There is very little, in fact none at all really, support for UK a cappella groups so a few dedicated singers got together to offer mutual support and a chance to enjoy the music of some other a cappella groups. We had a great day at the
A Cappella Festival and Workshop on 27th January hosted by
Just A Cappella. Our three guest educators, Joanna Forbes,of Swingle Singers fame, her husband Alexander L'Estrange and Mark Grindall spent an hour with each of the six a cappella groups invited to the day. Each group also got to sing two songs to the assembled crowd. The coaching was of a very high standard and during the plenary session at the end of the day a decision was taken to set up a steering committee with a view to starting a British a cappella association to offer support and information, further workshops and a database of groups and coaches. Copies of a full report and a detailed analysis of the questionnaire returned by 80 of the 90 singers attending has been prepared.
We received grant aid from the UK Lottery fund and from the British Barbershop Association's Harmony Foundation which enabled us to offer the festival as a free event for participating groups.
The first meeting of the new steering committee was be held on 6th April. So watch this space. And please offer any advice you can to a fledgling organisation.
Jean Digby
Music Director
Just A cappella
www.justacappella.org.uk Chairman of steering committee for[b]Sing A Cappella!
