#Intensive is an annual weekend of workshops delivered by exceptional practitioners curated by MDBrunch. This immersive weekend is an opportunity to meet colleagues, peers and allies allowing you to network and socialise with other vocal leaders, whilst also learning and developing your own skills in a safe and welcoming environment.

"MDBrunch are on a constant drive to provide useful, lasting tools for Vocal Leaders at every level"
Craig, MD Young Voices

"MDBrunch continues to be the mainstay of my CPD training [...] my choirs have profited hugely from all I have gained"
Laura, Treblemakers

"The communication, dedication, knowledge and welcoming attitude of the team has allowed for nationwide and worldwide musical connections which can only be developed further.

Thank you MDBrunch."
Mary, Singing It Back

MDBrunch deeply values the fact that MDs invest so much in their communities. #Intensive24 promises to be another action packed weekend empowering vocal leaders through collaboration and learning. We look forward to introducing you to the programme of events below and can't wait to welcome you to the wonderful community of MDBrunch.

PROGRAMME

Friday

Naveen Arles & Mel Fields

#WarmUpExchange

10:30 - 11:00

This engaging 30-minute warm-up session is designed to kickstart the day for choir directors and musicians, helping them connect with one another while equipping them with practical warm-up activities to use with their own groups.

Naveen Arles

Energising, Bonding and NOT Conducting Your Choir

11:00 - 13:00

First you have to inspire them and then you have to make sure they're having a good time and then they grow to rely on you. But at what point can you just get out of the way to allow them to continue their growth. They might think the answer should be never but baby steps will allow them to grow in their independence. We will explore techniques that empower them to trust themselves.

Aga Serugo Lugo & Jeremy Haneman

Together Productions' Singing for Our Minds Intro

14:30 - 17:00

Singing For Our Minds is a ground-breaking new training programme for choral leaders from Together Productions that blends practical tips with current research, leadership training, and learning resources to support people who lead singing in any form, to build an inclusive, welcoming atmosphere which positively impacts mental health. The session will include some highlights of the full training and will empower you to maximise wellbeing outcomes in your leadership approach whilst still getting great results with your choir, as well as managing your own wellbeing. All of this will be achieved by workshopping common leadership challenges, as well as exploring topics such as managing group dynamics, embedding the NHS Five ways to Mental Wellbeing into your warm ups, creating authentic safer spaces, mindfulness in rehearsals, performance anxiety, creating inclusive environments and managing the impact of stress.

Ollie Tunmer

Body Percussion/Rhythm Workshop

19:30 - 21:30

This high energy session will explore some of the challenges and creative solutions when combining singing and body percussion. This approach has been developed through collaborations with Emily Barden, Charles Béquignon-MacDougall, Lin Marsh, Lucy Joy Morris / National Youth Choir, Alexander L'Estrange and Joanne Forbes L'Estrange. Participants will gain plenty of ideas to implement straight away!

Saturday

Jim Daus Hjernøe

The Art of Teaching

10:30 - 13:00

Jim explores pedagogical approaches in the teaching space. Managing risk, goal setting, inspiring standards, maintaining focus and energy levels; learning by doing we will investigate several exceptional processes.

Jim Daus Hjernøe

The Intelligent Choir

14:30 - 17:00

Utilising the morning's teaching methodologies we will explore Jim's innovative 'Intelligent Choir' process. Advancing our use of Kodaly and other hand gesture systems to manage the creative process, live. In this exciting fusion of Circle Song, Jazz improvisation and simple creative play Jim is one of the world's leading practitioners of live music creation and all participants will turn into a live creating choir developing some exciting new repertoire together.

Jim Daus Hjernøe

#SingLive Informance and Wider Practice

19:30 - 21:30

Open to all singing interested folk of all standards, Jim will lead a mini 'informance' demonstrating the work of the day thus far and then guide the entire room, delegates and evening ticket holding singers, through the process of doing and making new music live. Further demonstrating the power of this phenomenal process even in the situation of working with people who are not 'trained' in it.

Sunday

Naveen Arles & Mel Fields

#WarmUpExchange

10:30 - 11:00

Juliet Russell

Do Your Sing; a contemporary style and genre toolkit

11:00 - 13:30

In this practical masterclass, we will explore some of the vocal techniques behind some of the biggest tracks of the last few years, and related exercises that can help singers lean into stylistic features of genre, increase their creative vocabulary and transform their vocal habits into choices. Developing a deeper understanding of our own vocal habits and increasing our range of expressive choices means that we are not only enhancing our skills as a solo performer, but also as an ensemble member.

