Diary and Bookings

Shepherd's Dene

With Ali Burns and Brendan Taaffe

A weekend of luscious harmony and strong community: Original compositions and arrangements, Brendan's traditional American Gospel and Makwayera songs from Zimbabwe. This weekend begins with dinner at 7pm on Friday evening and ends at about 3.30 on Sunday. Weekend cost includes room and board - most bedrooms are twin, some have ensuite facilities.  A day rate also available for people who'd like to attend but can arrange their own accommodation. Lunch is included in the day price. Shepherd's Dene, just outside Hexham is a rural retreat centre, and is known as a great venue for singing events.

  This one off evening workshop will take place at the Lanturn Centre in Dublin. Ali will teach songs to move and inspire - contemplative and upbeat - in what promises to be a great evening of harmony singing, Come along whatever your experience of singing. For more information go www.soundstories.ie

A Sunday of sublime harmony singing at Cairndow Village Hall, near Inveraray, Argyle. Bring something for lunch to share. Email Mave at jimandmave@dianaferrari.co.uk for more details.

Ali will be running a "Harmony Masterclass" on this weekend while co-teachers and opera singers Paul Keohone and WIlma MacDougall give individual lessons and small groupwork classes on singing technique. Some of Ali's harmony workshops will be open to the public. The aim of the course is to create opportunities for singers of all levels to improve their singing in a friendly and supportive environment. There will be singing tuition for individuals, for small groups and there will also be opportunities for solo performances, unaccompanied harmony singing and/or accompanied choral singing.

3 PLACES LEFT Contact Kathy Somers: k.somers@me.com

A weekend workshop with Ali Burns and Karen Dietz teaching new compositions, American Gospel, Close Harmony  and also incorporating voice work and harmony singing techniques.

Accommodation is in shared ensuite bedrooms for 2 or 3.  Some day places also available.  If booking online payment is through PayPal, if paying by cheque payments should be made out to Band of Song and sent to:
3 Academy Street, Castle Douglas,  DG7 1AP.  For additional information phone 01556 503646 or 01368 864023.  Campervans may be accommodated - please call for details.

Choir leader, Kate O’Connell, in collaberation with Transition Town Forres has recently commissioned new songs from Ali Burns. These songs - on the themes of local resilience in the face of peak oil, climate change, global warming and social issues connected with this - will form the basis of a performance in late May/early June. This is the first day of the project and Ali will teach her songs in an open workshop.

This workshop will be followed up by a series of Saturday morning sessions rehearsing the songs for the performance. More details to follow. To express interest please contact Kate O'Connell kateoc@naturalvoice.net

Largs, Ayrshire

This is a first time Harmony Singing event for Largs on the Ayrshire coast, South West Scotland. Come along and try a fun day of harmony singing. Bring a plate of  food to share for a buffet style lunch. The venue is not confirmed yet so keep an eye on this page for details. Contact sheila@sheilaramsay.com for more information. The day will start with coffee and registration 10.30 and we'll start singing at 11.00.

In this harmony workshop I'll be teaching as yet unpublished material - upbeat and contemplative, serious and fun - as well as sharing some great voice tips for harmony singers. I'll also be looking at ways to really work the songs and get the most from them. Come along and we'll have a great day of singing and playing with songs and the space we're singing in. Bring lunch to share.

Women Singing Week is always the week that includes the English Spring Bank Holiday (and school half-term in some places). This year (2012) it runs from Saturday 2nd to Saturday 9th June. The venue is always Laurieston Hall in South West Scotland: a place of breathtaking natural beauty, warm humanity and shabby charm. Over the week there are workshops every day led by some of Britain's best Natural Voice Singing teachers including: Jules Gibb, Val Regan, Kirsty Martin, Ali Burns, Kate Howard, Rowena Whitehead. Children are welcome. Got to www.womensinging.org.uk

Natural voice workshops on a beautiful organic farm in Dorset. Many gifted voiceteachers, children's activities and lots more. See www.unicorncamps.com. More details to follow.

With Kate Howard, Peter and Mary Alice Amidon and Val Mindel. A week of high energy singing American, Shape Note and gospel, own arrangements and new songs from Alison Burns.

A one day harmony singing workshop in the centre of Dublin. More details nearer the time.