SOLIHULL CHILDRENS CHORUS

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1 SOLIHULL CHILDRENS CHORUS For young people who love to sing!

2 Who is the Solihull Children s Chorus? Solihull Children s Chorus is a vibrant and exciting choir for young people aged 8-13 (Year 4 Year 8) with membership open to all children and young people from across the Borough. Solihull Children s Chorus is a unique structure, with singing, performance and musicianship taught in a lively and fun way. What s so good about singing? An impact study by Chorus America in 2009 into the benefits of choral singing showed that children who sing in choirs have enhanced social skills as adults achieve greater academic success are more self-confident are more self-disciplined have improved memory skills participate better in group activities have better emotional expression exhibit better emotional management How can my child benefit? Solihull Children s Chorus provides outstanding choral and musical training together with exciting performance opportunities encompassing: Singing in a high quality choir Vocal training to develop good singing technique Wide range of choral repertoire Performance and stagecraft skills Artistic expression, style and communication to an audience Activities to develop pitch and rhythm Aural skills Reading music notation Notes/part learning and consolidation Opportunities for smaller ensemble singing and solos An opportunity to make music with others to the highest standards. High-class direction and coaching from specialist staff. A range of concerts, events and courses, both within the Borough and beyond. Great music, great people, great fun!

3 Joining Solihull Children s Chorus All children are required to pass a short audition before joining Solihull Children s Chorus. The choir director and assistants will also monitor their performance throughout the year. A flat-rate charge of per term or part thereof is made for membership of Solihull Children s Chorus. For this fee we will try to ensure that we provide at least thirty rehearsals and three concerts in each year. The exact number of rehearsals each term will vary in line with school term dates, and the dates of all events will be published in advance. A charge may also be made for tickets for concerts to cover costs of the hire of the venue etc. All those eligible for free school meals are eligible for remission of fees as above. Please note that a Free Services Application Form must be completed and returned prior to commencement and corroborative checks will be made. Parents and students must agree to be committed to the choir, and accept the membership expectations. Once a student joins the choir, parents should ensure that all contact details are updated as necessary through the music service office to ensure we are able to maintain regular contact to provide information about concerts and other events being organised by the music service.

4 Where do the Chorus rehearse and how often? We rehearse at Solihull Music Service, Daylesford Road, Solihull B92 8EJ during term time, with the same holidays as most Solihull schools. At present there are two choirs, a Main Chorus and the Training Children s Chorus. Both choirs meet on Tuesday evenings. The main chorus meet from pm and the Training Chorus meets from pm There may be ONE SATURDAY RHEARSAL each term, for extra concert preparation. Please note that this is a progressive programme with singing and musicianship skills developing weekly. We do expect children to be committed, which requires onsistent and punctual attendance; if children are absent from too many rehearsals they will not be concert ready and may be asked not to perform, or their membership may be reviewed. When do the children perform? There are regular concerts in venues such as Birmingham Symphony Hall, Birmingham Town Hall, Solihull Arts Complex, and Warwick Arts Centre. We arrange opportunities to perform with other choirs in collaboration, as well as guest performances. As the choir continues to develop, it is envisaged that further performances will take place including choral competitions such as BBC Radio 3 Choir of the Year or the National Festival of Music for Youth. Other opportunities: As the children achieve the required standard, it is planned to arrange an opportunity for them to make a professional standard recording. Occasional workshops with external professionals. Working alongside young composers to perform bespoke compositions. How can my child join? We hold recruitment workshops at various times during the year. The workshop is designed to be fun and is very informal. The children are put in groups of no more than 12 children (wherever possible with other children from their school) and take part in some singing games and activities which will enable the staff to identify those who can concentrate, listen carefully, have an ability to sing clearly and in tune, and respond to instruction. The workshop lasts for approximately up to 30 minutes. Applications to join the chorus are also accepted at any time during the academic year. How much does it cost to be a member? A flat-rate charge of per term or part thereof is made for membership of Solihull Children s Chorus.

5 How can I register my child for the recruitment workshops? Please visit the music service website listed below: Click on the online application section of the website and you will be directed to the Solihull Music Service online application form. Once you have registered as a parent/guardian you will be able to apply for a recruitment workshop by clicking on the music service ensembles tab and selecting Solihull Children's Chorus. Once you have enrolled your child through the online application form you will be receive an confirming you have registered your interest. Following your application Solihull Music Service will contact you by to provide further details on the recruitment workshops planned and the audition process for this ensemble. Please note you will not have to make any payments until your child has been accepted as a member of Solihull Children s Chorus following the recruitment workshops. Solihull Music Service, Daylesford Road, Solihull, West Midlands B92 8EJ Fax: messages@solmus.solgrid.org.uk Website:

6 SOLIHULL CHILDREN S CHORUS TEAM Jake Fifer Jake has a wealth of experience working with both young people and adults. He has performed in both the classical and lighter music fields. As well as working for Solihull Music Service as a vocal specialist, he has a private voice practice, conducts adult choirs, is a trained vocal animateur, Arts Award Advisor and freelances as a classroom music specialist. A 2008 post-graduate of the Birmingham Conservatoire, Jake was awarded the Certificate prize for Overall Excellence and is currently a visiting undergraduate lecturer. Sara Jones Sara sings as a professional Soprano with Ex Cathedra Consort, Armonico Consort and St Chads Cathedral Choir. She has received Vocal Tutor Training from Ex Cathedra Education, has completed her 'Sing For Pleasure' Conducting certificates, plus a Music Leader Internship through Town Hall, Symphony Hall, Birmingham. Her many roles working as a freelance peripatetic Vocal Tutor take Sara across Birmingham, Solihull and Walsall Music hubs. When she's not in schools, she's either teaching singing privately, working for Quench Arts Community music projects, running Mini Maestros singing club at The Midland Arts Centre or leading her very own community choir 'BoMo Singers'. Jenny Bottomley Jenny qualified as a teacher at Homerton College, Cambridge and has worked with Solihull Music Service since 2004, spending nine years as accompanist and deputy conductor for Songsquad. She has a love of music and singing, taking lead roles in a number of productions by St. Alphege Musical Productions Society, as well as leading a concert party which performs all over the Midlands. Chris Collis Chris graduated from the Birmingham Conservatoire after studying piano and accompniment with Malcolm Wilson and Paul Hamburger. Chris is a very keen jazz pianist and has performed at numerous festivals. As an accompanist, he has worked with the trio Tea for Three, The National Harmonica League, travelling around the UK and appearing on television and radio. He plays for Bournville Young Singers and works with Solihull Music Service as a piano / keyboard teacher.