The Real A Cappella Festival - Sweden’s first vocal group festival
Written by PRESS RELEASE
Sunday, 01 June 2008
The Real A Cappella Festival - Sweden’s first vocal group festival
It all happens September, 2008! This fall, Sweden’s premier vocal ensemble The Real Group will cut the red ribbon to Sweden’s first ever vocal group festival. From September 10-14, Västerås’ Concert House and Västmanlandsmusiken will host The Real A Cappella Festival.
As the festival's artistic directors, the members of The Real Group have assembled six highly accomplished vocal groups and two of the world's choral and a cappella luminaries to present five days of incredible concerts, seminars and workshops.
Rajaton (Finland) and Vocal Line (Denmark) are two vocal ensembles of absolute top international status.
Cosmos (Latvia) are superstars in their country, on the threshold of conquering the rest of the world.
Pust is a new and very creative vocal group from Norway, who recently released a critically acclaimed CD.
Kongero (Sweden) has it's roots in Swedish folk music, and
Vocal Six (Sweden), a very popular group from Skåne, Sweden.
Vocal ensemble guru Phil Mattson will be giving seminars on a number of topics, one such seminar covering ”The immortal genius of Gene Puerling”.
Jens Johansen, founder, musical director and conductor of the amazing 'Vocal Line' will be giving workshops for choir directors.
Festival participating groups will have the opportunity to perform in 'Open Stage' concerts - you can expect hundreds of singers sharing a vibrant, creative atmosphere that you don’t want to miss!
There is enormous creativity among vocal ensembles of today! New groups covering a huge variety of genres keep popping up from all over, and we want to show some of the scope of the art of vocal music today. Unfortunately, groups like these seldom have an opportunity to meet and exchange expertise and experiences - this festival is also about providing a platform for that. With regard to the festival's many workshops – our pedagogical concept deals with finding ways to emphasize the inspiration and joy that comes from singing together, combined with looking at methods to build a personal sound on a long-term basis. We simply want to share experiences from our near-25 years of developing our artistry and our vocal group, both musically and socially. Västerås’ Concert House will be crowded by positive, creative people who love to sing… we are so much looking forward to standing in the middle and enjoying the whole thing!" says Peder Karlsson, one of The Real Group singers.
The festival has been created for:
• Members of existing vocal ensembles
• Choir singers
• Choir directors
• Singers who want to try singing in a vocal group
Here are some examples from the festival schedule:
• Master classes for vocal ensembles and arrangers (NB: Final application date for vocal ensemble master class: May 31, 2008)
• Evening concerts in the main concert hall
• 'Open Stage' concerts with free admission for festival participants
• Ensemble workshop – where an instructor works with a vocal group in front of an auditorium. For existing vocal groups and groups formed 'on the spot'
• Choir direction - rhythmic choir - with Jens Johansen
• Choir workshops - example topics: sing The Real Group arrangements, choir improvisation, Swedish folk music
• Seminars with TRG, Rajaton and Vocal Line members; with Phil Mattson, Jens Johansen, and others. Example topics: group dynamics, marketing advice, vocal group history
• Vocal Percussion workshop and concert
• Artist presentations with TRG, Rajaton and Vocal Line
After dinner and evening concerts there will be informal sessions in the Foyer for all participants.
More info, about concerts, workshops, teachers, schedules, participation, master class groups, Västerås hotels, various practical information and online application form:
www.therealfestival.com
Final application date: August 22, 2008.
Fees:
Adult festival pass 1.500 SEK/ person. Thu - Sun
Student 1.000 SEK/ person. Thu - Sun
Master class 1.800 SEK/ person. Wed - Sun
Evening concert tickets: For the public: www.ticnet.se 270/350 SEK/concert
For festival participants: reserve via the online application form, at discount price, 200 SEK/concert.
Food package – coffee, lunch and dinner Thu- Sun: 777 SEK/ person. Reserve via application form.