LEADERS

NAVEEN ARLES

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Naveen Arles BCA FRSA, has established himself as an energetic, inspirational vocal leader and animateur. Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and founder of MDBrunch, his 38 years in music incorporates 28 years of creating singing groups of all ages and skills.

SANDRA OBEROI

Singer, voice teacher, researcher, and choral director, Sandra Oberoi founded Harmony-The Music School, India and Harmony International, UK. MD of the award-winning, multi-genre youth choir 'The Harmony Chorus', she had led the group nationally and internationally for concerts and competitions.

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ANDY INSTONE

Andy is the Creative Director of the world's largest Music project for young people ‘Young Voices’ and the pioneering Street Dance crew ‘Urban Strides’, and has specialised in creating dynamic, memorable experiences for live performance and film for over two decades.

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NEIL FERRIS

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Neil Ferris is Chorus Director of the BBC Symphony Chorus, Artistic Director and Conductor of the professional chamber choir Sonoro and Festival Conductor of the Leith Hill Festival.

With Sonoro Neil has appeared at the St Magnus International Festival, the Wimbledon International Music Festival and at King’s Place in London. In demand as guest conductor at some of the finest choirs in the UK,

IGNACIO MONTEVERDI

Born in Buenos Aires, Ignacio Lusardi Monteverde is a music producer and audio engineer based in London. The confluence of his skills enabled him to specialise in the live and studio recording of classical, world music groups and soloists dedicating himself to working closely with each artist to find their distinctive sound.

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PETE CHURCHILL

Pete Churchill has been working as a composer, pianist, singer and teacher for almost 30 years. After twenty years teaching at the Guildhall, Pete is now Professor of Jazz Composition at the Royal Academy of Music and Head of Jazz Voice at the Brussels Royal Conservatoire.

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LIZ SWAIN

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Liz Swain is an established and versatile vocalist, choral leader, and soloist, known for her passionate and forward-thinking approach.

KEVIN FOX

Originally from Canada and now based in the UK, Kevin Fox is known internationally as a performer, choral director, workshop leader, and arranger. Kevin toured the globe with the Grammy-winning group The Swingles for 12 years, and was a founding member of the Toronto vocal band Cadence.

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Who are MDBrunch?

MD Brunch is a skills sharing, training, networking and support organisation for people who facilitate singing. Through our events we aim to both create a safe space for vocal leaders, in this often lonely profession, whilst also promoting the vital health and well-being work that they all do for the diverse communities around them and the impact it has. Having grown over the last 6 years, MDBrunch now has a creative steering group of vocal leaders. MDBrunch is led by Co-Directors, Naveen Arles BCA (Founding Director) and Mel Field (Events Director).

Terms and Conditions:

All sessions will be live hybrid.
All paid-for session recordings will be made available via dropbox between 20 and 30 days after the event finishes.
All recordings and images/videos recorded by MDBrunch during the event remain the property of MDBrunch and can and will be used in various formats (digital and print media) to publicise and advertise our work. By purchasing a ticket to this event you are tacitly giving MDBrunch permission to use your likeness in any of our publicity campaigns.
Refunds, if granted, will incur an administration charge (regardless of which type of ticket):
- Within 14 days of purchase, full refund minus £20 charge (if cancelled before 11am on 1st Nov)
- Cancellations within 14 days of the #Intensive24 weekend will be eligible for a 50% refund.
- Cancellations within 3 days of the #Intensive24 weekend will not be eligible for any refund.
- ALL refunds will be dealt with in the week following #Intensive24.
Materials bought during #Intensive24 direct from a workshop leader/organisational partner will not be the responsibility of MDBrunch and any/all queries must be directed to the vendor directly.
The Lab E20 is entirely accessible. If there are any further assistance needs, please DO NOT hesitate to get in touch with us.
There is no free parking at The Lab E20. Car parks nearby: Stratford International Car Park (International Way - £) or Westfield Shopping Mall Car Parks (£££).

Mel Field
Events Director
mdbrunchuk@gmail.com
www.mdbrunch.uk
@MDBrunch