ABCD 27th Convention

2012’s essential event for all singing leaders

24-26 August 2012 • Leeds Metropolitan University

For additional details, visit www.abcd.org.uk

inspiring choralleadership

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We hope you enjoy this year’s Convention brochure - and indeed somewhat of an ‘Unconventional Convention’. There’s much to tempt you to Leeds Metropolitan University and Leeds Town Hall.

We have created a programme around three strands: Choir Matters, Youth Matters and Repertoire Matters.

Professor Martin Ashley presents his research on boys’ singing and changing voices. Sally McLean, conductor of the White Rosettes, will show how to improve the sound, colour and timbre of choral sound. Professor David Howard is helping with a cappella tuning and if you’ve always wanted to ‘Rock Up and Sing’, Rhiannon Gayle is your lady. Mix that with new works from

Bob Chilcott, insights into the Olympic Youth Choir with Richard Frostick, conducting tips from Mandy Miller, Jo McNally, Vivien Pike and Simon Wright and you’ll see there’s something for everyone.

I still haven’t mentioned Tom Leech, Janet Russell, Alison West, Cecilia McDowall, Simon Lindley and Iris Derke, all of whom will be present.

Whilst we’re busy at the University, Ken Burton will be in Leeds Town Hall creating a community choir ready to sing the final items of the Gala Concert. They will be joined by Vocado, the Chapter House Choir from York and Lindley Junior School Choir. ‘Who could ask for anything more?’

Susan Hollingworth Chair of the Yorkshire abcd Committee

A warm welcome to Leeds

ABCD gala concertSaturday 25 August 2012, 7.45pm • Leeds Town Hall

World-famous as a concert venue, Leeds Town Hall is the setting for this year’s magnificent Gala Concert, free to you as a full delegate. You’ll be entertained and inspired by children’s music expertly performed by the Lindley Junior School Choir, uplifting Renaissance polyphony from the Chapter House Choir, York and the latest in upbeat a cappella singing by the Vocado Ensemble of Sweden.To end, a grand finale with a difference: the culmination of this Convention’s innovative ‘turn up and sing’ workshop, a Community Choir extravaganza led by the irrepressible and inspirational Ken Burton.

Gala Concert ChoirsVocado EnsembleWith just five singers but a massive repertoire covering pop, jazz, ballads and folk music, this award-winning group enjoys huge success both in Sweden and internationally. Their sound is unique: supremely musical, but also light, subtle and mysterious.

The Chapter House Choir, York, conductor Stephen WilliamsFormed by a group of York Minster Songmen and their wives, the Chapter House Choir is one of the country’s leading amateur chamber choirs. With a varied and challenging repertoire, they have a special interest in performing and commissioning new music.

Lindley Junior School Choir, conductor Alison North Formed in 1999, this fantastic Huddersfield choir has won numerous awards including the BBC Songs of Praise Junior Choir of the Year in 2008. Recent performances have included an Opera North workshop and the Llangollen International Eisteddfod.

Pub grub and carols Friday night’s dinner offers traditional Yorkshire fare, including – naturally – the famed local beer to lubricate the larynx for the final course: a sing-along based on traditional Sheffield ‘pub carols’ and Yorkshire Dales folksongs. Singer/songwriter and community choir specialist Janet Russell will help you make the most of this unique gastronomic and musical experience.

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Ken BurtonCommunity choirs in workshopIn a new initiative for Convention there will be a massive Community Choirs workshop in Leeds Town Hall, in association with Leeds ArtForms. Hundreds of singers are expected to attend. Led by the charismatic Ken Burton, conductor of the award-winning London Adventist Chorale, this will be a uniquely exciting singing experience.

Mandy Miller and Simon Lindley

Alfred Music and Banks of York repertoireTwo repertoire sessions: Mandy Miller, Head of Music at Lochgelly High School in Fife, focuses on works published by Alfred Music, the world’s largest educational music publisher; and organist & Master of the Music at Leeds Parish Church Simon Lindley introduces new repertoire from Banks of York Music Publications. Other repertoire sessions feature music from specialist publishers as well as Boosey & Hawkes, Faber, Music Sales, Oxford University Press and Peters Edition.

