Music College Success

Congratulations to George Watkins and James Penniston, Vivo D'Arte regulars, whose hard work over many months preparing for auditions for music conservatoire, has paid off.  Both George and James are students of singing teacher, Dan Cowtan.  Judi Kelly has also been working with them on sight reading and theory.  George has accepted a place at Guildhall in London and James a place at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.  They will both be studying Bachelor of Music (Honours) Vocal studies, George as a tenor and James as a bass/baritone. George and James have fought off competition from students from all around the world to gain a place at conservatoire - a fantastic acheivement!

Vocal Master Class

Our second Vocal Master Class took place on December 16th 2012 at the Rudolf Steiner School. A mixed repertoire from classical to musical theatre included pieces from Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel to arias from Handel and Mozart.

The master class was led by our patron, Jeff Stewart, who is Professor of Singing at the Royal College of Music. The master class was an excellent learning experience not only for our eight participants but also the audience.

We are planning more master classes for 2013.

Kiss Communications - Friends of Vivo D'Arte!

We are delighted to announce that Kiss Communications have shown their support by becoming Friends of Vivo D'Arte. For more information on how you can become a 'Friend of Vivo D'Arte' please click here. Money raised through the ‘Friends’ scheme will be used to: support bursaries; fund scholarships and help fund future projects.

Last week a group of Vivo D'Arte students, aged 15 to 18, attended a presentation by Kate Bellingham to Hertfordshire Business Leaders at The Grove, Watford. After a short performance our young people took part in a question and answer session. The presentation demonstrated some of the skills learned by young people through their experience in theatre, not only singing and acting but self-discipline, team work, communication skills, punctuality, working under pressure etc - all vital skills and attributes for any young person seeking any employment. Thank you to the staff at The Grove and Tim Hutchings of Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce who made us so welcome.

Vocal Masterclass

Have you ever been to a masterclass? If you haven't here is your opportunity. Vivo D'Arte are holding their second masterclass on 16th December 2012 at the Rudolf Steiner School in Kings Langley. If you sing, this is an opportunity not to be missed to gain technical tips to improve your singing and performance. Led by Jeffrey Stewart, Professor of Singing at RCM and Vivo D'Arte Patron, you can take part or just come along and watch. We are looking for either classical or musical theatre singers. The fee to participate is £35 and this gives you a 20-25min slot. Audience tickets are £10 (£5 concessions). You can see some video from our last masterclass here:



 For more information contact us at home@vivodarte.co.uk

Mercury Musical Developments

A small group from Vivo D'Arte including Dan Cowtan and Jo Penniston had the pleasure of attending the 20th Anniversary Gala Concert of Mercury Musical Developments at the Novello Theatre, Aldwych. Mercury Musical Developments is the only writer-based organisation in Britain dedicated to the development and presentation of new musical theatre. The Gala night was an opportunity to showcase some new and old British composers and writers of musical theatre as well as to fundraise for the organisation. We were treated to songs from Matilda and The Boyfriend, and new pieces including the exciting new musical Loserville performed by Busted's James Bourne. Michael Ball made an appearance alongside Anita Dobson. At Vivo D'Arte we are supporting homegrown musicals and new writers such as Ian Gower and look forward to working with him on Noah the Musical in April 2013.

Noah the Musical

We will be offering an exciting opportunity for young people aged 11 to 18 (other ages considered at our discretion) to take part in a two week workshop from 2nd to 13th April 2013, at the Rudolf Steiner School in Kings Langley. We will be holding an introduction to the musical led by one of the writers, Ian Gower who will lead the session and provide a chance to learn some songs on Sunday 13th January 2pm to 4pm at the Hall of St Francis, Boxmoor. An important aspect of Noah the Musical is dance, including a ballet and so we will be looking for dancers as well as singers. We are also looking for older participants who want to direct or choreograph. Auditions for the workshop will be held on Sunday 27th January at 2pm. To take part in the introductory session and auditions please register your interest here. The cost of the two week workshop will be £130. This is extremely good value and works out at a lot less than £5 per hour. For those who have difficulty in paying fees there will be some limited bursary and subsidised places available and discounts will apply for siblings. www.noahthemusical.com

Sweeney Todd

Last month we were pleased to see several Vivo D'Arte members including Dilly Bellingham, Pippa Taylor, Ellie Dobby, Sara Lawrence, Rachel Lines, George Watkins, James Penniston and Alfie Glasser perform in Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleetstreet at the Hemel Hempstead Theatre Company (HHTC) production at the Boxmoor Playhouse. Dan Cowtan was Musical Director. The show received very good reviews from NODA. Congratulations to Dan Cowtan, recently appointed Musical Theatre Business Manager at HHTC and to Rachel Lines who was appointed Youth Business manager.

Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce - Friends of Vivo D'Arte

We are delighted to announce that after attending our summer performance of Les Miserables, Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry have shown their support by becoming Friends of Vivo D'Arte.  For more information on how you can become a 'Friend of Vivo D'Arte' please click here. The connection is already proving mutually beneficial with a number of Vivo D’Arte members being invited to perform for a group of Herts business leaders at The Grove, Watford, and to take part in discussions on developing transferable skills through theatre arts.
 

