Kassia Men's Chorus member

Katterwall: How did you get involved with Katterwall?
Jon: My wife Lis met Bethan on a course that she was teaching at the YWCA and started to sing in Kassia Women's Choir. When Bethan started the Kassia Men's chorus I went along and auditioned. I wasn't sure how I would do as I hadn't sung for years (that's not entirely true as I sing frequently and loudly when drunk) and got in. I remember being quite nervous at the first rehearsal as I had never sang in four part harmony before but once I'd got over that it's been great. It's a real antidote to sitting behind a desk at work and the feeling of putting together a quality performance when it all comes together on the night is great.

K: Your family is one of the first “Kassia families” – You in the Men’s Chorus, Lis in the Women’s Choir and your children sang in Hullaballoo. How do you feel about that?
J: Lis sings in Kassia Women's Choir and we have both made a lot of good friends out of Kassia. Jacob (my youngest) sings in Hullabaloo. Tom (my oldest) hasn't sung in a Kassia choir yet but he sings in the school choir and is about to take music theory lessons from Bethan so we are a Kassia family which is great! Perhaps Kassia should offer family rates.

K: Have you sung in choirs before? What makes Kassia Men’s Chorus different from the choirs you have been before?
J: The last time I sang in a choir I was 12 years old, my voice hadn't broken and I had a ruffle round my neck so Kassia Men's Chorus is rather different! Seriously though, the music is fun and varied and there is a mix of backgrounds both in terms of what people do for a living and what people have done musically. A lot of people (me included) can't read music and don't have a background of singing but that's not a problem.

K: How do you find the time to come to rehearsal and practice? We know that you need to go to business trips and sometimes need to work late.
J: I have to juggle to be honest. I try to make all the rehearsals but always end up missing some or being late because of business commitments. It's really a question of thinking that this is something that I want to do outside of work and so I'll make the time for it. Kassia puts recordings of the songs on its web site so I listen to these on my iPod. I get some funny looks at the gym when I'm singing along but it helps.

K: Which has been your favourite term so far? Why?
J: Soul Man definitely. Everybody says so. Songs like "Walking in Memphis", "Heard it through the Grapevine" and "Man of Constant Sorrow" are great. The venue was great and we had a MASSIVE party afterwards. The next day at work was a bit of a struggle though...

K: What would you say to other men if they say “I can’t sing” or “don’t have time to sing”?
J: I would say go for it. I can't read music and had never really sang in choirs before Kassia. If someone is standing next to me singing a different part I still tend to end up following them but I get there eventually. The choir is a great bunch from all walks of life and the atmosphere is relaxed. In Hong Kong it is really easy to get stuck in a rut of working all hours. A couple of hours a week doing something different and creative is a great tonic.

See Jon and his fellow singers at Amici on Tuesday 17^th March in “Walkin' In Memphis”.

Next term all three Kassia choirs will be performing together in our THIRD “Raising The Roof” at the HK Cultural Centre Concert Hall.

Now's your chance to appear on stage with your husband, wife, brother, sister, son and / or daughter! Each group will perform a medley:

Kassia Women's Choir “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” (music from the 1980's)
Kassia Men's Chorus “Day Tripper” (a tribute to the Beatles)
Hullaballoo – Kassia Children's Choir “This Is What We Call The Muppet Show” (all-time favourites from the fabulous furry ones)

In total there will be five vocal groups involved in this Bi-Annual Choral Fest.

If you'd like to experience singing some simply fabulous music in Hong Kong's premier concert venue please contact:

fani@katterwall.com to arrange an audition for Kassia Men's Chorus or Kassia Women's Choir
camille@katterwall.com to sign up for Hullaballoo – NO AUDITION REQUIRED!

March
17^th : Walkin' In Memphis with Kassia Men's Chorus@ Amici, Wanchai
SOLD OUT!! Only limited standing ticket $150 available.
Special Offer: $110 for men who audition for the Chorus before April 20^th
Tickets from Katterwall office

21^st March - 11^th July : a cappella Festival 2009 with The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups
Please see website of HKFYG for further details.

29^th : HK Rugby Sevens with Soho Collective @ HK Stadium

April
2^nd & 3^rd : West End Girls & Broadway Babes with Kassia Women's Choir @ Canadian International School of Hong Kong
Tickets from Katterwall office

8^nd - 17^th : The Chamber Choir Kassia Women's Choir's new small group singing project
Deadline to sign up 20^th March

Easter School Holidays : Katterwall's “Singing'SKool” for 9-12 year olds
Email bethan@katterwall for more details

June
15^th : Raising The Roof 2009 with Kassia Choirs & Friends @ HK Cultural Centre, T.S.T.
Tickets from URBTIX from mid-April

August
5^th : Summer Fling 2009 starts
More information to come!