Ryedale District Council supports the Ryedale Festival.

Kirkbymoorside Memorial Hall and Botton Village

Songs of Africa - Zimbe! singing/drumming workshops

SONGS OF AFRICA
Zimbe! singing/drumming workshops

Adults and children of all ages are invited to take part in workshops exploring some amazing African songs. Led by Em
Whitfield Brooks and composer Alexander L'Estrange, this
will be a fun way to learn songs from South Africa, Zimbabwe and Ghana, together with an element of drumming, and the sessions culminate in a concert in which the songs you have learnt will feature. No pressure – just a great experience led by two outstanding musicians! All abilities welcome; come to one or both sessions, or just come and listen to the concert.

Saturday 25th July Kirkbymoorside Memorial Hall 2:00p.m.-5:00p.m. Children’s workshop 1

Sunday 26th July Botton Village 10:30a.m.-1:30p.m. Adults singing workshop 1

2:30p.m.-4:00p.m. Children and adults workshop 2

5:30p.m. Performance (see Rhythm and Ritual - entry No. 27 Sunday 26th July,next)

Please indicate on the booking form what kind of voice you are (soprano/alto/tenor/bass/don't know; in the case of children, it would be a great help to us to know age).

● The workshops are all free of charge. Please book your places, though, so that we know how many voices to expect. Knowing the ages of children will help us to plan their sessions.

● Buses will run from from Kirkbymoorside to Botton on the Sunday; please ask for further details when booking your tickets, as places on the buses have to be booked in advance. See the end of the 2009 programme for booking details.

● Music will be provided. An ability to read music is not necessarily required – but enthusiasm is!

● To enjoy these workshops fully, children are invited to take part in both the Saturday afternoon session in Kirkbymoorside and the Sunday afternoon session and performance in Botton. Adults are invited to take part in both the Sunday morning and Sunday afternoon sessions and the performance in Botton. (Any families taking part are welcome to attend all sessions together if that makes transport easier; although they will cover different songs!) If you can only attend one session, please let box office know.

● The weekend culminates in a public concert, ‘Rhythm and Ritual’, on Sunday afternoon at 5:30pm (see item 27). The concert will be given by Dorking Choral Society, African drummer/dancers and an outstanding professional jazz ensemble (led by the composer Alexander L’Estrange) and conducted by Justin Doyle. During the concert, the songs that have been learnt at the work shops will be performed, so everyone who has attended the workshops is encouraged to sing with them. If you would rather just listen, that’s fine too... but after learning the songs, you’ll want to take part!

photo/Justin Doyle