Leaders
Below, you can see a list of leaders that we currently work with. They all have their individual styles, but all are fun-loving, creative song writers and arrangers. Whichever workshop you choose, you are sure to have a great time!
Ali and Dee
Ali and Dee are old favourites, lively and fun-loving and very experienced. Their aclaimed acappella group Naked Voices have won three sell-out show awards at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Chris Rowbury
Chris has held many popular workshops for us in the past and always attracts a large crowd because he is such fun. He specialises in traditional harmony songs from around the world but also writes his own arrangements of his favourite pop songs, e.g Abba, Paul Simon. He is a theatre director, teacher & performer and he teaches & works internationally. His special interest is Georgian & Eastern European song and he is always great fun.
Elaine Wilson and Joe Blench
Elaine Wilson and Joe Blench co-lead Riff Raff, a pop and rock choir in Bristol. Elaine used to give individual singing lessons in Bristol and still co-leads singing workshops with the Naked Voices team. Joe gives individual singing lessons and teaches at Stagecoach Theatre Arts School. Both Joe and Elaine used to sing with Naked Voices. In March 2010 they decided to start their own choir, with a modern twist, focusing on rock, pop and funk songs. It has been an immense success, as was their Queen workshop in August 2010.
Faith Watson
We are excited to welcome back another favourite, Faith. As Singing for Larks, she runs workshops in harmony singing countrywide. Faith has 20 years experience. She writes and arranges acapella songs for choirs, groups and professional theatre. She has a particular interest in jazz harmonies. Faith also offers training and mentoring for workshop leaders.
Gilo & Sarah
Gilo & Sarah have been teaching together for the last eight years and have built up an enthusiastic following in Dorset and far beyond. They quickly create a safe and fun atmosphere and meld a group into a community of singers for the day. There will be plenty of gentle humour and a patient, sensitive teaching style. All the songs and chants are taught by ear, you don't need to read music or think of yourself as a singer. Just bring your voice and a smile!
Gitika Partington
Gitika Partington (BA-performing arts. MA-choral education. LGSM-jazz voice. PGCE music) is a singer/songwriter/vocal arranger/choral director and teacher. Gitika runs 3 regular acapella choirs in London and has been running singing workshops and training for both adults and children internationally for over 20 years. She has two exciting new publications out, published by Novello -SING POP A CAPELLA book one and two.
Helen Yeomans
Helen Yeomans is director and composer for the acclaimed performance choir, Glorious Chorus. The choir was shortlisted for the BBC's Last Choir Standing competition and performed at Glastonbury Festival in 2010. A prolific writer of moving and uplifting songs, Helen manages to tease out the best of her singers with an enthusiasm which is hard to resist!
Kirsty Martin
Kirsty is an experienced vocal musician, based in Brighton, England. who believes that singing is your birthright - something she embodies in her extensive career as singer, choral director and songwriter. Kirsty is a qualified workshop leader - having trained in community music at Goldsmiths College, London. Her inspiration comes from many forms of music - from mediaeval to motown, folk to funk, and doowop to hip hop! She enables everyone to discover their natural and powerful voice, so that singing will become what you thought it always could be - creative, fun and personally liberating!
Nick and Susie Prater
Nick is an inspiring musician and teacher while Susie Prater is a spirited and enthusiastic natural-voice singing workshop leader. Together you can be sure that they will provide us with some beautiful harmonies and lots of fun along the way!
Nick Prater
Nick is one of the country's most popular voice workshop leaders. He has a warm and patient teaching style that takes you straight to the heart of the song. His voice workshops and community choirs are very popular, and have opened the door to singing for hundreds of people who never thought they could do it! Nick teaches a wide range of Sacred music, Gospels / Spirituals and his own original material. He has been leading singing workshops for over 20 years in New Zealand and Britain, and has published 2 collections of his songs for community choirs.