kathie prince - musician, teacher, singer

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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

 

Choirs perform in Dorset Songlines Performance

On Saturday June 18th, Viva!, Heart & Soul and Dorchester County Hospital choirs took part in a special performance in Maumbury Rings of ‘Dorset Songlines’. Created by local composer Geof Edge in collaboration with Dorchester Arts, Dorset Museum and DASP music, the piece celebrates the history of Dorset, from 250 million years ago to present day, with nine songs, each representing a different period in time. Lead by Hannah Trevorrow, Kathie’s adult choirs, along with the Quangle Wangle choir and the DASP schools choirs delivered a stunning performance in the centre of Maumbury Rings in Dorchester. If you missed the chance to hear this original and exciting piece, the adult choirs will be performing it in Maumbury Rings at ‘Henge Fest’ on Sunday July 31st, 12.30pm.

Crowds watching choirs perform at outdoor amphitheatre

Dorset Songlines performance, Maumbury Rings, June 2022

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

Adult Choirs Term Dates: Autumn 2021

 

Viva! term dates:

Thursday 2nd September – Thursday 16th December

***No choir on Thursday 28th October (half term holiday)***

 

Heart & Soul term dates:

Tuesday 7th September – Tuesday 14th December

***No choir on Tuesday 26th October (half term holiday)***

 

DCH term dates:

Wednesday 8th September – Wednesday 15th December

***No choir on Wednesday 27th October (half term holiday)***

Viva Women’s Choir Commemorates Holocaust Memorial Day

by Caroline Harborow

Viva Women’s Choir were honoured to be asked to return to sing at Dorchester’s Holocaust Memorial Day Event this January 24th.

Viva sang No More Silence, a folk song by The Burns Sisters.

Held at the Corn Exchange, the theme of this year’s commemoration was ‘Stand Together’, and the event included readings and presentations from Sunninghill Preparatory School and The Thomas Hardye School.

Read Dorchester Echo’s article on the event here.

Summer Harmony Singing Workshop

Summer Harmony Singing Workshop August 2019

Summer Harmony Singing Workshop August 2019

A wonderful time was had by all at the Summer Harmony singing workshop at Brownsword Hall in Poundbury this August. Kathie welcomed lots of new faces along with current members of Heart & Soul and Viva to join in singing some new rounds and multi-part harmonies, along with a few old favourites, such as ‘Lime in the Cooking’.

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

European Choir Wanted for Singing Exchange!

Kathie Prince and Viva Women’s Choir are looking for a choir to partner with in another European country. Women’s choir, men’s choir or mixed… we don’t mind! We’d love to exchange songs, perform together, have fun exploring another location and culture and meet some new musical people! If you’re in a choir in France, Spain, Germany… or any European country!… and would be interested in partnering with Viva in Dorchester, please get in touch with Kathie via email: kathieprince@btinternet.com

Kathie Prince et la chorale Viva cherchent une chorale d’un autre pays européen pour un partenariat. Une chorale de femmes, d’hommes ou mixte, ça nous est égal ! Nous aimerions échanger des chansons, jouer ensemble, s’amuser en explorant un autre endroit et une autre culture, et se rencontrer de nouveaux gens musicaux ! Si vous êtes membre d’une chorale en France, Espagne, Allemagne… ou d’un autre pays Européen, et vous vous intéresseriez d’un partenariat avec Viva à Dorchester, si vous plait contactez Kathie via email : kathieprince@btinternet.com

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!

Between Language and Limb

In May, Kathie is heading to the Nun’s Island Theatre in Galway to perform in the sold-out Between Language and Limb, a theatre performance that combines contemporary dance, poetry and music. This project is a collaboration from Galway director, choreographer and dancer Patricia Glynn, poet Geraldine Mills, and contemporary dancer Celina Jaffe.

VIVA 2006-2016 : 10 Years of Singing Our Hearts Out!

I can’t quite believe that our wonderful choir came into being 10 years ago! It was with a certain amount of trepidation that I opened the doors to Dorchester Arts back in 2006 wondering if I’d be greeted by a throng of enthusiastic singers or just a view of the car park! Luckily folk did arrive to sing and the seeds were sown for a wonderful community of singers which, over the years, has gone from strength to strength.

The really special thing about VIVA, apart from the great sound of course, is the commitment, enthusiasm and community spirit shown by our singers. Some have recently joined and others have been coming to choir for many years. We originally started out as a mixed choir and performed regularly at local events including the Dorchester Festival, Apple Day and Christmas celebrations at Kingston Maurward and of course the opening of the Olympic Games in Weymouth. VIVA also premiered the specially commissioned song for Dorchester,  Dancing the Rings at Maumbury in Borough Gardens and featured on the soundtrack of Out in the Open a film about homelessness premiered at the Dorchester Plaza. More recently in 2014 we performed in Heartwood , an original site specific piece with original music by Karen Wimhurst. This was a collaboration between sound artist Adrian Newton who directed the piece Karen and myself.  VIVA joined forces with Pallida, Karen’s Shaftesbury choir, Skylarks Children’s Choir and my Heart and Soul Community Choir from Poundbury.

Winning Best Large choir of the 2014 and 2015 Weymouth Festivals in collaboration with Heart and Soul, was a highlight for the choir. Our Christmas concerts at St Georges church in Fordington have also been a great success and hugely enjoyable and these concerts have enabled VIVA, in collaboration with my other choirs ,to raise hundreds of pounds for charities – the West Dorset Women’s Refuge, Autism Wessex, The Red Cross and the Dorset Blind Association to name but a few.

So…here we are 10 years on planning our new CD, a trip to the Southbank to sing at the Chorus Festival and a choir exchange to France!  I can’t wait! Viva la VIVA!

Amazing Grace

Clean Heart