This month we launch ticket sales for our annual showcase, A CappellaFest 05! Tickets go on sale in a few days at www.gatecrash.com.sg Please gather your friends for this exciting concert at the Kallang Theatre on 8th September! The line up is exciting and we cannot wait to present the groups in this showcase!
We've also done a little interview with local group, Upbeat who will be presenting their first solo concert at the Esplanade Recital Studio on the 11th & 12th of August.
Kudos to Dischordant for an amazing concert. We were blown away by the song arrangements and the stunning voices of Clara (you should go pro!!) and Valerie (come back soon!).?
Once again happy reading. Do go ahead and buzz us at contact@a-cappella.org.sg
For The A Cappella Society
Angie
* These updates are correct to our best knowledge. Should there be any errors, kindly note that they are non-intentional.
(1) FEATURES
NATIONAL A CAPPELLA CHAMPIONS 2005
If you missed the excitement at the Esplanade Concourse, this years winners are :
Best Soloist: From Resonance
Best Percussionist: From TAG
Secondary School Champion: TONE
Secondary School 1st Runner Up: TAG (Temasek Secondary)
Secondary School 2nd Runner Up: Manjusri Secondary
Secondary School 3rd Runner Up: Riverside Secondary
Open Category Champion: Verve Enharmonics
Open Category 1st Runner Up: Resonance
Open Category 2nd Runner Up: Skatz
Open Category 3rd Runner Up: Republic Chorale
A CAPPELLAFEST 2005
The A Cappella Society brings back its annual event The A Cappella Festival 2005 promises to be more explosive, more delectable with the usual platform for homegrown A Cappella groups.
Winners freshly harvested from the A Cappella Championships 2005 will also star in the array of pyrotechnics and dynamic performances. This time around, the highly-acclaimed Malaysian A Cappella group, The Wicked Pitches will join us in this celebration of life and music. This year also includes a special guest appearance by a top local celebrity and an all star cast from the Beats Society!
You will be entertained with a wide variety of genres from classical, pop, jazz, R&B, hip hop rap and ballads in a variety of languages.
Tickets start at $16 for students and $ 22 (Tertiary institutions / NSmen) $24 & $28 for adults available at www.gatecrash.com.sg from 13th August. School bulk booking forms available. Please email contact@a-cappella.org.sg for details.
Websites: www.a-cappella.org.sg , www.gatecrash.com.sg
The Concert is sponsored by The Arts Fund and the National Arts Council.
UPBEAT SPECIAL FEATURE.
We spoke to Leslie Tay of Upbeat on the groups preparations for the concert. Check out the interview: For reading purposes, please enlarge font.
1. Tell us about the groups origins.
The group formed in late 2002 and had its first performance at the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre during Christmas 2002.
2. Has the groups mission changed from where it started?
Back when we first started, we just wanted to create good music together. That hasn't changed. What we want to do now is to continue introducing a cappella singing to people who are unfamiliar with it and establish UpBeat as a strong exponent of close-harmony a cappella singing.
3. What are your views on pop music; do you sing pop?
Yeah, of course we sing pop! We really do enjoy pop and jazz music tremendously. However, we don't usually sing them with the usual bass-percussion that characterises contemporary a cappella singing as it's a style we are not familiar with. We do experiment and have some such arrangements in our repertoire but otherwise, we usually sing close-harmony as we recognise it as our strength.
Musically, we don't restrict ourselves to a specific genre as we enjoy a whole range of music. We love classical, opera, pop, jazz, choral, contemporary a cappella, musical theatre etc. This diversity is reflected in the singing backgrounds of the individuals who make up UpBeat. And we aim to bring this into the music that we sing. What we hope to hear from our audience is how equally at home the group is in singing music of different styles and genres. That would be the ultimate compliment for us :)
4. What are the highlights of your groups upcoming concert?
This upcoming concert is different because we have selected a pretty varied repertoire to reflect the diverse musical nature of the group. We have included percussion-bass songs, vocalised classical music, jazz, oldies and contemporary pop songs. We hope that every single person in the audience will find something to enjoy, and discover new songs along the way. We have also invited 2 friends to join us for some 8-part songs which we normally wouldn't be able to perform. Visually, we are also attempting to make the stage picture more arresting through the use of choreography and lighting. Putting in the choreography has been both fun and challenging as many of us are singers more than dancers and actors, but we're looking forward to presenting it for our audience during our concert.
5. Tell us about the groups preparation for the concert. Any last words for your fans?
Wow! Putting together a concert on your own is quite a daunting task. There are so much paperwork and little details that needs attention. It's gotten pretty overwhelming at times (especially when you have to juggle all the other things you have to do) but it has been a great learning experience. One thing that has been reinforced for me is the importance of constant communication between members. This keeps the work process progressing and lessens the chance of misunderstanding.
