Festival of Voices Announces 2013 Workshop Program

Tasmania's premier winter festival, the Festival of Voices today announced an outstanding lineup of international guest artists to lead their 2013 workshop series, once again ensuring a warm winter of celebration and song.

In a coup for Australia's premier festival celebrating voice, the July 2013 star lineup includes a cappella giant Deke Sharon (NBC TV's The Sing Off and the upcoming Pitch Perfect); international renowned UK-based choral and orchestral conductor, David Lawrence; celebrated Broadway legend Adrienne Angel (vocal coach for Bernadette Peters, Whoopi Goldberg and Jason Alexander); young voices choral leader Harley Mead and conductor of the San Francisco Gay Mens' Chorus Tim Seelig, here to lead the Out and Loud LGBIT program.

Each guest artist leads a five-day workshop with visiting performers, with focused singing sessions and the chance to perform in Hobart's heritage Salamanca arts precinct.

"Our workshop program is the number one way for Australian singers to work with international legends such as Bobby McFerrin," said Kris Stewart, the festival's artistic director. "Plus, the social and performing opportunities and chance to see a whole range of events mean the Festival is like Christmas for lovers of the voice."

THE ARTISTS

Adrienne Angel - with former students including Kenneth Branagh, Cher, Cybill Shepherd and others, Adrienne was hailed as "the best singing teacher in the world" by her student, multi-Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters.

David Lawrence - having conducted with Netherlands Radio Choir, the London Philharmonic Choir, and the English Symphony Orchestra and adjudicated for the BBC Choir of the Year, David creates an unmatched performance opportunity for lovers of classical choral works.

Harley Mead - the Pied Piper of young voices and equally at home with 700 young singers as with a group of 10, Harley has been guest conductor for many national and internationally based choirs including numerous world-premier performances.

Dr Tim Seelig - Artistic Director of Golden Gate Performing Arts and Conductor of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, Tim conducts regularly at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center (NYC) and recently debuted at the Southbank Centre in London.

Deke Sharon - called "a one man a cappella revolution" by the Boston Globe, Deke Sharon has shared the stage with legends such as Ray Charles, Run DMC, LL Cool J and President Bill Clinton, and is known across the globe as "the voice of a cappella music".

In 2013, the Festival of Voices will announce its full festival lineup, which will include concert and free event programming across Hobart and headline artists at Voicebox, the festival's signature cabaret space. The Festival of Voices recently received the "Best Festival" award at the Tasmanian Tourism Awards and will be a central plank of Hobart's exciting new winter cultural calendar, which includes its sister event, Mona's Dark MOFO.

For more information, contact the Festival of Voices at marketing@festivalofvoices.com or 03 6224 5975, or contact the festival's marketing manager Adelaide Reisz at 0408 023 926.

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