'So I sang to myself. Songs I’d learned from selkies- seal women who sang so sweetly they could calm a rough sea...'
FROM RETURN OF THE WILDMAN
|
NEXT EVENT:
WILD WOODS 1 DECEMBER 2023 · 5.00 AND 6.30PM THE OLD BANK, 24 HIGH STREET, SAXMUNDHAM, IP17 1AJ ADMISSION FREE |
We're always looking for new voices, both male and female, with no previous musical experience needed except a love of singing. Participation in performances is flexible and intended to be fun. If you are interested in joining the singers, please do get in touch.
The Wonderful Beast Singers is a group of non-professional vocalists who simply love to sing. It started as a scratch choir in Wonderful Beast’s first community opera, The Six Swans, a highlight of the Storm of Stories Festival in 2014. The singers subsequently participated in The Nightingale, Wonderful Beast’s second community opera and had the wonderful experience of being trained by Jessica Maryon-Davies, chorus master for both productions. Ten members of the group took to the road performing as a shanty-singing chorus in Return of the Wildman, under the musical direction of Sylvia Hallett.
Always extending their skills and robustly taking on unusual musical challenges, the Wonderful Beast Singers have engaged in immersive weekends of song which included Eastern European folk songs in the original languages, traditional songs from round the world, partaking of slices of opera (Carmen), and plenty of doo-be-doo-dooing from The Rhythm of Life (Sweet Charity), as well as the beautiful round Dona Nobis Pacem. These hugely enjoyable sessions were led by musicians Sylvia Hallett and Martina Schwarz.
In 2022, the singers performed Balkan pre-show songs and participated in Wonderful Beast's production First The Dance, Then The Feast, at Thorington amphitheatre. This was followed later in the year by taking part in Once Upon a Time, a celebration of 25 years of Wonderful Beast.
The enthusiasm of the group continues to drive us forward to new and eclectic territory. It is led by singer Rob Gildon and Artistic Director Alys Kihl.
Always extending their skills and robustly taking on unusual musical challenges, the Wonderful Beast Singers have engaged in immersive weekends of song which included Eastern European folk songs in the original languages, traditional songs from round the world, partaking of slices of opera (Carmen), and plenty of doo-be-doo-dooing from The Rhythm of Life (Sweet Charity), as well as the beautiful round Dona Nobis Pacem. These hugely enjoyable sessions were led by musicians Sylvia Hallett and Martina Schwarz.
In 2022, the singers performed Balkan pre-show songs and participated in Wonderful Beast's production First The Dance, Then The Feast, at Thorington amphitheatre. This was followed later in the year by taking part in Once Upon a Time, a celebration of 25 years of Wonderful Beast.
The enthusiasm of the group continues to drive us forward to new and eclectic territory. It is led by singer Rob Gildon and Artistic Director Alys Kihl.