Rhiannon GayleRock Up and Sing! This fast-paced workshop gets new singers harmonising in no time. With Rock, Motown, Gospel and three to six-part Swing, Rhiannon’s ethos of ‘no auditions, no need to read music’ inspires experienced choristers and novices alike. Using the catchy song ‘Hot Hot Hot’ to build confidence in rhythm and har-mony, Rhiannon gives tips and tech-niques for learning and performing a three-part song quickly and well. Unleash the voice within!

Alison WestBuild the repertoire – build choir moraleChoosing challenging and unusual repertoire – including commissions – boosts amateur singers’ musicality, self-confidence and enjoyment. Alison shows how particular pieces have galvanised her remarkable choir, the Hepton Singers.

Stephen Williams & the Chapter House Choir, YorkStar Chamber Choir How do you make a good chamber choir a great chamber choir? Stephen Williams has done it with the York Chapter House Choir. Careful voice blending and rigorous rehearsal techniques are part of the secret. But there’s so much more – come and find out!

Martin AshleyChanging boysLeading expert on adolescent boys’ singing, Professor Ashley is a prime mover behind abcd’s Cambiata North West, a new choir aiming to encourage and care for boys’ changing voices. Martin devotes one session to an overview of his research into boys’ singing and the second to the abcd North West Cambiata project in particular.

Sally McLeanSinging in colourSally has achieved fantastic success with the Leeds-based White Rosettes ladies’ barbershop chorus; she shows how to use barbershop techniques to improve the sound, timbre and colour of any choir.

Convention Presenters and Events

Choir Matters ‘If only I could make them sing better!’ Actually, you can – without the dreaded mass re-auditioning! Learn some surprisingly simple ways to improve your choir’s tone and timbre, tuning in a cappella singing and how to repair chamber and community choirs alike.

Youth Matters Without today’s youth, there will be no choirs tomorrow. But how do you get the i-pod generation, particularly teenage boys, to sing? Find out from people who have done just that.

Repertoire matters Solving the perpetual question ‘What shall we sing?’, Britain’s major music publishers and leading choral conductors show you a wide range of new repertoire. Modelled on US ‘reading sessions’, and a huge success at last year’s Convention, there will be sessions for upper voices and SATB choirs, with a variety of styles and for a variety of experiences. Not to mention a session with composer Cecilia McDowell. Ideas galore to help you plan your programmes!

…and your technique matters, too. No-one can afford to ignore the basics: how to conduct and communicate clearly, how to help your singers sing their best and how to keep their – and your – voice in perfect health. Sessions led by expert choral practitioners address these ever-vital topics.

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Demon barbershop Here Sally introduces barbershop singing proper, revealing how it can influence other, very different, choral styles. Whatever your choir and whatever its specialism, barbershop can be remarkably helpful! As proof: the White Rosettes are giving a recital on the Saturday lunchtime: don’t miss it.

Tom Leech

Step away from the edge!We hear lots about achieving success, but what happens when... choirs turn bad? Organist and conductor Tom Leech reveals how the historic Bradford Festival Chorus Society, on the brink of collapse, was rescued and revived.

Inner-city voicesTom describes the Diocese of Leeds’ acclaimed singing programme, reaching around 2000 children weekly in 42 schools, plus five boys’, four girls’ and two adult choirs. Find out how this grew from nothing and how it makes sense musically AND financially under his direction.

Cecilia McDowall

Meet the composerHow better to get to know new repertoire than to meet its composer? We are lucky to have the prolific, award-winning composer Cecilia McDowall to introduce her own works, described by International Record Review as having ‘a communicative gift that is very rare in modern music’.

David Howard and Jenevora WilliamsDavid is Professor of Music Technology in the Department of Electronics, University of York. In Tuning in a cappella singing, he reveals that unaccompanied singers tend to tune in non-equal temperament – pure fifths and thirds. This can contribute to pitch drift at key changes. David shows how to recognize and cope with this. In ‘Ring’ in the singing voice he

examines, with singing teacher and researcher Jenevora Williams, the science behind voice projection – i.e. ‘ring’; how it peaks at the acoustic frequency we happen to hear best, but differs in adults and children. Jenevora will also be leading sessions on vocal technique for younger voices and vocal health for singers and teachers.

