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TWO of the UK's leading choir conductors will be on the Island in April for a one-day singing workshop and evening concert at the Newport Minster.
Grenville Jones was featured on national TV on Children in Need Day last week. He was one of only 8 choir conductors asked by the BBC to lead a regional choir of young people who linked to Television Centre and Gareth Malone.
The workshop on Saturday April 14 brings together Grenville with Mark De-Lisser of the ACM Gospel Choir. Mark and Grenville met when ACM and Grenville's hugely popular Bath Male Choir reached the finals of the BBC Last Choir Standing series.
Since that time both men have been in huge demand with their choirs and for other music projects around the World as Last Choir Standing has been shown all across the globe. Mark has toured with Russell Watson and is Director of the Singology Choir Project. Grenville Jones has worked with Katherine Jenkins, Aled Jones, Hayley Westenra, Lee Mead and Rhydian Roberts in recent months. When Disney and Dreamworks wanted a group of singers for the War Horse film, due out in January, they asked Grenville!
Grenville is also the founder of a Charity called Golden-Oldies which brings music to hundreds of elderly people across the West and Wales. Sir Cliff Richard is the Patron of “Goldies”, as it has become fondly known.
"The workshop is for everyone who loves to sing. You certainly don't have to read music, if you enjoy a good sing in the shower or in your car then April 14th is the day to come along.
"I will be working on some choral harmony music whilst Mark will concentrate on how to enjoy singing Gospel. Everyone at the workshop will also sing at the evening concert in the Minster Church which starts at 7.30pm," says Grenville.
Full details of the Workshop and how to book can be found on www.grenvillejones.biz. The Workshop will run from 1.30pm through to 5.30pm. The evening concert will feature Grenville’s mixed-voice choir, THE Bath Chorus and also the Isle of Wight Gospel Choir conducted by Neil Barker. The Workshop tickets are priced £15 which also includes admission to the evening concert. Tickets just for the concert are priced £8.
About the IOW Gospel Choir
The Isle of Wight Gospel Choir is an energetic group, performing a rich diversity of Gospel style music in venues across the Isle of Wight. The choir and band are all volunteers who come from different churches across the Island. With uplifting words and moving tunes, the music the choir brings touches audiences wherever they are from churches to prisons, theatres to care homes.
Earlier this year they performed at the Medina Theatre with other "gospel inspired" music groups from the Island. Neil Barker has been the musical director since December 2010 and they have had a busy diary during 2011. The choir currently has around thirty singers from a range of different backgrounds and is often accompanied by a band consisting of various combinations of keyboard, bass, guitar, drums, flute, violin and saxophone.
As well as being passionate about music, the choir are excited about the good news of Jesus which the gospel songs celebrate. The passion behind the songs come through in every performance, with words of truth seamlessly blended with beautiful harmonies.
2007 saw the recording of the choir's first album, which was released at the beginning of May 2008. The choir was formed in 2003 by Sally Rowe.
Gospel music originates from the African-American church and is usually sung in three or four part harmonies. It is a style of music that appeals to all ages. Movement is part and parcel of gospel music. It involves swaying, clapping and choreography. The words of the songs are based on the gospel: the good news of Jesus Christ.
The choir is always on the lookout for both new members and new audiences. If you would like the choir to play at your community venue or event, or would like to join the choir, please get in touch.
