APPLICATION
Hello and thank you for your interest in Voices for a Better World.
If you would like to participate please read the following before applying..
As you may know we are inviting 6000 children from primary and secondary schools (10-14 year olds) to participate in Licence to Thrill. This is a one-off concert at the 02 Arena on July 6th 2010. The songs will be mainly drawn from the James Bond songbook with a number of other popular songs from Take That, Michael Jackson and Christine Aguilera with the support of a live 23 piece orchestra and very special celebrity guests. This will be an exceptional opportunity to perform a tried and tested show at the famous O2 Arena. All the proceeds from the concert will benefit the international children’s charity ‘Arts By Children (ABC)’; which work with young people and orphans in underdeveloped countries. The links on our website will tell you more about this organization and how, if you want to, you can become more involved.
How it works..
Participants will learn the songs for the show from specially created CDs. Teachers will be provided with a structured rehearsal schedule and backing tracks so that they can work chorally from the learning that children do at home. There are simple moves and props to make the experience more fun and more theatrical. The moves are learnt from following a DVD at school. Later on the work is brought together in three large giant rehearsals before the big day. This rehearsal, a 2 hours session, is on Friday 2nd July 2010, is compulsory in order to rehearse with Robert the musical conductor. The rehearsal will take place at Brentwood Centre, Doddinghust Road, Brentwood, Essex CM15 9NN. To help and support teachers with their preparation, we hold a compulsory set up meeting in Central London at 6pm on Wednesday 3rd February and at: Westminster University, Cavendish Campus, 115 New Cavendish Street, London, W1W 6UW.
The choir moves (which include simple props) are an essential part of our shows. We have found that they help focus the concentration of the children and encourage a bigger sound. We expect the moves as well as the singing to be learnt off by heart by the final rehearsal!
On the day schools travel by coach to the Arena where we will conduct a main rehearsal before the performance. Schools will leave after the show by coach, or by their own arrangement.
The performance of ‘Licence to Thrill’ at the O2 is on:
TUESDAY 6th JULY 2010
Who we are
‘Voices for a Better World’ is created by the artistic and musical directors of ‘Theatretrain’ who have nearly 20 years experience of producing large scale shows around the UK. The ethos behind all of their projects is of ensemble Theatre – everyone working together as a team to create large scale events to inspire and move the performers and their audience.
Who we are looking for
The preparation for the project will have an emphasis on fun and taking pleasure in singing the songs. The work will be rewarding and but also hard work. Therefore we are looking for 200 schools with a strong level of commitment to the project; either choirs who could accommodate the challenge or a great teacher who can lead a class(es) with enthusiasm and passion!
Although there is no maximum number of children from your school who can participate, we need a minimum number of 30 participants per School.
Costs
The project is non profit based and the directors donate their services for nothing.
There is a set cost for production items of £6 per participant:
This covers the cost of individual CDs (2 per pupil) and lyrics as well as a show t shirt. We will also supply you with a DVD of choir moves and special CDs for teachers including backing tracks of all songs.
This price does not include the following
Props. These hand held objects are of minimal cost, available to you locally and inexpensive; however they are a compulsory element in the show.
Coaches, each school must arrange transportation to and from the band call and also from the arena.
Tickets
Details of ticket arrangements will be sent out at a later date. There is a potential audience of 11,000 and we hope that schools will encourage family and friends to watch what we know will be a exciting and emotional show.
Content
From our experience of very large scale events we need to standardize the vocal quality of the singing. We operate with specially created rehearsal CDs for pupils to use at home and backing tracks for teachers to use in rehearsals. We supply these arrangements in the correct keys and with the arrangements that are used by the orchestra on the day.
We estimate that the rehearsals necessary for this event will require an hour per week for a minimum of 12 weeks (although of course you could make that period longer). There are pupil checklists to guide their progress as well as a teacher week-by-week schedule of songs and moves. (Often the moves work best by having an enthusiastic pupil lead them!)
There are also some opportunities for soloists. If you have a exceptional able singer who you feel could sing in front of 20,000 people at the O2 Arena then please contact us.
Commitment
By applying for this project, you are committing to it. Please only apply if you are certain you can accommodate the project and are willing to fulfill all the conditions stated above and will see it through to the performance.
SO, If you still want to apply please follow the link below and fill in the form.
The deadline for applications is 29th January 2010.
