21st Century Vox
A mini festival with a vision!
On 19th January 2019 The Vocal Room will take over a fantastic venue, Middlesbrough Town Hall, and we'd like to welcome you all!
We had a vision that The Vocal Room would bring voices together to learn and create. With that in mind we have designed 21st Century Vox, a celebration for practitioners, performers, creatives and all who love the voice. Expect an explosion of sound to hit Middlesbrough Town Hall in the form of bespoke workshops and performances from local artists and choirs.
​
With your support, we will develop 21st Century Vox and create further events that put the North East on the map with regards celebrating all things voice and vocal training.
​
We look forward to sharing this journey with you all! Follow the links below to plan your vocal journey through the 19th January.
​
​
#21stvoxfest is a mini celebration but it is one with a vision to grow.
#voicestogether
​
11 am (90 minutes)
​
£7.50
​
Participants of this workshop will also take part in the lunchtime performance at 12.55pm
​
Sing United is a community singing group of more than 140 singers based in Newcastle upon Tyne.
​
We sing music with meaning. But not only do we sing stories of people, communities, and messages, our Sing United Supports initiative raises money for charities that are connected to the stories we tell. We also have projects with school children to encourage them to get involved with music, and wherever possible we perform in places that don’t normally have live music, and community spaces.
This open rehearsal will allow you to join in with members of Sing United as we start to learn songs for our March 2019 show, This Land Is Mine, honouring in song those who have worked the world’s mines. There will also be a short performance of material from our Power to the People show, with spine-tingling versions of some of history’s most powerful songs that hope for change.
​
Click here to visit Sing United's home page.
Don't Forget To Breathe
​
10.30 am (2 hours)
​
£12.50
​
In this workshop, James Knight will share various different clowning techniques. Participants will explore Lecoq’s states of tensions within the body and lead the exploration with an extra significance on how we use the breath in these states. The workshop will involve game playing and undertaking exercises experimenting with the notion of breath and how that may or may not have an effect on how the audience experience the clown on stage.
Can an exhalation cause laughter, can the in breath create shock and suspense within the audience? We will pose these questions and more, but of course there is going to be a lot of fun, but more importantly failure, as it wouldn’t be a clown workshop without it!
This workshop is for actors in training or people who have had professional acting experience.
​
Click here to visit Facebook and find out more about the work that James does.
Noize Choir
​
11.30 am (1 hour)
​
Free
​
Noizechoir is a Newcastle based vocal project that has been running for 7 years. They aim to create an inclusive space to experiment with the sonic possibilities of voice. Using extended voice techniques, improvisation and graphic scores they create sonic environments, playful games and experimental soundscapes. They have an inclusive approach to voice and choral work and there is no requirement to be able to sing -only a desire to participate.
​
In this workshop Noizechoir will introduce you to a number of their working practices, give you the opportunity to try out some of our scores and, perhaps, to create something new.
​
Click here to visit Noize Choir's Facebook page.
.png)
My Words, My Voice
​
2pm (90 mins)
​
Free - Donations collected for Teeside Hospice
​
The platform for everyday people to share their ever-changing stories. Teesside Hospice is hosting My Words, My Voice to celebrate the stories and experiences of real Teesside people.
Teesside Hospice offers palliative care for local people over the age of 18 who are living with a life-limiting illness when a cure is no longer possible.
​
My Words, My Voice gives you the chance to share your story, while supporting your local hospice with a donation. The beautiful compilation of stories from the real people of Teesside aims to highlight how everyone, no matter their background, has a story to tell.
​
Do you have a story to tell? Either fictional or a true story?
​
To get involved contact:
jordannemcmullan@teessidehospice.co.uk
or call: 01642 811154
​
Click here to find out more about the work that Teesside Hospice do.
Ken Masters Beat Boxing Workshop
​
2pm (1 hour)
​
Free
​
Ken Masters is a Hip Hop educator and artist specialising in rap, beatbox and composition.
Through Knowledge Movement, Kens aim is to utilise his experience in community arts delivery, mixed with his long standing position in North-East Hip Hop culture as a performer and event host, to develop an inclusive delivery model that promotes the positive aspects at the core of Hip Hop.
​
Through events and programmes of activity such as Just Jam, B.A.R.S. and Konnect, the benefits of self expression have been established as integral to the delivery model. More specifically, the art of rap, spoken word and other alternative vocal mediums like beatbox and vocal percussion provide a wider range of accessibility to the use of voice in art.
​
For 21st Century Vox Ken will be hosting a live composition session with a loop station and incorporating various vocal styles including rap and beatbox.
Anne Leatherland
Singing In The 21st Century Technique Workshop
​
2 pm (2 hours)
​
£12.50
​
A two-hour practical vocal workshop with Vocal Process Associate Trainer Anne Leatherland. Perfect for singers of all kinds.
​
Anne will lead you through two songs using top techniques from “This is a Voice”, written by Vocal Process experts Dr Gillyanne Kayes and Jeremy Fisher. Come along and enjoy singing and learning at the same time.
​
This is a great introduction to Vocal Process courses.
​
​
Click here to visit Anne's website and here to find out more about Vocal Process.