Vocado Ensemble, Sweden

Meet the Gala choirVocado is just five fabulous singers. You’ll have heard their amazing performance in Saturday’s Gala Concert: now they’ll demonstrate how they achieve the unique sound which won them the Swedish Choral Society’s prestigious Choir of the Year award 2011.

Simon Wright

Conducting orchestras with choirsConductor and Artistic Adviser of the Leeds Festival Chorus, Simon has conducted many of the world’s finest orchestras and singers. Conducting orchestras and choirs together poses challenges, but the opportunities for sublime music-making are immense too. Here’s how to make the most of them.

Richard Frostick

Building the Olympic ChoirThe dynamic Richard Frostick, Artistic Director for Youth Music Voices, tells the incredible story of training a vibrant youth choir to be good enough to participate in the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.

Iris Derke

Tools, tips and crazy thoughtsPerformer, manager and entrepreneur, Iris is Co-Founder and General Director of Distinguished Concerts International, New York. She is convinced that thinking outside the box and using tools like Facebook and Twitter can revolutionise programming, PR, and

audience building anywhere in the world. Use her insights to benefit your choir, your audience and your community.

Charles Beale

Popular VoiceworksBrighten up your Sunday morning as the multi-talented jazz educator and choral director Charlie Beale introduces Popular Voiceworks 2; the second volume of popular songs in OUP’s practical Voiceworks series. With a huge range of popular styles, from unison to four parts, it’s a great way of introducing jazz, R&B, funk, disco, blues and more to your ‘young-at-heart’ singing group!

Bob Chilcott

High JazzProlific choral composer Bob Chilcott introduces two new jazz-inspired works for upper voices: the Nidaros Jazz Mass and Jazz Songs of Innocence. Fun to sing, fun to hear, these superbly catchy pieces suit both adult SA singers and abler children’s choirs.

In our final plenary session Bob focuses on Alan Bullard’s Wondrous Cross and his own On Christmas Night. Wondrous Cross is a sequence for choir and soloists, interspersed with readings, based on Christ’s seven last words. Premiered in Texas in 2010, On Christmas Night features known and new material plus the distinctive Chilcott touch.

Music Exhibition

The extensive music-trade exhibition is an integral part of Convention. It’s a great place to browse, get ideas, acquire new repertoire, plan choir tours abroad, buy equipment, book workshops - and indeed work bookshops! All the major music publishers, music tour agents and other music specialists will be there. Opens from 4pm on Friday, all Saturday and until 2pm on Sunday.

Pre-Convention Course 23 August (3pm) to 24 August (4pm)

Mandy Miller, Keith Orrell and Vivien PikeThis practical course, given by three acknowledged experts in their field, looks at rehearsal and conducting techniques for leaders of all kinds of

choir – no minimum experience is required. Delegates can either participate as conductors or attend as observers; a repertoire list is sent in advance. Experienced conductors benefit from a quick “refresher”; for the less experienced this course gives a

good grounding and explains the most important principles of the choral conductor’s art.

Young Conductors’ Course24-26 August, led by Amy Bebbington

Open to all aged 18–25 who do not currently earn their living from conducting, this course runs parallel with Convention, giving students the opportunity to attend some Convention events as well as taking part in conducting technique sessions. Amy gives individual and group tuition in the

basics of choir training and conducting and works on rehearsal and performance technique. It is a practical, hands-on course, with the emphasis on informality and tutoring in a small group.Conductor, teacher, singer, pianist and composer, Amy has been described as ‘one of the brightest talents of her generation.’ She has directed numerous choral ensembles in the UK and US. She also tutors for ‘Sing Up’, the government initiative re-establishing quality singing in primary schools.

Bursaries available! A limited number of young conductors can benefit from subsidised places at just £150 each. For eligibility details, contact Kate Allen, Events and Training Officer, on 07528 382445 or see our website.

