by ·Kommentare deaktiviert für Tobias Hug Passed Away

With great sorrow have we received the information that Tobias Hug has passed away.

Tobi has been active in the a-cappella-scene for more than 20 years.
While being active as beatboxer on stage, he also loved showing young people the beautiful use of ones own voice – for vocal songs, but also for beatboxing.
He created the worldwide largest beatbox-choir in Hong Kong (with over 7000 young people beatboxing simultaneously) and supported multiple festivals, not to mention the festival he created by himself, the Black Forest Voices Festival in Kirchzarten (Germany).

Tobi was a founding member of EVA and supported the idea of EVA where he was able to.
We lost a good friend today.
Tilo, Karin, Hanno and Thomas

by ·Kommentare deaktiviert für Winner of the European Voices Award 2019

We are proud to announce, that this years European Voices Award goes to:

Vocal Line

For more than 28 years Vocal Line and director Jens Johansen have set new standards for a cappella music, winning numerous international music prizes and gaining a reputation as one of the best vocal ensembles in the world. Vocal Line has performed with superstars like Bobby McFerrin and The Rolling Stones, travelled all over the world, and they´ve recorded eight studio albums with complex yet catchy arrangements of pop and rock masterpieces.

The video of the presentation of the award can be found here:

by ·Kommentare deaktiviert für European Voices Award 2018

(German version below)

The European Voices Association awards the European Voices Award for the year 2018 to the

RAMA Vocal Center (Aalborg) (RVC)

at the Royal Acadamy of Music (Aarhus/Aalborg) (RAMA).

The RAMA Vocal Center receives the award for outstanding achievements in the field of popular training for choir conductors and choir singers.

The RVC is the Danish centre for training programmes for jazz/pop vocal ensemble leaders and is now one of the best in the world.

The RVC offers programmes for choir conductors and soloists, supplementary and extra-occupational courses and a wide variety of inspiration and master classes. Students find a learning environment that is characterized by innovation and competence development. An outstanding team of lecturers, the internationality of the students themselves and, last but not least, excellent technical equipment enable education at the highest level.

The RVC combines intensive study sessions in Aalborg with long distance learning and supervision via digital platforms.

In its quest for continuous artistic and pedagogical development, the RVC is today one of the hotspots of modern vocal music, “the place to be” for ensemble leaders from all over the world.

Professor Jim Daus Hjernøe

is the director and leading head of the RVC. As an internationally sought-after lecturer, excellent musician and ensemble leader, he lives the quest for innovation. With the RVC, Jim has also created an international network that carries ideas, methods and creative potential all over the world.

Jim has also developed the The Intelligent Choir Methodology (TIC). The “intelligent choir” consists of singers who themselves take responsibility for the musical design process.

With Vocal Painting, Jim has further developed Walter Thompson’s Sound Painting for improvisation with the voice and created a powerful tool for musical work in ensembles.

European voices association (EVA) verleiht den

European Voices Award

für das Jahr 2018 an das

RAMA Vocal Center, Aalborg der Royal Acadamy of Music Aarhus (RAMA).

Das RAMA Vocal Center erhält den Preis für die herausragenden Leistungen im Bereich der populären Ausbildung für Chorleiter, Chorsänger.

Das Vocal Center der Royal Academy of Music Aarhus/Aalborg ist das dänische Zentrum für Ausbildungsprogramme für Jazz/Pop-Vokalensemble-Leitung und mittlerweile eines der besten weltweit.

Das RVC bietet Programme für Chorleiter und Solisten, Ergänzungs- und berufsbegleitende Studiengänge und die verschiedensten Inspirations- und Meisterkurse. Studierende finden eine Lernumgebung vor, die durch Innovation und Kompetenzentwicklung geprägt ist. Ein hervorragendes Dozententeam, die Internationalität der Studierenden selbst und nicht zuletzt eine exzellente technische Ausstattung ermöglichen eine Ausbildung auf höchstem Niveau.

Das RVC verbindet dabei intensive Studien-Sessions in Aalborg mit Long-Distance-Learning und Supervision über digitale Plattformen.

In seinem Streben nach ständiger künstlerischer und pädagogischer Weiterentwicklung ist das RVC heute einer der Hotspots moderner Vokalmusik, „the place to be“ für Ensemble-Leiter aus aller Welt.

Professor Jim Daus Hjernøe

ist der Leiter und der führende Kopf des RVC. Als international gefragter Dozent, als exzellenter Musiker und Ensemble-Leiter lebt er das Streben nach Innovation. Mit dem RVC hat Jim gleichzeitig ein internationales Netzwerk geschaffen, das die Ideen, die Methoden und das kreative Potential in alle Welt weiterträgt.

Jim hat darüber hinaus die TIC-Chor-Methodik („The Intelligent Choir“) entwickelt. Der „intelligente Chor“ besteht aus Sängerinnen und Sängern, die selbst Verantwortung für den musikalischen Gestaltungsprozess übernehmen.

