kathie prince - musician, teacher, singer

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Weymouth Music Festival

March 2023

Viva!, Heart & Soul, and DCH choirs took part in the Weymouth Music Festival this March, entering in the adult choir category. We sang a collection of songs, including one of our favourites, Make Your Own Kind of Music. The festival was a great way to take part in a celebration of local music talents from all backgrounds, and of all abilities.

Kathie's combined choirs perform at Weymouth Music Festival in February

Kathie’s combined choirs perform at Weymouth Music Festival in February

Choirs Sing at Dorchester’s Holocaust Memorial Day 2023

Members of Viva, Heart & Soul and DCH choirs were honoured to be invited to sing once more at the Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration at Dorchester Corn Exchange on January 27tth.

The service, which included readings, music and poetry, explored the theme of ‘Ordinary People’. It examined the impact of individuals’ choices on the Holocaust and other genocides, and asked what each of us can do to make a difference when faced with prejudice today.

The service concluded with the lighting of candles and a minute’s silence.

H memorial Jan 23 a

H memorial Jan 23 b

 

A Musical Celebration for Christmas

Viva, Heart & Soul and DCH Choir perform Carols & Festive Favourites in the Borough Gardens, 16th December 2021

Having missed out on performing at Christmas 2020 because of the pandemic, Kathie was delighted to announce that her three adult choirs (Viva, Heart & Soul and Dorchester Community Hospital Choir) had been invited to sing carols in the Borough Gardens in December. Along with Durnovaria Silver Band, the choirs led a selection of well-known carols, and also sang a few of their own festive favourites, including Carol of the Bells and Silent Night. Along with a lantern parade, a children’s chorus of Away in a Manger, and the rousing melodies of the Durnovaria Silver Band, a chilly night in the park became a wonderful festive extravaganza! The event was very well attended by the people of Dorchester and we can’t wait to do it again in 2022!

Bandstand and carol singers lit up at dusk

Christmas Carols in the Borough Gardens, December 16th, 2021

Summer picnic cancelled

Hi all,

Due to our Apollo commitments, the summer picnic and sing at Kingston Maurward that was planned for Sunday 14th July has been cancelled. Our next event will be the Stinsford Michaelmas Fayre on Saturday 28th September.

Date change for Apollo rehearsal in Puddletown

A reminder that the rehearsal with other singers is now Monday, 15th, 7.00 – 8.30 pm at St Mary’s School, Puddletown.

This will be in the Sports Hall, which is to the right hand side of the school and there is an upper carpark in front of it. Singers are welcome to bring along a folding garden chair, but not shooting sticks with spikes ….nothing sharp please.

We will also need to take chairs to the performance on Friday 19th July

Dress code for Apollo performance

Kathie has now agreed with the organisers that we will wear white. If all white is not possible then black bottoms and a white top will be fine. She would also like us to have badges (VIVA) and says “silver spray paint is a possibility” which we can think about and come with ideas next Thursday. Geof Edge  is now coming to that session.

Heart & Soul: We’re looking for basses!

If you sing bass (or your know someone who does!), please come and join us at Heart & Soul!

Heart and Soul Community Choir meet at the Quiet Space, behind the Poundbury Garden Centre, on Tuesdays between 7pm and 8.30pm during term time. Although we are particularly looking for basses, anyone who enjoys singing and being part of a warm and supportive group is welcome to join us!

For more information, click here or email Kathie: kathieprince@btinternet.com or ring her on 07826385301

Hope to see you soon!

Heart & Soul members – Dates for your diaries

Sunday 14th July

2:30pm, Kingston Maurward Gardens

Viva will be joining Heart & Soul to sing outside by the lake if the weather is fine. If it’s raining there will be alternative arrangements.This is an informal event open to singers and their families/friends and pets!!

This event has now been cancelled, due to our Apollo commitments!

Tuesday 16th July  Monday 15th July

7pm – 8:30pm, Puddletown Middle School

Rehearsal for Apollo Cantata with the conductor

Friday 19th July

Time TBC, Maumbury Rings

We will be joining a children’s choir and the Quangles to sing 2 songs from Geof Edge’s Apollo Cantata

Summer Picnic and Sing 2019

Summer Picnic and Sing – updated

Kathie is hoping for fine weather on Sunday 14th July for an informal picnic and sing with Viva!, Heart & Soul, and their friends and families (dogs welcome too!) at Kingston Maurward Gardens.

