Welcome to Joyful Voices
Corona Update:
JV meetings suspended, but we're online
Our Zoom meetings are open to ALL
including non JV members
Final Session -Tuesday, 21st July, 8 pm
Click here for details
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unaccompanied Community Choir in Bungay led by Laura White 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. Our mix now is even more rich and eclectic.
The choir has grown steadily since 2012. 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 in 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.”
Our leader for several years has been Mary Lovett, From September 2019, she will be on a year's sabbatical and we are very pleased that Laura Calver will be taking over from her. Laura is an experienced singing teacher and a performer herself. She is with the Voxettes, a trio who many of you will have seen perform locally. You will be hearing a lot more about Laura over the next few weeks but our format and the type of music we sing will stay the same.
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. Our mix now is even more rich and eclectic.
The choir has grown steadily since 2012. 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 in 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.”
Our leader for several years has been Mary Lovett, From September 2019, she will be on a year's sabbatical and we are very pleased that Laura Calver will be taking over from her. Laura is an experienced singing teacher and a performer herself. She is with the Voxettes, a trio who many of you will have seen perform locally. You will be hearing a lot more about Laura over the next few weeks but our format and the type of music we sing will stay the same.
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