What a great weekend we had! Thanks to all who joined me at the Pop-Up Jazz Choir Workshop followed by performing on the street….we were great!! You can get a taste of it on this video around 5.25-7.50. Hopefully we’ll do it again next year!
Training and Workshops
Blend and Balance Workshop with River Rhythms , Innishannon April ’19
Had a wonderful morning with the River Rhythms Choir at Innishannon House Hotel, near Cork on Saturday. A lovely group and a beautiful venue. Workshop tailor made for the group…who went away delighted and feeling more confident with their coming performance at the Cork Coral Festival next month.
Our choir had a wonderful and insightful session with Caz yesterday in Innishannon. I requested a workshop on balancing voices and wow did Caz work her magic and did not disappoint. Looking forward to having Caz work with our choir again, highly recommended! (Lorraine Flourish – Choir Director)
Thank you Andalucia and Norfolk…..now back to Ireland! March 2019
I’ve had a wonderful few months out in Andalucia and enjoyed meeting and singing with many people. The Comares Revellers up in the Montagnes de Malaga are still going strong after initiating the group back in February 2018. I enjoyed a few performances with them at their local music festival and market as well as leading several classes. In Orgiva we gathered up a small group to sing fortnightly-some who had worked with me previously and some new comers, and they are hoping to keep it going. The new choir I was asked to help start up in Beznar is now named the El Valle Community Choir and I’ve left them with songs, parts, starting notes and a contact for a friend who can also lead singing if they want more help. I’m delighted!!
The highlight of my trip I think has to be playing music with some of the local musicians up at Comares, where I took to the Open Mike stage on two evenings to share some of my World Music collection as well as some of my original and reggae songs.
A quick visit to the UK this week to meet up with family, as well as leading an afternoon of singing in Norwich – ending up with singing through some of the pieces in the wonderful acoustics of the local thatched church, before heading back to Ireland early next week.
Pop-Up Jazz Choir for Ballydehob Jazz Festival May 2019
For this years’ Ballydehob Jazz Festival I will be leading a workshop to create a Pop-Up Jazz Choir to take out onto the streets before the parade begins on Sunday 5th May. The workshop is open to all and will be from 3-4pm….so come along and join us! Then we will go out onto the streets to have some fun singing our songs ‘Pop-Up’ style in different spots up and down the village. More information can be found nearer the time via the website: www.ballydehobjazzfestival.org
Tickets out now for Craig Lees Vocal Workshop – 13th July 2019
Tickets are now available for purchase for Craigs’ workshop. Really looking forward to his return.
Here’s a taste of our last workshop with him in a short video
Community Choir Day 2019
In November 2018 Caz Jeffreys and Jane Goss (West Cork based Community Choir leader) collaborated to bring Craig Lees over from UK for a Choir Day event in The Celtic Ross Hotel, Rosscarbery, West Cork. The day was a big success with all tickets sold out and has now become an annual event.
You can see a short video of the event here:
COMMUNITY CHOIR DAY 2019
Community Choir Day 2019 will be held on Saturday 2nd November at the beautiful location of Inchydoney Island Hotel near Clonakilty. We are delighted to be welcoming Ciaran Kelly and Vicky Warwick from Irelands’ leading A-Capella group, Ardu to facilitate at the event. The morning will consist of an enjoyable learning experience whilst the afternoon is a chance for choirs to share some of their songs.
Ardu’s professional singers will be leading the songs, introducing fun warmups, followed by vocal technique and expression- all delivered through the structure of some fabulous arrangements with a dynamic approach.
Whilst Ciaran will lead from the keyboard , they will incorporate some elements of their specialist skill- the art of Acapella – and engage us all with captivating vocal textures and harmonies.
Would your choir like to perform a few songs? If your choir would like to perform a few songs during the afternoon session then please get in touch with Jane on 085 1665936 who will book you in and answer any questions. We had members from five local choirs singing last year, and it was a delight to hear them. Please be aware that we only have limited time available for this part of the event and choirs will be allocated a space to perform on a first-come-first-served basis.
Tickets can be purchased to include lunch inside the dining room- soup, salad and sandwiches, or if you prefer to take a trip into Clonakilty (only 10 minutes drive) there are a selection of eating houses to choose from. There will also be a limited amount of space downstairs from the bar menu. We will take 1 1/2 hours break for lunch to ensure everyone has plenty of time.
This year we have introduced a deal for group bookings of 8 people or more.
Tickets will be available shortly….
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You can see more photos of the 2018 event in the Gallery here
Music, Meditation and Mantra – A Creative Workshop at The Quiet House Retreat, Schull, West Cork, May 2019
A beautiful and gentle days’ retreat in a nuturing rural West Cork location. This is a small group activity….intimate, soulful and relaxing. Treat yourself to a day of connecting with your intuition and creating your own personal heartsong through a gently facilitated and held space.
Lunch is provided in the cost….all you need to do is come along and enjoy the unfolding of the day.
To find out more about Mariananda and Quiet House Retreat visit her website here: www.quiethouseretreat.com
Early booking recommended as there are limited places available.
Bookings to Mariananda on 083 1852737 or by email to: marianandaexley@gmail.com
