VOICEBOX
What is it?
VOICEBOX is a brand-new artist-development initiative delivered by eavesdropping, offering a bespoke curriculum for advanced singers specialising in contemporary vocal performance. The programme has been designed and is led by Juliet Fraser. The pilot year ran 2023-24, broken into four intensive residency periods hosted by partner organisations around the UK. The curriculum is modular in structure and is delivered by a formidable team of international artists.
VOICEBOX provides a unique space for creative development, risk-taking, community-building and professional networking. In keeping with the pioneering spirit that VOICEBOX advocates, it is the first programme of its kind in the UK and, we think, in the world.
Who is it for?
This fully-funded programme is designed for advanced singers wanting to expand their knowledge of and expertise in contemporary vocal performance. 6 singers (of all voice types, of any age, based in any territory internationally) will commit to the full programme, which is designed to accommodate the continuation of their performing career. Successful applicants will be able to demonstrate advanced technical proficiency and some degree of commitment to, or experimentation with, contemporary vocal performance. They will also have clear aims for their time on the programme.
What does it cost?
There are no fees for this programme because we want it to be available to all, no matter their means, and because we expect that the participants will be freelance performers who want and need to continue earning whilst taking part in the programme: we recognise that time off work for specialist study effectively represents a loss of earnings. Travel, accommodation and most meals are covered. Additionally, we have a small budget to provide financial support for those who need to cover access or childcare costs.
What do we expect?
Successful applicants are expected to commit to the full programme and come with an attitude of openness, curiosity and generosity. Specific personal goals are encouraged. You will be expected to participate in some public masterclasses and open sessions, and to perform in a public showcase at the close of the programme which will be filmed. For one year we become a little community: we are each responsible for creating a space in which we can all explore new ways of singing and new ways of thinking.
2023-24 PROGRAMME INFORMATION
THE COHORT
Patricia Auchterlonie, Hestor Dart, t l k, Oskar McCarthy,
Sarah Parkin, Pascal Zurek [see press release]
THE TUTORS
Juliet Fraser | programme director
Newton Armstrong, Omar Ebrahim, Juliet Fraser, Winnie Huang, Lore Lixenberg, Raymond MacDonald, Eliza McCarthy, Koichi Makigami, Elaine Mitchener, Lydia Rilling, Dam Van Huynh & James Weeks | tutors
Caro Barnfield, Graham McKenzie, Mark Knoop, Kate Molleson, Fiona Robertson & Ilan Volkov | special guests
Jessie Rodger | filmmaker
THE PARTNERS
Britten Pears Arts, Snape, Suffolk
City, University of London, London
Sound Festival, Aberdeen
Hawkwood College, Gloucestershire
THE DATES
VOICEBOX ran from September 2023 to August 2024:
PART I: 25 September-1 October 2023, hosted by Britten Pears Arts (Suffolk)
PART II: 10-12 January 2024, hosted by City, University of London (London)
PART III: 1-5 April 2024, hosted by Sound Festival (Aberdeen)
PART IV: 10-16 August 2024, hosted by Hawkwood College (Gloucestershire)
THE CURRICULUM
The curriculum is modular in structure, with modules devoted to specific relevant topics, such as:
programming & commissioning
improvisation
movement & physical expression
notation
microtonal tuning systems
ensemble singing
technology (basic introduction to amplification, sound design & electronics)
wellbeing
navigating the industry
Modules may combine different learning formats, including masterclasses (open tuition), coaching (closed tuition), workshops (group experimentation), short research projects with written work, seminars and discussions. In between the residency periods, participants are supported with one-off coaching sessions (in person/online), group seminars (online) and mentoring. Progress through the programme is documented by filmmaker Jessie Rodger, providing high-quality promotional materials that can be used by participants to further their professional development.
VOICEBOX SHOWCASE PERFORMANCES
The journey ended where it began: in the Britten Studio at Snape Maltings, with bare feet and open voices. In this showcase performance the cohort presents a thrilling array of new work, including the world premieres of six pieces commissioned/created during the year (composed by Laura Bowler, Rufus Isabel Elliot, Andreas Eduardo Frank, Winnie Huang, t l k and Amber Priestley) alongside other contemporary solos and ensemble pieces. A riotous culmination of our year-long adventure!
17 AUGUST 2024
'Summer at Snape'
Britten Studio, Snape Maltings, Suffolk
15 AUGUST 2024
Watch the Snape Maltings Showcase in full on YouTube below or via this playlist.
VOICEBOX UNBOUND programme Snape.pdf
Adobe Acrobat document [288.0 KB]
VOICEBOX has been featured in news bulletins in Opera Wire, Classical Music magazine, Broadway World, Planet Hugill and ISM magazine. A series of VOICEBOX playlists has been broadcast on Resonance FM, curated by the cohort and at the invitation of The Sampler Mixtape. Listen here.
In response to the large number of applicants and enquiries Juliet has been running a series of gatherings around the UK for people wanting a taster of the VOICEBOX model. Keep an eye out here for more information.
This first year of VOICEBOX is a pilot. The hope is to make it a biennial programme, next running in 2026-27. VOICEBOX acknowledges the generous support of Arts Council England, Foyle Foundation, Hope Scott Trust & Michael Cuddigan Trust.
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