Commencing at 2:30pm, the choirs will sing outside near the lake (alternative arrangements will be made for wet weather!). Bring a rug and a picnic! We look forward to seeing you there.

This event has now been rescheduled for early Autumn term, due to our Apollo commitments! New date TBC

VIVA! and Heart & Soul Term Dates – Summer 2019

Heart & Soul summer term dates

Term starts Tuesday 23rd April

Half term week (no choir) – Tuesday 28th May

No choir on Tuesday 7th May and Tuesday 25th June (Kathie away)

Term ends Tuesday 23rd July

First half term will be 4 weeks (£24 if paying by cheque), second half term will be 7 weeks (£42 by cheque)

 

VIVA! summer term dates

Term starts Thursday 25th April

No choir on May 23rd – there will be a session in half term week instead, on Thursday 30th May

Term ends Thursday 18th July

First half term will be 5 weeks (£30 if paying by cheque), second half term will be 7 weeks (£42 by cheque)

SINGING IN A CHOIR COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

by Kathie Prince Music

By Ruth Lanigan VIVA! choir member cropped-kathie-prince-music-header-choir.jpg

To sing with Kathie Prince is a wonderful experience. Her choirs are fun, inclusive, accessible and good for the soul. Kathie has many years of experience as a professional musician and vocal coach working throughout the UK and abroad. Eleven years ago she founded VIVA! at Dorchester Arts Centre and has since gone on to create Heart and Soul, the Poundbury Community Choir and the excellent Skylark’s children’s choir

Ages range in her adult choirs from 22 to 90. They sing an exciting and eclectic range of music…. gospel, blues, pop, folk, classical and roots. The choirs that she coaxes, teases, and cajoles with such enthusiasm, find themselves winning competitions, raising thousands of pounds for charity and even changing lives!
kathie-prince-music-home-choir-group

 

 

This from a Heart & Soul member….

“Over the years I have sung with other choirs (mainly choral) but none can match up to singing with Kathie. I am not keen on going out to evening meetings but Heart & Soul has turned out to be an exception and something I look forward to each week. Kathie’s great enthusiasm makes every session such fun and you feel that you must do your best for her. You go home with a sense of well being”._DSC9677

 

This from Viva members….

“Having experienced bereavements very close together, singing for me has turned out to be my therapy. I’ve made new friendships, found I could laugh again and be part of a very unique group of people”.

 

…”Last summer I was in Southampton hospital having open heart surgery. Things didn’t go well, I had pneumonia and was in a coma for five weeks. When eventually I recovered I was told by the specialist that I had not been expected to survive. He told me that the strength of my breathing had seen me through. When I told him that I was an enthusiastic choir member he said that singing had most definitely helped to save my life“.

 

…..”A shy person you would have called me, not able to communicate easily.   I’d been told at school by the music teacher that I couldn’t sing a note ; I finally was able to recognise that I needed some confidence boosting even at my age!   Meeting Kathie at her first VIVA! session in 2006 totally changed my outlook! To have forty people singing in four part harmony within twenty minutes made the hairs on my arms stand up at the sound we made. I sang all week; in the car, in the bath, in the garden-at the top of my voice!!   Through regular practice and with new breathing techniques a proper voice emerged. I relaxed, enjoyed, and found myself looking forward to the next practices. Kathie has the wonderful ability to organise all of us in such a fun way that we (up to sixty of us), bond together, bring out the best in each other, and know we now are a force so strong that singing has made me discover that I can express myself, at last.

 

Since early beginnings they have raised almost £3,000 for charity by doing what they like best… singing for….

Hillfield Priory Retreat, DCH Cancer Appeal, Dorset Blind Association, West Dorset’s Women’s Refuge, Wessex Autism, Philippines Typhoon Appeal, Warmwell Church Roof, Race for Life,

 

Their next concert is on

Saturday 14th October 2017 United Reform Church at 7.30pm, in aid of CAB, the Citizens Advice Bureau

They would also love to perform for you   http://kathieprincemusic.co.uk