Posts tagged “onevoice”

Did two festivals this weekend - Saturday was Picnic Rocks Festival in support of Action Against Hunger. It was on Clapham Common bandstand and the sun was blazing!

Then on Sunday it was Respect festival. It was the first full performance of the One Voice commission. The rain was hardcore. Myself, Hobbit, jestar* and Bellatrix were all stood out in front of the choirs and out of the shelter so we got soaked, but the choirs were breathtaking.

Can’t wait to do it again in September.

I’ve been rehearsing all weekend with the choirs in my Onevoice commission. On Sunday it was the first time that we brought together all 120 voices and practised the piece in its entirety.

It was so weird bringing all these different people together for the first time. I’ve been working with them all separately for the last 2 months, and while they were all turning up, I was greeted by so many different people it felt like somebody’s wedding.

The whole experience has been amazing so far, working with such a diverse range of people from totally different walks of life. I’ve been learning a lot as well as we go along, about leading music and how to get people to respond to each other. Also I’ve been teaching singing which is something I would never have been confident with in the past.

The kids are incredibly enthusiastic, and it rubs off on all the grown ups. I’ve been getting them all to play little games in between rehearsing. At first I was unsure about asking the adults to do silly things that were clearly for the benefit of the kids, but as one of them pointed out, in a community project like this there *are* no grown ups!

That’s it now, no more rehearsals…. Bring on Respect Festival!

I’ve now met all my choirs for the OneVoice commission. I’ve got a mass gospel choir assembled from various churches in West London, a children’s choir, a Brazilian choir called Nossa Voz, and a contemporary choir called The Heard.

Over the next four weeks I have to create the piece that these four choirs will perform to 20,000 people at Respect festival in July. So far I’ve had one session with each group, teaching them how to beatbox and hearing some of their own performance style. I get one more session with each group before they all come together for a final rehearsal. Bellatrix, jestar* and MC Zani will be with me for the rest of the process.

I’m excited now, a bit daunted by the creative process, but got the right team around me and the groups are enthusiastic! Will try and get some photo / video / audio posted up soon. In the mean time get the 6th July in your diaries for respect festival.

I think John Humprhies must have chickened out - when I got to the BBC studios he wasn’t there. Still did a great little interview with Evan Davis, myself and jestar* from the Vocal Orchestra… have a listen: Shlomo and jestar* on BBC Radio 4.

i seem to have done no end of press interviews for the show on Saturday - it’s nearly sold out so get in quick if you still want to come…

In the past few days I’ve been working with Gospel singers and a Brazillian choir for the commission I am doing with Brent Respect Festival, and been busy rehearsing the new line up of the Vocal Orchestra. We did a gig at the Guildhall School of Music last Friday to big up Sir George Martin who was a student there many years ago. We performed a medley of Beatles songs, some of which may make it into the setlist on Saturday! I meant to invite Sir George but totally forgot. Him and John Humphries - I missed the opportunity to get two legends beatboxing in one week !