The city of LeedsYorkshire’s largest city with a population of 750,000, Leeds is also the financial capital of the North of England. Leeds is also one of the greenest cities in Europe and, at the same time, one of the most gracious. But despite its high-Victorian urban grandeur, nowhere in Leeds is far from Yorkshire’s magnificent countryside - ‘God’s own county’, as Yorkshiremen rightly call it.

Leeds Metropolitan University, venue for Convention this year, has come a long way since its origin in 1824 as the Leeds Mechanics Institute. Now a University with three campuses – one in India – Leeds Metropolitan won the award for “outstanding contribution to the local community” at the annual higher education awards ceremony hosted by The Times Higher Education Supplement in 2006.

Convention events and accommodation are at Headingley campus. Set in picturesque grounds, many of the campus facilities look out onto the Acre, a grassy expanse at the head of which sits the magnificent James Graham building, which houses the stunning Gandhi Hall where this year’s exhibition will be held.

Travelling to LeedsLeeds is incredibly easy to travel to. The city is one of the principal hubs of the northern motorway network, with the M1 and M62 intersecting to the south and the A1(M) to the east. By rail there are frequent links to London and other major UK cities, and to Manchester Airport. Leeds Bradford International Airport is about 10 miles north-west of the city centre. Inside the city the bus services are excellent.

Planning your journeyThe easiest way is online: of many travel-timetable websites available, two of the best are Traveline www.traveline.org.uk and Transport Direct www.transportdirect.info. For fares, see the websites of the travel companies themselves.

For more information on convention, see our website at www.abcd.org.uk, contact Len Fletcher on 01772 704834 or email convention@abcd.org.uk.

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Convention FeesConvention fees exclude B&B but include meals and refreshments. Please indicate your Convention requirements by ticking the appropriate box(es), then choose any accommodation requirements.

abcd MembersMain Convention, 24–26 August r £265 if booked by 30th June, £285 if laterSaturday onlyr £120 (includes lunch & dinner but not gala concert

ticket)

Sunday onlyr £105 (includes lunch)Pre-Convention Conducting Course, 23-24 August r £140 if booked by 30th June, £150 if later

Young Conductors’ Course, 24-26 Augustr £265 if booked by 30th June, £285 if later

Total Convention fee £ ––––––––

Accommodation

Non-membersMain Convention, 24–26 August r £300 if booked by 30th June, £320 if laterSaturday only r £140 (includes lunch & dinner but not gala concert

ticket)Sunday only r £125 (includes lunch)

Pre-Convention Conducting Course, 23-24 August r £160 if booked by 30th June, £170 if later

Young Conductors’ Course, 24-26 Augustr £300 if booked by 30th June, £320 if later

There will be a limited number of subsidised places for the Young Conductors’ course at £150 each. Please tick here for further details r r I am not currently a member of abcd but wish to join and pay the member’s rate for Convention.

I enclose my subscription with my payment (the current annual subscription is £52 (individuals), £21 (full-time students). Payment now will last until 30 April 2013).

Total fee £ ––––––––

Your contact details

All the campus accommodation is en suite and can be booked as a single room or a small double room. Please indicate your accommodation requirements by ticking the relevant boxes below. All prices include bed and breakfast and are per room per night.r Thursday 23 August r Friday 24 August r Saturday 25 Augustr En suite room (£35 per night)r En suite double room (£50 per night)

Total accommodation fee £ ––––––––

Name Address

County Postcode Telephone Email

r I am an abcd member, ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– region Do you have any dietary or other special requirements? Yes/No Do you require ground floor accommodation? Yes/No Do you have a disability for which you might need assistance? Yes/No If so please state assistance required –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––r Have you previously attended an abcd extended conducting course? We would like to provide a networking opportunity for alumni. Please tick the box if you have.

