Bristol Beacon Choir Festival

Choose your workshop

Select one of the following workshops to add on to your day

What’s the key to singing great harmonies? Richard offers a look at some of the secrets behind this, using some interactive tools to get you to increase your understanding.

Irish-South African musician Richard Swan trained at Goldsmiths’ University, and has worked as a choir-director, educator, bandleader and composer ever since.

He has had music commissioned by Hampton Court Palace and collaborated with Annie Lennox.

He is the founder of London City Voices, a huge non-audition pop choir in London, and composes in styles ranging from film music to drum & bass.

Nav will make it seem like you’re just playing silly games and enjoying yourself.

But what we will discover is that the fastest way to the best sound, the most confident performances and the most audience engagement is through allowing the music to do all the work.

Through a series of warm-up games, Nav will reset our singing/working culture to ‘play mode’, resetting our fears of learning new material and showing us how quickly we can be performance ready as we dive into various bits of music from musical theatre.

Naveen Arles BCA FRSA, has established himself as an energetic, inspirational vocal leader and animateur. Founder of MDBrunch, his 36 years in music incorporates 26 years of creating singing groups of all ages and skills.

His choirs have toured with Hugh Jackman; performed for HRH Prince Charles and welcomed the guests for Michelle Obama’s UK book launch.

Delve deep in your soul to explore the rich music of the African American spiritual, a music forged from pain and suffering, but remarkably manages to celebrate all that is transcendent in the human spirit.

We will swiftly learn 5 pieces aurally and perform them, considering range and alternative uses of the voice. Let us transport you. Come, come to the river.

Aga Serugo-Lugo is a vocalist, clarinettist, composer and workshop leader. Aga’s interests lie in narrative-based community music-making, focusing on accessibility and inclusivity.

This has given him the opportunity to work with, amongst others: Sing-up, The ROH, ENO Baylis, Turtle Key Arts, Streetwise Opera, Wiltshire Music Centre, Mencap, Pegasus Opera, Wigmore Hall and Britten Pears Arts.