Doreen Rao
The Living Song Team is delighted to announce that, this Summer, we will be running a short, introductory version of our choral conducting course which follows the CME approach (Choral Music Experience). CME Compact is for those interested in an exciting half-day of choral repertoire, voice production and conducting technique taught by CME Founder and accomplished Conductor, Master-Teacher, Author, and Editor Dr. Doreen Rao, plus an experienced faculty of conductor-teachers from across the UK and Europe. CME Compact will take place between 13.30-18.00 on Saturday 8th June at St Luke’s Millwall, Alpha Grove, London E14 8LH, (10 mins from Canary Wharf) and costs £75 to attend. …
Following the difficulties we all experienced during the world’s global pandemic, we are thrilled to share with you the news that a CME Leadership Retreat, and CME Introductory Course will be held in East London, from Friday 7th to Sunday 9th June 2024. These two offerings will be hosted by Living Song CIC, organized by a working party including CME Master Teachers Pam Hulme (Berlin) Jane Wheeler (London), Mary Amond O’Brien (Ireland), Mandy Miller (Scotland), plus Artist Teachers Naveen Arles, Mairead Duffy, and Bryan Welton, with CME Founder-Director, Doreen Rao coming from the US. The CME Leadership Retreat is for CME Artist and …
CME, London 2023 is a cornerstone of professional development in Living Song’s calendar. This year once again, the faculty took us on a journey of personal and professional development like no other. David Brunner our guest conductor and composer from the USA worked along side Mandy Miller to immerse us in best practice through a broad range of repertoire, score study, rehearsal preparation, voice and conducting practicums. We introduced new composers, including Brandon Williams and Lea Morris and immersed ourselves in some choral classics from the likes of Eric Whitacre J.S. Bach and of course, David Brunner himself! Our delegation was made up of highly experienced practitioners, …
Choral Teacher Education. On Wednesday 15th November we held the first of three training days for our London Based CME course. 20 delegates signed up, many of whom were returning to deepen practice, but we also had a good number of new attendees. Jane Wheeler and David Lawrence took delegates through the course outline, ‘Circle of Sound’ voice work, and introduced the repertoire and techniques for score study. The repertoire focus for this year included Laudamus Te by Antonio Vivaldi, arr. Doreen Rao; I Hate Music, A Cycle of Five Kids Songs by Leonard Bernstein, Arr. Robert Page; Odi Odi, a Tamil folk song, arr. Stephen Hatfield; Seoithin Seo, …
The CME East London 2015-16 choral teaching course has come to a close. 18 teachers achieved their level 1, 2 or 3 certification and 4 more are due to complete after one more day of participation. We also celebrated one certification at Artist Teacher level. Dr. Doreen Rao led the fourth and final day, with Simon Werner and Jane Wheeler, contextualising the course into the bigger picture. During much practical work, delegates were reminded of the importance of choosing really great music for young singers and choirs, preparing the music and rehearsals in depth and with care, developing experientially …