SING
OUT WITH WAKEFIELD VOICES
The
choir preparing to perform Something New on the steps
of Wakefield Cathedral
In
2002, DIVA, funded by the performing Arts Foundation commissioned
the composition of a cycle of songs to reflect the changes to
the Wakefield District over twenty years.
Composer Pete Rosser and Jane Buckler interviewed local people,
ran music workshops and produced original a new Wakefield Cycle.
Singers from across the district performed at Wakefield Volunteers
Gala, Hebden Bridge Festival, Wakefield Cathedral Precinct and
Normanton Gala.
A CD recording was made at Ackworth School.
Pete
Rosser is an inspirational composer who has been
working with singers and musicians of all abilities around the
country for over ten years. He has worked on large and small-scale
community music projects in Bristol, Birmingham, Oxfordshire
and Gloucestershire fusing elements of jazz, folk, contemporary
and popular music with instantly hummable tunes. Most recently
he led DIVA's Joining Voices project and composed and conducted
Postcards From Out of the Blue for the Wakefield Community Choir,
which was performed at venues across the District during 2000.
Jane
Buckler works regularly as a writer/librettist for
the Education departments of the Royal Opera House, Opera North
and English National Opera. Her work includes Operaville for
Opera North, a community piece inspired by seven Bradford families
which was performed in Bradford in 2000. Airheads, commissioned
by Glyndbourne Opera and performed by 16-19 year olds, toured
Germany. Jane also writes plays for theatre and Radio 4.
Ali
Bullivent
led weekly rehearsals with the choir.