Musically, we don't always agree with how things should be sung. But what keeps the group together is the respect we have for one another's opinions. In times of disagreement, we try out all suggestions and then decide on what sounds best.
In conclusion, it looks like we will have a great show ready for presentation in 3 weeks time. We are still in the process of putting some musical and logistical things together but things are shaping up and we can't wait to sing for everyone who have decided to spend an evening with us. See you there!
Will be back in September after the A CappellaFest Concert.
(2) GIG OPPORTUNITIES
SELECT CHARITY BUFFET
Is looking for groups who would like to perform for free at a buffet fund-raiser at the Expo Hall on the 21st of August for a whole list of charities, including Assisi Home & Hospice, Chen Su Lan Methodist Childrens Home and more. If your group is keen, please email contact@a-cappella.org.sg for more details.
CENTRAL SINGAPORE
The Stage is Yours @ Central Singapore at Kreta Ayer Square (Chinatown, opposite Maxwell Market) is looking for budding performers. Keen to perform? Call Jean (Music & Movement) at 62277087
(3) CONTESTS
EMPRESS CHAMBER CHOIR COMPETITION
This competition is open to choirs from around the world and aims at creating an occasion for musical exchange and dialogue and the sharing of musical traditions. ?The competition is held in Singapore from Sept 22-23rd 2005. The first prize is S$10,000.More details at http://www.empressplace.org.sg
OPEN AUDITIONS FOR NUS STUDENTS
Calling all a cappella enthusiasts on their way to tertiary life in NUS! Come join the A Cappella family in Kent Ridge Hall! one of the top Acappella groups in NUS, they recently emerged Judge's Choice winners in the Outrageous Budak Pantai Soundalike contest as well as came up tops in a NUS Talentime 'Stardust'. Pls mail Daniel at rage_07@hotmail.com to sign up for auditions today! Both incoming and existing NUS students are welcome!"
(4) CLASSIFIEDS
NEED AN ARRANGER?
Want to sing the latest chart-topping song but don't have an arrangement of it? Fret not, local arranger Jeremy Ho wants to write arrangements for your acappella group! An experienced acappella singer/percussionist and arranger, Jeremy has written arrangements for Nanu, Ngam, Skritch and the Notations, and was the arranger of the set-pieces for last year's National A Cappella Competition. His arrangements are also featured on the two CDs, Urban Infusion and Mistletoe. All styles are welcome, including Contemporary English/Chinese Pop/R&B, Hip-Hop/Rap, Vocal Jazz, Doo-wop/Barbershop, Christmas Carols, Gospel Worship Songs, as well as medleys of songs. You can contact Jeremy at four4seven7@gmail.com
GET YOUR SINGING OR TEACHING SERVICES LISTED
JuzTalents.com lists?instructors and coaches from hobbies?, sports,
IT to technical subjects.??Instructors are marketed through the website and a eNewsletter that reaches out to 30,000 corporate names who are likely to be seeking for instructors, be it for ?inhouse recreation programmes or upgrading of their staff.
Log in www.JuzTalents.com or email gks@JuzTalents.com
(5) GIG UPDATE
6th Aug Key Elements, Bishan MRT Open Space, 7pm, FREE (15 mins)
11th Aug UpBeat in Concert, Esplanade Recital Std, 7.30pm, $20 @ www.sistic.com.sg
12th Aug UpBeat in Concert, Esplanade Recital Std, 7.30pm, $20 @? www.sistic.com.sg
20th Aug Key Elements, West Coast Park A Cappella Attack Series, 5pm, FREE
7th Sep Key Elements, NUS Campus Concert, 7pm
8th Sep A CappellaFest 2005, Kallang Theatre, 7.30pm
9th Sep Tic Tac Tone in Concert, Esplanade Recital Std, 7.30pm
10th Sep Tic Tac Tone in Concert, Esplanade Recital Std, 7.30pm
5th Nov Key Elements Concert, Victoria Theatre, 7.30pm
3rd Dec Camp A Cappella
4th Dec Camp A Cappella
If you wish to list your gigs and performances with us, please write to Angie at contact@a-cappella.org.sg we will be putting up this information on our web site as well. For more local listing and muses, please find them at http://acapellamusic.blogspot.com founded by Kang Chingmei
(6) CONTACT US
If you'd like to submit articles, news and updates, volunteer your services or send in?your comments, please do not hesitate to write us! We look forward to hearing from you.
For folks who are keen to join this mailing list, please send us a note to the same address.
The A Cappella Society
contact@a-cappella.org.sg
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