Master Classes

We are planning a series of master classes including stage combat, vocal coaching and preparation for auditions. If you are interested in any of these please let us know by completing our online form. We will release details of the master classes very soon.

Jeff Stewart, Patron - Recital

Several Vivo D'Arte members attended a recital where our patron, Jeff Stewart, Professor of Singing at the Royal College of Music, performed a programme of opera and musical theatre songs. The recital took place at Beldlow Church where Jeff also conducts the church choir.

 Watford Vue Cinema is presenting a number of performances from world class venues of some of the most prestigious operas. Some of these are being shown live, such as Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin which will be broadcast from the Royal Opera House to cinemas across the country including Watford Vue.

Here are details of some of the performances coming soon to Watford Vue:

The Met Opera: The Tempest - 10th November at 17:55
(students and concessions £17.50 - adults £20)

The Met Opera: Aida - 15th December at 17:55
(students and concessions £17.50 - adults £20)

Eugene Onegin: Live from the Royal Opera House - 20th February 2013 at 19:15
(students and concessions £12.50 - Adults £15)

La Boheme: Live from the Royal Opera House - 10th January 2013 at 19:15
(students and concessions £12.50 - Adults £15)

The Magic Flute

Harrow Opera presents the Magic Flute

21st -24th Nov 2012 7.30 pm 24th - 25th Nov 2012 3.00pm

(Sat Mat children's performance, children £3) tickets £16/£14 concessions
Box office 01895 673200 www.compasstheatre.co.uk

Our own Dilly Bellingham will be performing alongside Adrienne Walters, Julie Gray and Andrew Bale who all performed in our vocal Master Class with our patron, Jeff Stewart, in May this year.

We have now raised nearly £30 for Vivo D'Arte projects by people using the easyfundraising.org.uk scheme. For more information about how you can raise money for Vivo D'Arte when you shop online click here.

E-Newsletter

We are pleased to announce our first Vivo D'Arte e-newsletter issued today.  To subscribe to our newsletter enter your details below and click subscribe.

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FIve Star Review!

Hemel Hempstead Gazette Review

Thank you from the Mayor

Day 11 - Final performances

After a successful matinee performance our cast pulled out all the stops for their last performance which was stunning.  Well done to everyone involved. What a show!

Day 10 - Gala Night

While the cast have the day off, the production team are making preparations for the Gala Night.  Canapes and bubbly arrive and we make sure the long room is decorated before our VIP guests, including the Mayor, arrive. Another amazing performance and a standing ovation!

Day 9 - First Performance!

After a slightly later start, cast a raring to go.  Final changes are made to scenes. Production team work hard behind the scenes to stock the bar and prepare for our first audience.

And so 7.30pm comes around and our first performance of Les Miserables (School Edition) at the Rudolf Steiner School begins....and ends in standing ovation. Fantastic first night!

Day 8 - Dress Rehearsal

After a busy day finalising scenes and lighting/sound cues the band arrives for the dress rehearsal.

Day 7 - Technical and Dress rehearsals

Programming lighting and sound for a big show like Les Miserables takes a long time.  Cast begin to run through scenes in costume and make up getting used to using the set. Gradually the technical elements are brought together.

Day 6 - Countdown begins

The countdown begins to the first performance on Thursday.  Cast are not only rehearsing but helping to publicise the shows by handing out leaflets and telling friends on Facebook.  Great publicity from the Hemel Hempstead Gazette helps too!

Weekend Band Call

Some cast were able to join us over the weekend for the band call.  The band are awesome! George Watkins, who is playing the part of Jean Valjean sings 'Bring him Home' .....it's going to be a fantastic show!

Week One

The cast have had a busy week rehearsing.  Behind the scenes a team of crew, parents and friends are building the set. 

Day 4

Vivo D'Arte Les Mis Workshop: DAY 4


The set is simply stunning.  Ian Gower's design makes great use of the huge stage.  The team apply the final touches, while Grizelda and her gang gather props and Jan arrives laden down the costumes.

But it is the set that is the main attraction today.  And, of course, it is the director's prerogative to get first go to play on it ..... I mean 'demonstrate how to use it effectively'.

Meanwhile, Valjean gets valuable advice and training from the director on ..... facial hair?

Here's a chance to see the cast in action .... begging for a break to play out in the sun.  Javert's heard it all before.  But at least they all realise there's only one day more til the weekend. 

Day 3

An incredible team of mum, dads, brothers and friends joined Ian Gower today to build the set.

Getting to know you...

After a full morning of singing and acting the cast have time to play a game of rounders in the beautiful grounds of the Rudolf Steiner School.

Day 2

Just like yesterday, the weather was amazing ! Rudolf Steiner is a great location for us, lots of space, grand pianos, and gardens!

