Welcome to Joyful Voices
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unaccompanied Community Choir in Bungay led by Mary Lovett songs from around the world taught by ear no experience necessary EVERYONE WELCOME if you would like to find out more, email joyfulvoices@yahoo.co.uk Click here for our calendar Click here for our venue Click here for subscriptions information About Joyful Voices
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Joyful Voices started Life in January 2012 after the internationally acclaimed Gospel singing leader from New Zealand, Tony Backhouse, led a workshop in Bungay. Around 70 people attended and the interest in unaccompanied (a cappella) harmony singing in this area was obvious. Two well-known local singing leaders, Bridget Cousins and Helen Rolfe, both members of the Natural Voice Practitioners Network (NVPN),stepped forward and Joyful Voices was born.
Initially an informal, non-performing, drop-in group, the focus was on gospel, spirituals and other folk songs from around the world, including contemporary writing from talented British writers.
Six years later, this is still very much the kind of repertoire that our leader, Mary Lovett, selects, but it also includes early English music and songs from indigenous tribes such as the Baca – a rich and eclectic mix!
The choir has grown steadily under Mary's leadership. Our first concert was for Christian Aid Week at Emmanuel Church, where we rehearse, in May, 2014. We have held very successful concerts most summers since then. We have also hosted wonderful workshop days with Windborne and again with Tony Backhouse. Some of our singers have joined Mary in her other projects such as the musical events held in the village of Bergh Apton.
All songs are taught by ear, usually in three-part harmony and are unaccompanied. No music reading or previous experience is necessary and there is no audition. The NVPN believe that singing is for everyone and its benefits are now well researched.
“Natural Voice is about celebrating the voice you were born with, rather than trying to train it to an ideal of perfection. It's about building accepting, non-judgmental communities that sing together. It's about welcoming all voices into a group without audition and working from there to make a group sound. It's about making learning by ear accessible to the whole group so that nobody needs to be able to read music.”
Mary Lovett, has a first class honours degree in Popular Music Practice and won the “Outstanding Student of the Year Award, presented by Edith Bowman at the BAFTA academy in December 2006. She is a talented, popular and charismatic leader, and Joyful Voices is known for its friendly, relaxed atmosphere.
The ethos that she works with is that singing is for everyone regardless of age or ability and you don’t have to read music or be highly skilled. Just willing!
Sessions start with fun warm ups, physical and vocal, then one or two songs are taught in the first half, with new material or a reprise after refreshments.
Come along and try us out.
JB
Initially an informal, non-performing, drop-in group, the focus was on gospel, spirituals and other folk songs from around the world, including contemporary writing from talented British writers.
Six years later, this is still very much the kind of repertoire that our leader, Mary Lovett, selects, but it also includes early English music and songs from indigenous tribes such as the Baca – a rich and eclectic mix!
The choir has grown steadily under Mary's leadership. Our first concert was for Christian Aid Week at Emmanuel Church, where we rehearse, in May, 2014. We have held very successful concerts most summers since then. We have also hosted wonderful workshop days with Windborne and again with Tony Backhouse. Some of our singers have joined Mary in her other projects such as the musical events held in the village of Bergh Apton.
All songs are taught by ear, usually in three-part harmony and are unaccompanied. No music reading or previous experience is necessary and there is no audition. The NVPN believe that singing is for everyone and its benefits are now well researched.
“Natural Voice is about celebrating the voice you were born with, rather than trying to train it to an ideal of perfection. It's about building accepting, non-judgmental communities that sing together. It's about welcoming all voices into a group without audition and working from there to make a group sound. It's about making learning by ear accessible to the whole group so that nobody needs to be able to read music.”
Mary Lovett, has a first class honours degree in Popular Music Practice and won the “Outstanding Student of the Year Award, presented by Edith Bowman at the BAFTA academy in December 2006. She is a talented, popular and charismatic leader, and Joyful Voices is known for its friendly, relaxed atmosphere.
The ethos that she works with is that singing is for everyone regardless of age or ability and you don’t have to read music or be highly skilled. Just willing!
Sessions start with fun warm ups, physical and vocal, then one or two songs are taught in the first half, with new material or a reprise after refreshments.
Come along and try us out.
JB