in the press
Tenby Observer, 07/09/2007
Calling all singers
The coming week will see the revival of the youth choir, inTune, after a relaxed summer schedule. The choir's current project is the preparation of a concert for the Soroptomist's of Tenby, which is set for mid-November.
The choir, which is one of very few independent dedicated youth choirs, was founded on the 7th of November last year with the intention of introducing young people to the wonder that is choral singing. It very quickly gained a reputation as one of the county's most prestigious and active youth choirs. In this short time it has given four performances, each quite different to the last, and each of exceptional quality.
It is one of the great tragedies of our time that choral singing is increasingly marginalised amongst young people by the pressures of an overburdened education system, as well as various other demands on their time. Recent television documentaries have certainly given this ailing tradition a much needed boost, but in many places the provision for it is still slender.
More is at stake than one of Britain's most internationally recognised traditions. Music and mankind are very much bound together; having evolved with our species and being innate to almost all of us, music is and always has been extraordinarily important in both personal and social spheres. It seem obvious, but the voice is our natural instrument, and choral singing is the evolved and entirely natural method of communally sharing in music.
In recent centuries, and possibly even millennia, music has been increasingly codified, and choral singing has changed with that. In the thirteenth century Geraldus Cambrensis wrote of Welsh singing being entirely unique in that every person (being a natural musician) sang their own, unwritten, and unprepared part, creating harmonies more complex than any in the rest of Europe. Perhaps this is a slightly idealised account, but certainly it is not an impossible one. Now we learn parts and sing prescribed harmonies, but the act of singing together to create music is unchanged.
If something has evolved with man, one assumes that it must therefore have some kind of purpose. What is the purpose of music? and what is the purpose of singing? Much thought has been given to these, and libraries could probably be filled with the amassed speculation. And so perhaps it is best explained not by purpose but by effect.
The good effect of music upon the mind and psychology have long been discussed, and some have now been proven by survey or scientific study. There are also some good things that are quite specific to singing in a choir. There are obvious ones like the dramatic improvements in singing technique, control over breathing, voice projection, and musical awareness. There are social things too - choirs are very close-knit groups where it is easy to make friendships and connections that run very deeply.
Less known but frequently cited amongst participants are the physical and psychological benefits: most will claim that it has increased their confidence, improved their levels of relaxation and awareness of other people; the breathing and vocal production techniques necessary for good choral singing use the whole body, and are often compared to some of the excercises of the Pilates school or T'ai Chi, with some singers claiming similar results. More recent research has proved that choral singing increases the alertness of the immune system, and also that it induces the release of endorphins, which are related to happiness, relaxation, and to pleasure in general.
These reactions and benefits are particularly sensed by young people, and even children. Pembrokeshire is lucky to have a good number of choirs, including both school choirs and some very "youth-friendly" independent groups, but there is still much room for growth.
And so, with the new academic year, inTune is seeking yet more young singers to come and join its activities. At the moment the choir is attended by somewhere in the region of fifteen to twenty young people, with members ranging from 11 to 18 years of age, and coming from all kinds of musical and social backgrounds. As well as being a friendly group with which to sing, the choir has a lively social life, with about twenty minutes in each rehearsal given to drinks and chat.
It would be great to see this number increase, but attracting new members is difficult, and best achieved by word of mouth, and so, if you know of any young person who likes singing, please let them know about the group, and encourage them to give it a try; or if YOU would like to take part, get in touch with the choir's director, Andrew Cusworth (info@chorotica.com).
The first rehearsal will be a "come and try it" occasion, and will be held on September 11th at 7 p.m. in St. Mary's Church, Tenby.
More about the group, including information on the benefits of singing, what constitutes youth, who should think about joining, how you can help, diary dates, news archives, photographs, and some audio clips can be found on the choir's website: www.chorotica.com
last updated 8/09/07Tenby Observer, 31/08/2007
After a Rest...
The beginning of September will see the return of a regular rehearsal schedule for the youth choir, inTune, and also a renewed drive to recruit young singers.
In spite of being less than a year old, the choir has already achieved a far reaching reputation for the quality of its singing as well as its verve. This was greatly aided by its participation in the recently released recording, "Sounds from St. Mary's", which brought many musical groups in and around Tenby together onto one disc.
Aside from this project, the choir has thus far sung carols for charity, and given two other performances, including an highly acclaimed short concert at "The Penally Experience", which was shared with the Tenby Woodwind Quartet.
Whilst membership has been remarkably stable over the past eight months, it would be wonderful to see the choir grow; and so, over the next week and a half, posters, fliers, and other news snippets will appear as the group tries to raise its profile to attract new singers.
Finding new voices is particularly important: on the 20th of November, the choir will give its first full-length concert for the Soroptimists of Tenby, which will be a great opportunity to demonstrate to the local community what has been and what can be done by young singers.
Attracting new members is best achieved by word of mouth, and so, if you know of any young person who likes singing, please let them know about the group, and encourage them to give it a try; or if YOU would like to take part, get in touch with the choir's director, Andrew Cusworth (info@chorotica.com).
More about the group, including information on the benefits of singing, what constitutes youth, who should think about joining, diary dates, news archives, photographs, and some audio clips can be found on the choir's website: www.chorotica.com
last updated 8/09/07inTune for Charity: the Results
As announced in last week's edition, the youth choir "inTune" went out carol singing in for charity in Tenby on Saturday (16/12/2006).
Beginning with a performance in St. Mary's Churchyard, the choir wended its merry way through the town to remarkable acclaim. The venues were many and varied (Blueberry's Cafe, the Market Hall, the Harbour, the steps to Prince Albert on Castle Hill, Lexon Terrace, the Hope and Anchor, the Lifeboat Inn, Tenby House, the Five Arches, and Tudor Square), and yet the choir was well received in all of them.
In spite of the unfortunate quietness of the town, the venture was evidently appreciated: aided in collecting by families the choir raised the sum of £156.07 for charity. This money has been divided as evenly as possible (one penny was tossed to decide its final destination), and donated to the St. Teilo's Church Restoration Fund and Cancer Research UK.
Thank you: to those people who gave so generously when the choir was out singing; for all of the compliments and good feeling that have been extended to the choir; to the parents and families who have been so supportive; and of course, to the choir along with congratulations for their commitment and an excellent first public appearance.
That a choir meeting for the first time on the 7th of November should be performing so soon and with such alacrity is something of which its members should be very proud.
The rehearsals have now been paused for the holidays and will resume on Tuesday 9th January at 7 pm, when we will begin rehearsing intensively for our contribution to the recording of "Sounds from St. Mary's". In the meantime, a merry Christmas to the choir, to their families and supporters, and to all!
-Tenby Observer, 22/12/2006
last updated 30/08/07Older articles available by request
last updated 6/12/07
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