An Introduction To The Alexander Technique with Tom McConville
​
4.30 pm (75 minutes)
​
Free
​
The Alexander Technique is a method that works to change (movement) habits in our everyday activities. It is a simple and practical method for improving ease and freedom of movement, balance, support and coordination. The technique teaches the use of the appropriate amount of effort for a particular activity, giving you more energy for all your activities. It is not a series of treatments or exercises, but rather a re-education of the mind and body. The Alexander Technique is a method which helps a person discover a new balance in the body by releasing unnecessary tension. Since qualifying Tom has worked with hundreds of people, a lot of them musicians, to enhance their stage performances and quality of life in general. Several soloists and orchestras have sought his help as a practitioner who is sympathetic to their particular needs. In this workshop Tom will explore an introduction to the technique with participants. Loose, comfortable clothing should be worn and participants should bring a few books to use in the workshop as support.
​
Click here to find out more about The Alexander Technique and Tom's work.
Tea Time Sing with Beccy Owen
​
4.30 pm (90 minutes)
​
£7.50
​
Beccy Owen’s Pop-Up Choirs (BOPUC) is an on-going series of group singing events that was founded in the summer of 2016. Since then it has gone from strength-to-strength, inspiring people across the UK and Europe to get involved in singing with others. Bringing together people of all ages, backgrounds and musical tastes, a pop-up choir is a one-off musical happening that changes every time.
​
Click here to find out more about Beccy and her pop up adventures.
Finding Your Voice
for TV and Film
4pm - 6pm
​
£7.50
A step by step masterclass which offers participants an insight on how to pitch the voice for professional taping experiences. Suitable for all levels from young performing arts students to established and experienced actors.
​
The masterclass will be led by Peanuts Talent Creative Director.
​
Peanuts Talent are a creative agency that proudly represent, coach and mentor young performers from the North East within theatre, TV and film industries.
​
Recent client successes include:
BBC Casualty
CBBC The Dumping Ground
ITV Vera
BBC Home Front
TK Maxx Campaigns
McDonald’s Campaigns
2pm - 4pm
​
FREE
​
Simon Davies-Fidler is the Music Director of award-winning chamber choir, Voices of Hope. In 2016 the choir won the UK National Choir of The Year competition and were finalists in Europe’s Let The Peoples Sing contest, the following year. Simon is the Director of Music at St James’ & St Basil’s Church in Newcastle where he conducts J’s & B’s Singers and Fenham Ensemble. He also runs two choirs in Northumberland with his wife, Gail: Wylam Singers and Tyne Valley Voices. Over the last 20 years Simon has worked with many of the region’s choirs and choruses including the Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia, Quay Voices, the University choirs of Newcastle, Northumbria and Sunderland, Lemington Male Voice Choir, Northern Praeclassica, Armstrong Voices, Centenary Choir, Streetwise Opera and Sunderland Opera.
In this workshop Simon will provide an introduction to classical choral singing, for those who enjoy singing in a community choir setting and who would like to explore some well-known classical repertoire.
​
Music reading skills are not essential, although familiarity with music would be advantageous for this workshop.
Spend 2 hours with Simon, exploring some of the greatest choral pieces of all-time including Handel’s ‘Zadok the Priest’, Bach’s ‘Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring’ and Mozart’s ‘Lacrymosa’.
You will enjoy this workshop if you are familiar with singing in parts and are interested in something a little more challenging. Come and give classical a try!
​
Rachael McShane
Find Your Folk Voice
4 pm - 1 hour
​
£7.50
​
The session will focus on singing in a folk style as part of a group, looking at ornamentation, harmony and techniques that can be used for either group or solo performance. We will learn some folk repertoire in a friendly and relaxed environment with opportunities for solos from those who are feeling brave!
Rachael McShane is a singer, cellist, fiddle and viola player based in the North East of England. Best known as an original member of folk big band Bellowhead, Rachael toured internationally with them as well as making several TV appearances. Bellowhead recorded 5 studio albums, and won a total of 8 BBC Folk Awards in their 12 years together. Rachael's brand new album (her first since 2009) sees her reworking traditional songs with a new band, The Cartographers, featuring guitarist Matthew Ord (Assembly Lane) and melodeon player Julian Sutton (Kathryn Tickell, Sting). 'When All Is Still' is out on 12/8/18.
​
Click here to see Rachael's website
Rebecca James
Becca joins us as part of our free performance series. Enjoy Rebecca performing in the Foyer to welcome you to the event at 10.15am
​
Click here to learn more about Rebecca
Tall Shaves
We welcome Tall Shaves as part of our free performance series. Enjoy their performance over lunch in the Main Hall at 12.30pm
​
Click here to visit Tall Shaves Facebook page
Danielle and Matty
Danielle and Matty Join us as part of our free performance series. Enjoy their performance over lunch in the cafe at 1.20 pm
​
Click here to find out about Danielle & Matty on their Facebook page
All About Words Art
We are delighted that Catherine Lines from All About Words will be with us for the duration of the day.
​
All About Words creates beautiful personalised pictures and cards that make treasured gifts for all occasions. The words are yours so no two gifts are ever the same.
You choose the words/dates/names/favourite things/places/emotions etc and All About Words will create your unique picture. If you have any specific colour scheme, that can be incorporated in too.
All pictures are printed on high quality white card, 300gsm.
​
Click here to see Catherine's Facebook page.
