Kate O'Connell (www.katesvoices.co.uk) has been teaching song and voice for over 30 years ever since she went to a Frankie Armstrong workshop, and discovered what she could do. Kate trained in drama and dance at Dartington College of Arts in Devon and also ran youth theatre classes, writing and directing plays, up to 2005 when she gave up the drama work to focus on music.
Since moving to Moray 25 years ago she has organized many seasonal and community events involving song, dance and theatre. Initially involved with The Findhorn Foundation, which she found a source of creative inspiration, her work has often been staged at The Universal Hall in Findhorn. She also works around schools and community groups in Moray and draws her inspiration from the Scottish landscape and culture.
She is the artistic director of women acapella groups Too Many Kooks and Sonas, who perform locally. When she heard that old friend Bill Henderson was moving to Moray, they decided to start The Forres Big Choir together. Though not primarily a performance based choir, she likes to get out and about to share the joy of singing with others.
Kate with singers in Findhorn
" The inspiration for this choir is the belief that everyone can sing and choirs are not just for the musically trained. Singing together is an immense source of joy and it builds community feeling. I am a self-taught musician and I want to share this joy with others. I always begin the class with a bit of improvisation which helps us learn to listen to each other and find our own voices.
That we connect with our soul as we sing is the most important thing for me. I am also a perfectionist who strives for vocal harmony. My experience is that when people are at home with their voices, they sing perfectly in tune....
The songs I use are inspiring ones from anywhere. Beatles classics, 50s do-wop are lots of fun, Gospel, African, Balkan folksongs, Gaelic and contemporary songs with uplifting words. Recently I have taught 'Adiemus' by Karl Jenkins, 'This great sky' by Scottish composer Alison Burns, 'Bringing in the sheaves' by Coope Boyes and Simpson, as well as a South African song about a community's support for AIDS orphans, and my arrangement of 'Da doo ron ron'.
I am in close contact with many voice and choir leaders around Britain. Many of us are part of The Natural Voice Practitioners Network (www.naturalvoice.net) an organization which shares the belief that everyone has a right to sing and that we all have a voice.
Every year I teach at The Unicorn Voice Camp (www.unicorncamps.com) in Dorset, where many of us meet up and share songs and inspirations. I find there is a wonderful openness and generosity to share songs and arrangements. "
