A Year in the Making
A Year in the Making
Just under a year ago, local Musical and Chorus Director- Zoe Peate , sat down with three male singers, David Ellwood, Tam Large and John Higgins, and together they set out their plan to create a new male voice Acapella Chorus, capable of thoroughly entertaining an audience, and performing to a very good musical standard
11 months on,...... and the new Steyning-based Chorus - VOCAL FUSION - has grown to 16 members, and their entertaining repertoire already embraces a good range of 20th Century classic American songs, Swing, Jazz and Spirituals, including "Stepping Out with my Baby", "Deep River" "It's just the Nearness of You" "Ebb Tide" "Return to Sender" and "Over the Rainbow."
VOCAL FUSION have successfully performed at several Concerts and Festivals in Horsham and Steyning since their formation, and in May 2016 sang at the Annual Barbershop Convention in Harrogate - coming third in the "Small Chorus" Class.
The Chorus have also had several paid bookings already, and received great feedback.
One of the key elements in the successful development of the Chorus over the last year has been the use of experienced Voice and Performance Coaches, who have worked with the Chorus to improve their singing posture, breathing techniques, "performing" the song and making it "believable", and this, coupled with Zoe Peate's exceptional Choral Direction, is helping the Chorus towards the performance standard they envisaged at the start.
Zoe Peate says "Whilst VOCAL FUSION has already developed really well, we are now looking for additional singers - Leads, Baritones, Tenors and Bass, as we move into our second year - to join us and learn and share in the absolute pleasure of Acapella singing.
There is no necessity to be able to read music as we provide all the vocal tracks and music for singers to learn their part - we just need new entrants to have a good voice, and a real willingness to perform to the very best of their abilities."
It's not all hard work though - after every rehearsal, everybody troops off to the Norfolk Arms in Steyning, where usually more singing (after a drink) takes place, much to the delight of Pam - the Landlord, and all the locals.
If you think you might be interested in joining , why not drop in to listen at one of our rehearsals which are held every Wednesday evening - 7.15pm to 9.45pm, at Steyning Methodist Church, 18 High Street, Steyning BN44 3GG.
Alternatively phone John Higgins (01444 482183) for further information.
Our next Concert is in All Saints Church Lindfield at 4.00pm on Saturday 19th November, and then at Steyning Grammar School on 14th January 2017 also at 4.00pm.