: Adrian Burrows
sshhhh… and if you’d like to sing this song with Notorious on Saturday have a look at this secret web page…!
Vox Populi
We had so many open rehearsals on Wednesday that we also sent our photographer Adrian Burrows to some of the other events…
Vox Populi is a community singing group based in Sheldon, Birmingham and conducted by Kate Buttolph. The group aims to deliver concerts and music-based projects, primarily in community venues, and to experience and communicate a wide variety of musical styles including popular, contemporary, world and early music.
Here they are in action last night!
Kiss the Ceiling
Kiss the Ceiling met last night for their open rehearsal and we had a guest conductor Genevieve Sylva.
Kiss The Ceiling Acappella Singers is a performance vocal group usually under the direction of Jackie Roxborough meeting weekly in Stirchely, Birmingham. Focusing on the ‘natural voice’, the group sings a broad variety of Global songs from many cultures and styles ranging from Gospel, African, Eastern European, Folk, Doo Wop, Popular to more traditional British Songs.
City of Birmingham Choir
Last night we held an open rehearsal at the City of Birmingham Choir‘s normal Tuesday rehearsal – here is a video about the choir.
Bulava Chorus
The Bulava Chorus – a Ukrainian Choir based in the Midlands held an open rehearsal as part of Sing! Right Up your Street on Sunday. Here is the video we made about the choir:
From Handel to Slade…
BFCS couldn’t run an open rehearsal during this week – due to their concert this Sunday. So instead they have written a guest blog for us and offered to do an open rehearsal on 28th October. Chris Kent – Chair of BFCS explains….
BFCS stands for the Birmingham Festival Choral Society and, we like to think, the Big Friendly Choral Society! Our 130 members are really looking forward to singing for the second time in the renovated Town Hall on Sunday 25th October at 7.30pm. Having performed Mendelssohn’s superb oratorio Elijah there in 2008, this year we are singing Israel in Egypt by Handel. This work is not as well known as his Messiah but is a great piece to sing (and listen to!). On this occasion we will be joined by the ESO Chamber Orchestra and five notable soloists.
It’s difficult to describe the “buzz” which comes from singing outstanding music in a wonderful setting like the Town Hall but why not come along to the concert and get a flavour of that for yourself? Then, if you think that it might be for you, join us at our rehearsal at 7.00pm on Wednesday 28th October when we will be starting to rehearse music for our Christmas Concert. This will include Fantasia on Christmas Carols by Vaughan Williams and In Terra Pax by Finzi. We rehearse at The Octagon, Edgbaston High School, Westbourne Road, Edgbaston.
The period between now and Christmas is always an exciting time for BFCS. Apart from the Christmas Concert on Sunday 6th December, we will also be singing at St Mary’s Hospice at their “Tree of Light” ceremony and then in Symphony Hall at the very popular “Christmas Sing-along” Concert. So, if you like singing Christmas carols or I’m dreaming of a White Christmas or even Slade’s Merry Christmas Everybody, this could be for you!
We have 10 pairs of tickets to give away for the Israel in Egypt by Handel concert on 25th October. Apply for yours by contacting clareedwards@mac.com – but be quick!
It’s here! It’s Sing! week!!!
From today we will be positing, video’s profiles and all sorts of information from choirs in the region. Don’t forget to let us know if you want to come along to one of the open rehearsals this week…
Exciting News! Birmingham Opera Jump on Board!
Birmingham Opera Company is not what you expect from opera – they are an amazing, internationally renowned opera company based in Birmingham that are offering men in the region the chance to sing in their next production! No prior experience necessary!!
Come and try singing in Othello!! No need to read music. All training provided. Perform in a world class production by Christmas…
Their open rehearsal as part of Sing! Right Up Your Street is on Saturday 24th October 2009 at 1pm at Trefoil House, Brownsea Drive, Off Blucher Street, Birmingham, B1 1QL.
Come at 1pm to learn all about the project and then stay for the warm ups at 1.30pm – if you like it then stay on for the whole rehearsal until 4.30pm.
Be prepared to stay on – we expect you’ll love it!
Recent Comments