Mit dem „Vocal Painting“ hat Jim das „Soundpainting“ von Walter Thompson für die Improvisation mit der Stimme weiterentwickelt und ein mächtiges Tool für die musikalische Arbeit im Ensemble erschaffen.

by ·Kommentare deaktiviert für An Uruguayan in Denmark – pushing for south american vocal music

My name is Federico Trindade and I am a Uruguayan musician who has lived the past 14 years in Brazil and who is currently residing in Denmark studying a Master in Choir Conducting.

I have lived all my life by music and for music, however, until I learnt a little bit more about the world, I did not understand how important music, and not just for me. I had the opportunity to experience how music is such an important factor in the development of each one of us as an individual and as a part of the community, regardless of the nationality or culture. When working in groups, it becomes even more important as it allows us to change our view about the environment we live in and our place in that space. Music teaches us to have respect for something larger than ourselves and also for differences, helps us to develop leadership, teaches us to deal with the hierarchy and to adjust our behaviour when necessary for the common good, in addition to providing with friendships and partnerships. It also encourages patience, companionship and love for something in common, it teaches us to have confidence in ourselves and in those who are sharing the music with us, plus all the benefits scientifically proven that music alone provides to the body and mind.

Experiencing all these wonders that music is, and taking all our history of miscegenation of native cultures into account such as the influence of black nations mixed with European and Asian immigrants which gave us a rhythmic, melodic and creative wealth, it is a pity that in Brazil as elsewhere in Latin America music is not yet respected and valued (especially by Latin Americans people). Even without the necessary help to be able to fully develop our potential, we have excellent vocal groups and choirs who bravely struggle on a daily basis to enrich this cultural salad.

Here is a short list of many interesting groups, from my point of view, from various parts of Latin America (that unfortunately cannot be able to put all)… enjoy!

Best regards,

by ·Kommentare deaktiviert für VOCALLY MINDED!

A magic land for a-cappella in Italy: Fossano

Fossano (IT): Baravalle Institute and its Foundation are a real happy island in Italian a-cappella overview. Well prepared and experienced teachers, a solid structure behind supporting their diligence, a young and open-minded Director. Let’s see how this all works.

I was in Fossano, the first time, with Andrea Figallo. He was my “Maestro” for some days, and – at that time – I was his most southerly friend, or maybe I still am so. He decided, one day, to take me with him to his choir rehearsals. That day I met some people I’m still in contact with up to now: Albert Hera, Erik Bosio, Letizia Poltini and Marco Meriggio.

I want to talk, now, about this place soothed in my heart, alive in my mind and throbbing in hundreds of voices giving essence and matter to it.

“Fossano Music Foundation” deals primarily with generic music education and it is responsible of three schools of music in Cuneo province. One of those schools, “Vittorio Baravalle Institute”, is the place where a-cappella music has made its way up to become a stable presence in its courses.

It all started with a collaboration between Albert Hera and Andrea Figallo (as I pre-said), in 2005, whom created a choral project that became, in 2006, “Coro Voxes”. This is actually directed by Marco Meriggio (Comedaccordo and Domino bass and vocal drummer). The success of this project laid the foundation for a propaedeutic class of choral music: it was born the second choir of Baravalle’s, “Coro Burgos”. Also, Albert Hera is involved into creating a class of choral improvisation, or Circle Songs, that has brought in these years even the world-class composer and arranger Roger Treece, Bobby McFerrin’s Voicestra member.

Over the years, a cappella reality has developed by creating interest and also some surprise among Institute users. Just think about last three years: from 2011 to nowadays a vocal percussions and a vocal group classes started to increase a-cappella interest among users, singers, musicians, familiars and people around Cuneo. Marco Meriggio and Guido Giordana are the teachers of this two special classes, that still last!

The interest towards these forms of teaching has given rise to the desire of broadening the culture of a-cappella also to all the ignorant people in the field. This is the first target of  “Fossano in Voce Festival”: feeding a process that already exists, so that it can be spread and consequently can assume more and more importance even among non-experts. This Festival has a peculiarity, that is also its strength: it comes from a reality that for many years has been involved in a cappella music. This means that, behind the event, there is some solidity. Both from the point of view of organization but especially as regards response from the audience. As Marco Meriggio says: “We are experiencing that people are starting to take an interest and to appreciate this kind of music almost unknown to them. It is a great victory!”.

At least, but not last, Marco Meriggio told me to reveal a small treat: from 21st to 24th of August 2014 a brand new festival is going to light Fossano’s summer and all the Italian a-cappella overview. It is named “VocalMente” and, he ensures, there will be lots of news and innovations in aca-festival scenery: open-stage gigs, world class groups, serious and deepened masterclasses, a cooperation with ItAcA Project and an active participation of Fossano people. Of course, it is not everything. We can not do anything but wait this summer!

http://www.imbaravalle.it/baravalle

http://www.imbaravalle.it/eventi/post?p=1923

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