Students from all eight secondary schools in Enniskillen gathered together in Portora Royal School on Monday to take part in a series of Choral Workshops.
As part of the schools Performing and Visual Arts designation members of the 'Sense of Sound' choir, fresh from their recent successful appearance in BBC 1's 'Last Choir Standing' programme, came to Enniskillen for the day to deliver these workshops.
Ian Hodgson, Director of Music at Portora, explained that the choir approached the school last February (before they became famous through the BBC programme) wondering if they could set up some workshops with local school children but it is only now that this has come to fruition.
Portora sent out the invitation to other secondary schools and twenty students from each of the schools (Portora, St. Michael's, St. Joseph's, Mount Lourdes, St, Fanchea's, Collegiate, Erne Integrated and Devenish College) attended to take part in the day. All students rotated around three different workshops during the course of the day learning different skills and techniques during the various workshops.
Ian explains that there are twenty members of the 'Sense of Sound' choir with six travelling over to Fermanagh to conduct the workshops.
During the day students were coached by world class vocal practitioners while the workshops covered vocal techniques, physical and vocal warm ups, improvisation, beatbox skills, various genres of repertoire focusing on music of black origin covering African, Soul, Gospel and R'n'B as well as performance skills.
Participating students also gained valuable tips on how to improve their singing, learnt about teamwork and about how to contribute to their respective choirs.
The visiting members of the choir worked in three pairs running the three different workshops throughout the day.
Ian Hodgson hailed this event as a complete success and a complete community event which, he says, was enjoyed both by the participating students and the music staff from Portora and the other Enniskillen schools who came along.
Ian hopes it will be possible to do at least one (cross-community) event like this every year.
'Sense of Sound' is an award winning English based company which has been running singing courses locally, nationally and internationally since 1992. The organisation encourages, inspires and develops the creativity of all those taking part through their work.
