Below is an extract from a recent email from Leslie of Upbeat.... Hi all, Hope everyone is having a good 2007 so far. UpBeat will be performing at the Esplanade Indoor Concourse tomorrow ( 22 Jan ) and Tuesday evening ( 23 Jan ), 7.30 and 8.30pm on both days, a selection of a cappella broadway tunes. It will be the same programme for all 4 sessions so do come watch this free performance after work/school if you are available. Thank you for your support and encouragement and we hope to see you sometime over the next 2 days! Cheers! Leslie

KEY ELEMENTS , the jazz a cappella group who had a masterclass with Swedish group The Real Group will be performing at blue Moo at the last week of January. Online reservation for seats is open via the blue Moo website: http://www.bluemoo.com.sg . Key Elements Date: 26 Jan 2007 (Friday) Venue: blue Moo , rooftop of YMCA Orchard (above the 9th floor, next to the swimming pool) Time: from 7.30pm Entrance fee: $12 each person , $10 for those with student passes , free for children 6 years and below. Check the blue Moo website for further info.

During the workshop conducted by the Real Group (only three of its members), the participants did a short round exercise of physical and vocal warmups which are important to preparing the body for singing. 2 groups were involved in the masterclass - Republic Rhapsody (hailed from Republic Chorale) and local jazz a cappella mixed sextet, Key Elements. It proved to be insightful as three of The Real Group members shared their experiences and singing techniques. The participants had no qualms in throwing question after question such as how they sing or even practice. The Real Group also taught some tips on how to correct singing notes such as playing a short bar and then the chord a few times. This method was explained by The Real Group as building the singer's confidence which is equally important than just singing. Both Republic Rhapsody and Key Elements underwent on-the-spot correction and indeed both groups sang with tighter sound and sounded better to the participants. In fact, i

The A Cappella Society Presents THE REAL GROUP ( SWEDEN ) PUBLIC WORKSHOP $20 (exact change please) 10th January 2007, Wednesday 7.30pm – 9.30pm Venue: YMS Arts Centre Auditorium 54 Waterloo Street, Ground Floor Registration table opens at 7pm. For enquiries please email info@a-cappella.org.sg Map: www.yms.org.sg . Please check map for parking spaces. Join members of the world-renowned Swedish vocal band, The Real Group , in an evening filled with exciting possibilities, as they take to the podium in a special workshop presented to you by The A Cappella Society. They will bring their special brand of music and humour so close to you that you will be begging for more. Audience can expect to learn a new song, vocal techniques and will see local a cappella group, Key Elements in action with The Real Group for a masterclass. If you missed their Singaporean debut on the 8th, come join us for this workshop

Shuying from the mixed young a cappella group VoCollision left a tag to say that the group will be performing at Esplanade Waterfront on Fri 5/1/07 at 7.30pm ; and on Sat (6/1) at 10pm . They'll be doing a 45-minute set each night, showcasing a wide range of repertoire from swing jazz, pop-rock, to techno. Do show your support and watch them !

From the Desk of The A Cappella Society ~ JANUARY 2007 Happy New Year from The A Cappella Society! A big thank you to everyone who participated in our Christmas shows in December, singing, organizing or supporting. We had a great time and lots of fun and that would not have been possible without you! Looking ahead to 2007 we have big plans for the society and A Cappella music inSingapore. Starting the year with probably the biggest name in A Cappella, TheReal Group. We hope you will continue supporting us with all our plans and helpgrow the image and impact of vocal music in the country.Our main goal for 2007 is to make A Cappella music a more consistent part of theevents calendar and a more household name in people's minds.Let's make it another year of great A Cappella development for Singapore! For The A Cappella Society Alex & Angie Sassarak www.a-cappella.org.sg * These updates are correct to our best knowledge. Should there be any errors, kindly note that they are non-

I went to the final instalment on 29 Dec 2006, 9.30p.m slot of the 4 time slots of Esplanade's Late Nite series at Esplande Recital Studio - Budak Pantai Unplucked . Budak Pantai wanted to bring in the intimate atmosphere as in their regular performing venue, blue Moo (a virtual cafe located at the rooftop of YMCA Orchard). As I entered the recital studio, the stage had this retro disco ball hanging with some toy displays which makes you wonder what Budak Pantai is up to as they sometimes have unpredictable antics. Budak Pantai opened the show with a R&B-flavoured Hokkien tune in Ai Piah Jia Eh Ya which may remind you of David Tao's R&B version of Wang Chun Feng . Budak enagaged the audience with their groaners and fun poking at each other (such as Joe pointing to his and Gordon's heads). Songs such as All Rice , Abuden (one of Budak's signature songs and written by Joe as lead) offered the slapstick humor which had the audience entertained and fits of laughte