Choral Workshop - 9 March 2013
'...by far the best trainer of non-professional choral voices I have ever encountered'
(David Gibson, of Linda Glenn)
Whether you're a member of the Phil, one of our regular workshop guests or someone who's only just stumbled across us on the net, you're welcome to apply for a place at our choral workshop at The Gregg School, Southampton, on Saturday, 9 March. Over the course of the day we will be working with our guest leader, Linda Glenn, on the fundamentals of voice production. This workshop is suitable for singers of all levels and of any singing experience.
Linda Glenn
Linda is a vocational singing teacher who likes to sing, rather than a singer who has to teach! Her roots are in the amateur choral tradition in which she has sung at every level with provincial and London choral societies, select chamber choirs, professional ensembles and quartets, and as a soloist. Her musical interests encompass oratorio, jazz, barbershop, gospel, lieder, opera, cabaret, music theatre and, above all, a cappella close harmony.
In her 20 years of teaching Linda has specialised in training choral singers of all standards. She has turned 'rank and file' choral singers into soloists, prepared candidates for diplomas and entrance auditions, enabled singers to return to singing after they had withdrawn into premature retirement, and restored voices that were in real trouble. Linda is passionate about dispelling the myths that you have to be a would-be soloist to take singing lessons or that having your voice 'trained' means that you have to sound like an opera singer (unless that's your aim, of course!).
The schedule
Doors open at 9.30 am for registration, and the workshop begins at 10.00 am. We begin with a session to warm up the voice, and then we move on to explore – and put into practice – the basics of voice production. A tea-break midway through the morning sessions offers the chance to get to know some of your fellow singers. After lunch (please bring your own), Linda will hold a question and answer session and a voice surgery/masterclass for those willing to have some one-to-one tuition in front of everyone else. Linda firmly believes that students can gain an enormous amount from listening and watching while others are being taught -- while it is helpful to receive one-to-one attention, it is also hugely beneficial to observe while others are learning and to hear the 'before' and 'after' of someone else's voice. (Please indicate on the booking form if you would be prepared to put yourself forward.) The workshop day closes with an informal performance – a chance to apply what we have learned.
The venue
For the past several years, we have been fortunate enough to be able to hold our workshops in the lovely setting afforded by The Gregg School at West End, Southampton (directions and map), once the home of Lord and Lady Swaythling. During the lunch-break (please bring a packed lunch), you are free to explore the listed garden, which was planned by Gertrude Jekyll and is maintained through the efforts of the Friends of Townhill Park Gardens.
To book your place
Please complete the online booking form or download and complete this printable form(if sending by post, please use the address given for payment by cheque). Places on the workshop cost £13 (students, £7). No sheet music is required. If you have any questions, please contact Deborah Mitchell, the Choir's Secretary.
