Weekend of song: New 'hidden gems' choral workshop returns to Brussels in May
"That was without a doubt one of the most interesting, enjoyable, refreshing, nourishing weekends of my life," said one satisfied participant of a choral workshop that took place in Brussels last year. Now UK choral specialists and composers Rebecca
"That was without a doubt one of the most interesting, enjoyable, refreshing, nourishing weekends of my life," said one satisfied participant of a choral workshop that took place in Brussels last year.
Now UK choral specialists and composers Rebecca Askew and Jeremy Avis from Hidden Gems Choral Adventures are returning to Brussels from 1 to 4 May to run a fresh version of their unusual and inspiring acapella weekend of song.
Once again, local Brussels singers will join together with UK-based community choir members to rehearse material in a dynamic new ‘superchoir’. The programme concludes with a musical adventure around the city, experiencing secret places, rich acoustics and new views of the Belgian capital.
Organisers point out that everyone is welcome to join, whatever their singing ability. “Participants don’t need to read music, they simply need enthusiasm and an enquiring mind.”
A key feature of the event is its specially written and arranged music that brings alive the stories behind the venues where the choir sing on their final afternoon. Last year’s venues included the Horta Hall in Bozar, for which Askew and Avis composed a piece that focused specifically on architecture and made full use of its reverberant acoustic. They also performed in the Pavilion of Human Passions (main image) and the Musical Instruments Museum (pictured above).
Askew and Avis are founder members of the award-winning choral ensemble The Shout, which toured the world with genre-straddling choral theatre pieces that challenged the notions of what a choir could be. They have also worked at the UK’s National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Globe theatre and the Royal Shakespeare Company; part of a choral revolution experimenting with new methods, venues and narrative drama for choral performance.
The songs they teach in their Brussels workshop are their own easy to learn acapella contemporary arrangements and new compositions supported by free-wheeling improvising clarinettist/sax player Sarah Scutt.
The duo are also working with local tour guide and architectural historian Paul Snell to further enhance this year’s specific themes.
Everything will be taught by ear over three-and-a-half days at the stylish Studio Empain near Place de la Liberté. On the final day, as part of a ‘performance walk’, the whole group will gain exclusive access to fascinating venues enabling everyone to sing together in glorious harmony.
More details and booking form here.
Sign up by 31 January to benefit from the early-bird discounted price. After that date, bookings can still be made at the full price.
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