Hello!

“Raising The Roof 2009” featuring Kassia Women's Choir, the HK Welsh Male Voice Choir, Soho Collective, Hullaballoo and the HK Melody Makers is just round the corner on Monday 15th June. I can't believe it will have been 2 years since we were last singing at the HK Cultural Centre!

Over Easter we saw two new projects take off. “Singing'SKool” for 9-12 year olds was a huge success. Eight young singers worked on vocal technique, singing in parts, the sol fa scale, rhythm exercises as well as three contrasting songs: “Siyahamba” (African), “Blue Skies” (Jazz Standard) and “Candle On The Water” (Disney).

The next “Singing'SKool” term will start on 4th May. If you have a child who wants to increase their singing skills, please drop us a line in the office to book a place.

The Chamber Choir also met for the first time over Easter and put on a short but sweet a cappella performance at Culture Club featuring a Bulgarian folk song, a Renaissance motet and madrigal plus a Madonna classic. After this successful kick off, The Chamber Choir will also be continuing in some form or another in future. Watch this space!

Yours
 
   
   Director, Katterwall
 
 
 
 

 
MEET... Bonnie Ting

Kassia Men's Chorus accompanist

Katterwall: What is your musical background?
Bonnie: I started learning the piano when I was 5, later I sang in school choirs and played for them occasionally. When I got into university, I struggled between the choice of literature and music. I eventually chose English literature however whilst there I participated enthusiastically in University Choirs and became their pianist. Now it seems that I enjoy making music together more than analyzing a book alone. After graduation, I picked up piano again with Mr. Stephen Wong and now I'm practising for my FTCL Exam which I hope to sit this Autumn.

K: How did you get involved with Katterwall?
B: I distinctively remember the day I first met Bethan. It was June 2005 during the opening of an Italian Food Festival at Festival Walk. She sang a solo and I played the accompaniment for her without a proper rehearsal as that was the first time I'd ever met her! Half a year later, Katterwall invited me to play for a property launch project. I initially knew Celia from my university choir so it was her that introduced me to Katterwall. (Thank you!)

K: Aside for Kassia Men's Chorus, which other groups also are you playing for at the moment?
B: The Ella Kiang Singers, Lamour Strings (a wedding quartet) and I'm also accompanying vocal classes at St. Paul's Co-ed College, Primary School.

K: Which Kassia Men's Chorus term did you like the most and why?
B: "Feelin’ Groovy" at Amici in March 2008. The place is really fantastic for a small group and the songs were great!

K: What is your favourite genre of music to play on piano?
B: If I had to pick, I'd pick Romantic music. I'm definitely thrilled by piano solo pieces but I was captured by Rachmaninoff's “Piano Concerto No. 3” - I remembered spending most of my break time (between lessons) in the music library, indulging myself with this great piece.

K: When and what is your next performance other than Kassia Men's Chorus show on Thursday 18th June?
B: I'm currently accompanying ATCL vocal exams and there are some weddings and gigs coming up. My next public appearance will be small gig at Cultural Centre Foyer on 23rd May with the Ella Kiang Singers. They will also be having a concert on 10th July at City Hall Theatre, performing Gilbert & Sullivan's "Trial by Jury" plus some other musical excerpts. I'm looking forward to it!

 

 
 

IN FOCUS: What is the Sol Fa System?


It is a technique to teach sight singing invented by English minister John Curwen.

Curwen felt the need for a simple way of teaching how to sing through his experiences amongst Sunday school teachers. He thought that music should be easily accessible to all classes and ages of people.

Each note of the scale is sung to a special syllable. In English-speaking countries the usual syllables are: do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, and ti (think “Sound Of Music”) and can be sung together with specific hand signs, which aid learning.

Traditionally, the sol fa system (or Solfege) is taught through a series of exercises of gradually increasing difficulty. It is taught at many conservatories of music throughout the world... and also at Singing'SKool!!

If you would like your child to learn how to use the Sol Fa system to improve their sight singing, drop us a line in the office!!

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solfege
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonic_sol-fa



 


 
 

 
 
 
 
UPCOMING @ KATTERWALL


May
4th onwards : Singing'SKool for 9-12 year old starts its next term.

16th : Katterwall's Junior Recital Our school age students perform to family and friends.

June
5th : Katterwall's Adult Recital Our adults perform to family and friends.

13th : Michael Jackson Live In Hong Kong RTHK live show featuring Soho Collective @ Grappas.

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

18th : Day Tripper – a Tribute to the Beatles with Kassia Men's Chorus @ Amici, Wanchai.
Tickets from Katterwall Office from mid-May.

July / August
Singing lessons at Katterwall studio throughout the summer.
Drop celia@katterwall.com a line to enquire about availability.

5th August : Summer Fling 2009 with Kassia Men and Women begins rehearsals.


 
     
Thought for the day...  
 


Music melts all the separate parts of our bodies together.
Anais Nin

 
     

   
On another note...
 

Q: What do you call a robot that composes musicals?
A: Android Lloyd Webber.

Tongue Twister...
  The sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick.
   
     
What's on your iPod?  

Yok Kradsenaoh, singing student

My Choice: "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You" 

Artist / Album: Lauryn Hill Transfer / “ The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill ”  

A poppy / R&B song by Lauryn Hill that starts out with some funky beatboxing that carries and supports the song through to the very end. Romantic lyrics about love, good song that uplifts your mood, great artist.

 

 

     
'The First Five Years' on iTunes  
 
 


 

Katterwall Ltd. Tel: +852 2575 3931 Fax: +852 2542 2442
Rm 805, Arion Commercial Centre, 2-12 Queen's Road West, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
For general enquiries, please contact Celia Leung at info@katterwall.com