Performance workshop for Juniors
Lin Marsh, composer, choral trainer and expert in the field of music theatre, held a morning workshop for the FYC Junior choirs.
The children were encouraged to use three focus points in the hall to free them from only looking at the conductor (not appropriate for this style of mainly unison singing) and to use their faces and bodies to bring alive the text. “An opera singer who is acting a part can’t watch the conductor all the time”, Lin reminded the singers, “but does use all his or her peripheral vision to keep an eye on the conductor’s beat”.
During the session, the youngsters were taught three contrasting songs composed by Lin, with all the dramatic presentation that would go with the performance.
The well-trained singers soon picked up the melodies, but the skill of uniting the music with the movement proved more of a challenge! Nevertheless, the morning workshop was greatly enjoyed by the boys and girls who were complimented by Lin Marsh on their concentration and beautiful sound.
Parents who attended the final 15 minutes were impressed with what they saw, and David Victor-Smith in thanking Lin, hoped to see her back in Farnham in the near future.
Chinese banquet and auction night
The Farnham Town Mayor, Cllr. Jill Hargreaves, was among more than 100 guests at a Chinese Banquet and Auction Night at Kei’s Restaurant, Runfold, to raise funds for Farnham Youth Choir’s participation at the World Choir Games in Cincinnati in July.
The result was a major £7,500 boost to the fund supporting the choir’s US tour. The itinerary includes a week’s stay in Cincinnati competing with many of the best choirs in the world, before going on to New York where FYC will perform in St Paul’s Church at Ground Zero.
“This is a magnificent result”, said the FYC’s Musical Director, David Victor-Smith, “entirely due to the generosity of those providing auction and raffle prizes and everyone who took part on the night. We are also grateful to the superb support by Alan Tang and his staff at Kei’s, who put on a terrific banquet for us.” He also paid tribute to FYC’s sponsors attending the evening, including Associate Sponsor Wise & Co, Bells Solicitors, PKF, Specsavers and Savills Estate Agents, “whose terrific generosity makes such a difference to our ability to continue to perform at such a high standard.”
The auction, which was run by auctioneer extraordinaire, Mark Head, raised nearly £5,500. Items ranged from a trip in a vintage Rolls Royce to the Goodwood Festival of Speed, a day’s racing at Ascot’s famous Christmas Festival and a painting of Farnham Park in the Snow, to five hours’ babysitting by a current member of the choir. In addition, the raffle on the night raised £500 and a separate raffle undertaken by choir members added a further £1,100.
The sponsors were very happy with the evening and have asked that another banquet be held in 2013 which really pleased the Chairman, Graham Noakes! The Mayor congratulated the choir for putting on such an excellent event and wished FYC “a successful trip to the US”, a sentiment shared by all those present.