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Convention FeesConvention fees exclude B&B but include meals and refreshments. Please indicate your Convention requirements by ticking the appropriate box(es), then choose any accommodation requirements.

abcd MembersMain Convention, 24–26 August r £265 if booked by 30th June, £285 if laterSaturday onlyr £120 (includes lunch & dinner but not gala concert

ticket)

Sunday onlyr £105 (includes lunch)Pre-Convention Conducting Course, 23-24 August r £140 if booked by 30th June, £150 if later

Young Conductors’ Course, 24-26 Augustr £265 if booked by 30th June, £285 if later

Total Convention fee £ ––––––––

Accommodation

Non-membersMain Convention, 24–26 August r £300 if booked by 30th June, £320 if laterSaturday only r £140 (includes lunch & dinner but not gala concert

ticket)Sunday only r £125 (includes lunch)

Pre-Convention Conducting Course, 23-24 August r £160 if booked by 30th June, £170 if later

Young Conductors’ Course, 24-26 Augustr £300 if booked by 30th June, £320 if later

There will be a limited number of subsidised places for the Young Conductors’ course at £150 each. Please tick here for further details r r I am not currently a member of abcd but wish to join and pay the member’s rate for Convention.

I enclose my subscription with my payment (the current annual subscription is £52 (individuals), £21 (full-time students). Payment now will last until 30 April 2013).

Total fee £ ––––––––

Your contact details

All the campus accommodation is en suite and can be booked as a single room or a small double room. Please indicate your accommodation requirements by ticking the relevant boxes below. All prices include bed and breakfast and are per room per night.r Thursday 23 August r Friday 24 August r Saturday 25 Augustr En suite room (£35 per night)r En suite double room (£50 per night)

Total accommodation fee £ ––––––––

Name Address

County Postcode Telephone Email

r I am an abcd member, ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– region Do you have any dietary or other special requirements? Yes/No Do you require ground floor accommodation? Yes/No Do you have a disability for which you might need assistance? Yes/No If so please state assistance required –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––r Have you previously attended an abcd extended conducting course? We would like to provide a networking opportunity for alumni. Please tick the box if you have.

ABCD-12.indd 8 07/05/2012 19:09

Payment r I enclose a cheque for full payment (please make cheques payable to Association of British Choral Directors)

r I enclose a non-returnable deposit of £50 (balance due by 31st July 2012)

r Please send an invoice to the address enclosed with this form (in time to allow settlement by 31st July 2012)

Paying by cardWe can only accept payment by Mastercard, Visa Debit and Visa Credit cards. Only payment in full can be made this way.

Mastercard / Visa Credit / Visa Debit (please ring type of card)

Card No.

Card valid from / Card expiry date / 3 digit security no. on reverse of card

Cardholder Name (as on card)

Address of cardholder (if different from previous page)

Signature Date

Postcode

Send your booking to: Convention 2012, Len Fletcher, 6 Sunnyhill, Fulwood, Preston, Lancs PR2 9BF

2012’s essential event for all singing leaders

Keep up to date with news about Convention 2012 – visit our website www.abcd.org.ukFor more information and timetable details, please phone Len Fletcher, Convention Administrator, on 01772 704834 or email convention@abcd.org.uk. For general abcd enquiries, please contact Rachel Greaves on 01935 389482 or email rachel.greaves@abcd.org.uk.Information correct at time of going to press. Please note that abcd reserves the right to substitute sessions and presenters without notice. CancellationIf you cancel in writing on or before 25 July we will refund you, minus £50 handling fee. If you cancel in writing after 25 July you will receive a 50% refund, minus £50 deposit. If you cancel on or after 8 August we will not refund you and we therefore advise you to take out your own travel insurance against cancellation. If you book after 15 August you may not receive an acknowledgement before the event. The Association of British Choral Directors, Registered Charity Number 1085226, is a Company Limited by Guarantee number 3985838, registered in England & Wales. Copywriting: David Rees-Jones 01729 823385 Leaflet Design: Louise Allen 07886 828264

Early bird discounts Book early! If you book by 30 June, you will enjoy a discount on the full fee. (No discount available for single day delegates). Delegates are encouraged to make enquiries with their local Arts Council England region, or to apply to their employer for assistance with fees as part of Continuing Professional Development where applicable. For more advice on possible funding, please contact the abcd office on 01935 389482.

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