Unfolding Song (workshop), 16th-18th August 2019
Unfolding Song
From Friday 16th to Sunday 18th August 2019
Facilitated by Mairi Campbell, Helen Chadwick,
and Ali Mills
At Kilcreggan House
One hour from Glasgow on the Clyde Estuary
I’m delighted to announce our next singing workshop at the end of August. It’s perfect for people who are intrigued by the craft of songwriting and how group improvisation and play let tunes form and rhythms unfold. We’ll tend to these elements and explore how we can collaboratively let them grow into song.
We call this unfolding song because what we make emerges out of the collective experience of the group, guided by our facilitators, crafted and sung by all of us.
We are really lucky to have both Mairi and Helen collaborating on this – it promises to be very special.
The workshop is limited to around 20 people in single, twin and triple rooms. The weekend is fully catered and food will be lovely fresh and vegetarian – prepared for us by a local chef.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have further questions once you’ve looked at the practicalities below and do share this email with anyone you think would like to come. As numbers are limited to a small group do book as early as possible as places seem to go very fast!
I look forward to seeing you here. Ali x
Kilcreggan House
Kilcreggan House is a grand old country house sitting high above the Clyde, with spectacular views across the water to Gourock and out of the mouth of the Clyde to the Isle of Arran. The house has recently been renovated and this is our first year offering workshop space and accommodation.
There are extensive grounds to walk in, working artists studios in the grounds and a beautiful hall to sing in with wood burning stove. There is a kitchen for catering, a large dining room with open fire and an elegant drawing room with a baby grand piano.
Accommodation:
There are 6 bedrooms on the first floor of the house with 4 brand new bathrooms each with a spacious shower and one with a bath. There are an additional 6 studio rooms with en-suites in the grounds of the house. All bed linen and towels are provided. Bring warm slippers or socks for the Hall.
Meals:
All meals are provided by our local chef and are vegetarian. Everything is provided for you to help yourself to a simple breakfast in the dining room. Bring your own wine and any treats you fancy.
Cost for 2 nights inclusive
3 people sharing a room – each person – £200
2 people sharing a room – each person – £240
Single room – each person – £320
£100 deposit will secure a place with your booking details or special offer below**
This is refundable minus £30 admin charge up until 6th July 2109.
Early-bird discounted rate £15 reduction
We also offer an early-bird rate if payment arrives before 26th May 2019
3 people sharing a room – each person – £185
2 people sharing a room – each person – £225
Single Room – £305
£100 deposit will secure a place with your booking details or special offer below**
This is refundable minus a £30 admin charge up until 6th July 2019
We need to receive payment in full by 6th July.
Arrival and departure:
Friday – Arrive from 4pm
Leave from 4pm on Sunday
Getting here by car, or train and ferry
Kilcreggan is just over an hour by car west from Glasgow, but a lovely way to arrive is by train and ferry. Trains go regularly from Glasgow to Gourock which takes 40 mins and then there is a 10 minute ferry that crosses the Clyde to Kilcreggan, its a 5 minute walk then up to Kilcreggan House.
When you book please give us:
Name
Address
Phone
Dietary requirements.
Food is vegetarian but we can accommodate vegan diets. Please enquire about other dietary needs.
Rooms:
Shared with 3 people
Twin
Double
Single
Payment:
For BACS payments contact: Ali Mills – 07802 928874
The Leaders
Mairi Campbell
From singer, dance musician, visual artist to facilitator, Mairi is a multi-award winning musician at the cutting edge of the Scottish folk scene. She is renowned for extending the boundaries of the folk tradition in Scotland, bringing a powerful combination of deep craft, groundedness and spirit to her work.
Mairi was music director of Sangstream, an Edinburgh folk song choir for twelve years and has continuously developed her improvisational practice with mentors and study over thirty years.
During Mairi’s improvisation sessions she works with simple frameworks that support ‘making things up in the moment.’ Her dynamic approach and sense of fun help everyone join in a powerful and transformative creative experience.
Helen Chadwick
Helen is a singer, songwriter, composer and recording artist, with a background in theatre. She creates unaccompanied songs and performances with Helen Chadwick Song Theatre, including site-specific works for choirs and soloists, involving local communities and responding to the places in which they are made.
Helen has been commissioned to create song theatre performances for among others the Royal Opera House, English Touring Opera, Greenwich, Salisbury and Norwich Festivals and has composed for the BBC, The Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre.
Helen is the founder with Thames Festival of the mass choir charity project Sing For Water which has raised over a million pounds for water projects at Wateraid, through work led by choir leaders all over the UK, Europe and Australia.
Ali Mills
Ali’s interest in site specific singing comes in part from her career as a television set designer for the BBC. This combination of designing spaces, relating to the environment and her delight in singing has led her to create a rich song leading style.
Ali is particularly interested in the experience of singing in the moment, creating a soul space, often by candlelight, around a fire or outside on a beach or hill. She leads a singing group, Soulwind, in the village of Kilcreggan, teaching songs by ear from many different cultures in four part harmony.
Ali created a Songline coast to coast across Scotland from Dunbar to Helensburgh as part of the opening of the John Muir Way. She brought songs through six sites of interest across Scotland involving both singers from each community and a those who travelled with her.
Ali, with her partner Lawrence, is developing and running a singing and creative centre at Kilcreggan House on the Rosneath Peninsular.
For any queries: Ali Mills – 07802 928874