Everyone was really throwing themselves into the acting during the rehearsal - still not sure what point Dan was trying to make to Fantine (No performers were hurt in the making of this photo - honest!)

The set is going up well too, thanks to our amazing scaffolders!

In the rehearsal, there were smiles all around. I wonder what Dan just said to Marius that was so funny...

Dan looks like he thinks his job is done...

There never was a winner of the shortest shorts competition, but people certainly needed to be wearing them due to the heat...

Convict / Constable / Bamatabois / Drunkard / Courfeyrac / Student / Wedding Guest seems to have forgotten who he is again. Can't blame him though, with all those roles to play, I'm amazed this doesn't happen more often!

 Robb from the technical course has put together a short video of today's rehearsal, thank you to him!

DAY 1

'Behind the Scenes' crew and Ian Gower working hard to create the set.

Some of the cast working hard with Judi

 Some of the older members of the cast revisiting their youth during break.

Gearing up for our first workshop!

Costume Preparations

Putting on a show like Les Miserables requires a vast wardrobe of costumes which our Costume Designer, Jan Burrows, is already working extremely hard on and assembling together.  We will need some of you to provide basic elements of your costume. I appreciate that not all the roles have been cast yet but if you can start thinking about some of the items you may need that will help hugely. This is the list:

•  All Boys -Black or dark brown worker/bikers boots. Students -black,plain trousers.

• All girls to wear white/flesh coloured vests and bras for the show and for rehearsals vests also have to be worn so costumes can be tried on.
• All girls to wear black or brown worker/biker boots.
• Dancers need to wear ballet shoes.

If there are any problems and you cannot provide any of the above items I do have some spare,please speak to me at the beginning of rehearsals. If you have any of these items and want to bring them on Sunday for Jan to see, please do.

Please could I remind everyone wear comfortable, appropriate clothes to the rehearsal on Sunday and to the workshop in the summer.

Masterclass

What an amazing afternoon! The first Vivo D'Arte event - the vocal masterclass with Jeff Stewart, professor of music at RCM. We learned so much by watching his inspirational teaching. And lovely to see all the participants perform and get so much from the masterclass. We hope this will be the start of many more masterclasses...

Masterclass Running Order

The running order for the Masterclass on Sunday 27th May has been announced:

2.00 Kelan Davis - "O Del Mio Dolce Ardor" Paride ed Elena Gluck
2.30 Adrienne Walters - "Ach ich Fuhl's" (in English) The Magic Flute Mozart
3.00 Chris Hooper – "Y Gylfinir" by Dilys Elwyn Edwards
3.30 James Penniston - "With Pious Hearts" Judas Maccabaeus Handel
4.00 Tea Break
4.15 Julie Gray – "Tacea la Notte Placida" (in English) Il Trovatore Verdi
4.45 Andrew Bale - "Che Gelida Manina" La Boheme Puccini
5.15 Katie Hughes - "Hear my Prayer" by Mendelssohn
5.45 Laura Morris - "Oh! had I Jubal's Lyre" Joshua Handel

Masterclass Update

These are the participants and their pieces for the Masterclass on Sunday 27th May 2pm - 6pm 

 Andrew Bale “Che Gelida Manina” La Boheme Puccini

Kelan Davis “O Del Mio Dolce Ardor” Paride ed Elena Gluck

Julie Gray “Tacea la Notte Placida” Il Trovatore Verdi

Chris Hooper “Y Gylfinir” Dilys Elwyn Edwards

Katie Hughes “Hear my Prayer” Mendelssohn 

Laura Morris “Oh! had I Jubal’s Lyre” Joshua Handel

James Penniston “With Pious Hearts” Judas Maccabaeus Handel

Adrienne Walters “Ach ich Fuhl’s” The Magic Flute Mozart

Tickets available online or on the door £10

Masterclass Update

We were oversubscribed for singers at the vocal masterclass on 29 May. The lucky 8 have been contacted.Julie Gray, Andrew Bale, Ptole Walters (Adrienne), Katie Hughes, Laura Morris, Christine Hooper, James Penniston and Kelan Davis. Spectator tickets £10 are available at our What's On page at www.vivodarte.co.uk 

Masterclass

We are finalising participants for our Masterclass on 27th May.  We will have eight singers with a variety of experience working with our patron, Jeff Stewart, Professor of Singing at the Royal College of Music and renowned international tenor.  This will be a fascinating experience for anyone interested in learning new techniques and tips for improving their vocal performance.  Audience are welcome to watch (tickets are £10) and you are free to watch any or all of the eight sessions.  For more tickets and details visit our website www.vivodarte.co.uk

New Cast

After two fantastic audition workshops this week we have welcomed 18 new cast members to the summer workshop. We are hoping we will have more joining us this week after an audition at the Rudolf Steiner School on Wednesday. It's not too late to join the workshop so if you are interested or know of anyone aged 13 to 19 please email us at home@vivodarte.co.uk

Masterclass tickets now

Masterclass tickets now available online:

Spectator tickets £10

Participants £35 apply by email to home@vivodarte.co.uk