Description
Overview Of Content
Immerse yourself in Orkney’s rich song heritage and culture in this unique singing holiday hosted by the internationally renowned and celebrated Kristin Linklater Voice Centre with tutors Aimée Leonard and Sarah Jane Gibbon.
In a friendly and intimate setting, you will learn a range of Orkney songs whilst experiencing Orkney’s amazing scenery and sites from the unique perspective of the islands’ song heritage. The course material will include traditional and contemporary songs, songs in Orkney dialect and their individual song biographies. There will be an opportunity to improve and expand on your singing technique in both group and individual sessions, acquire new storytelling skills and also share if you dare! This course will be taught by ear.
Workshop Tutors
Aimée Leonard is a singer and Bodhran player from Orkney and has been performing and teaching folk music for more than 30 years. Previously, Aimée performed with the folk group Anam touring the UK and folk festivals worldwide. Currently, she is a voice and singing coach for Newcastle University and London Southbank University. Aimée is also a choir leader and musical director and works for the English Folk and Dance Society as a folk educator and workshop leader. She is a qualified Estill Master Trainer.
Sarah Jane Gibbon is from a musical family and was raised steeped in the Orkney Song Tradition. As well as being a traditional song-bearer, singer and songwriter, she is a lecturer at the University of the Highlands and Islands Archaeology Institute with research interests in medieval, landscape and historical archaeology. Sarah Jane has been commissioned to write songs for several events including the St Magnus Festival and the Orkney Folk Festival.
Sarah Jane and Aimée instigated and ran the Big Orkney Song Project, an HLF Project, which researched and promoted Orkney songs both in Orkney and beyond (including performances in Norway and at Scotland’s premier winter music festival – Celtic Connections). The project collected over 1000 songs, recordings of which have been featured in films, on CDs, in concerts, and on the project website.
What Do You Need
Loose clothing, writing materials and notebook.
Please bring suitable clothing for walking and some sensible walking shoes or boots.
Prerequisites and Booking Process
No previous singing experience is necessary. The course is designed to accommodate a wide range of vocal abilities with individual advice and support. Learning in a group can be liberating for the under-confident singer and an opportunity for experienced participants to enhance their ensemble skills.
Indicative Format (please note format may be subject to change)
Day One: Arrival Day (Sunday)
- Meet and greet from early afternoon onwards
- Welcome drinks and dinner
- Week outline, including an introduction to and performance of Orkney Songs by the tutors
Day Two (Monday)
- Yoga/myofascial stretch and voice/singing warm-up
- Singing workshop: Theme song 1
- Lunch
- Tour of theme site/place with Sarah Jane
- Free evening
Day Three (Tuesday)
- Yoga/myofascial stretch and voice/singing warm-up and vocal techniques
- Singing workshop: Theme song 2
- Lunch
- Free Afternoon
- Evening of storytelling and song
Day Four (Wednesday)
- Yoga/myofascial stretch and voice/singing warm-up and vocal techniques
- Singing workshop: Theme Song 3: Dialect song
- Lunch
- Tour of theme site/place with Sarah Jane
- Evening Off
Day Five (Thursday)
- Day off to explore the Island with an escorted trip with the team from the Kristin Linklater Voice Centre
Day Six (Friday)
- Yoga/myofascial stretch and voice/singing warm-up and take-home vocal techniques
- Singing workshop: Theme song 4
- Lunch
- Vocal Masterclass
- Farewell informal performance, a chance to share songs with tutors and other musicians
Day Seven (Saturday)
- Depart after breakfast
Accommodation and Food
You will be housed at the Kristin Linklater Voice Centre in our purpose-built bothy. All rooms are single occupancy with shared toilet/shower facilities.
Mealtimes are communal. Lunch and dinner are cooked by our own chef. We cater for dietary considerations including the following: gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan and lactose intolerant. We regret to say that we are unable to accommodate more complex dietary requirements. For additional food information please see our FAQs
Residential workshops at the Centre are fully residential offerings only. No camping facilities are available. The residential experience at the Centre is based on the participants learning, sharing, creating, and working individually and collectively.
Arrivals and Departures
Sunday Arrivals: We anticipate your arrival on Sunday, sometime in the afternoon is good as this ensures you are present for the Welcome Dinner at 6.30 pm. We shall collect you and take you up to the Centre on Sunday at a time suitable to coordinate in with the other arrivals. (Please note travel times: 45 mins from the airport, 20 mins from the ferry).
Saturday Departures: These will be after breakfast and we will arrange to transport you to the ferry/airport or drop you off at your local accommodation.
Travel Arrangements
For more information on how to get here, please contact our local and reputable travel agency Scapa Travel, advising them that you are travelling to Orkney to stay at the Voice Centre.
Should you wish to arrive in Orkney early, or to stay on after your workshop finishes, we recommend you use Orkney.com or another online accommodation site to make your personal arrangements.
Please ensure that when making your travel arrangements you have suitable insurance to cover any other losses associated with your trip as KLVC and the course organiser cannot take any responsibility for any additional costs.
COVID-19 Regulations – PLEASE READ
- We are closely monitoring and adhering to Government and local guidelines and will advise you of specific local requirements, if any, prior to the commencement of your workshop.
- Current Scottish Government guidance in respect of COVID-19 can be accessed using this link.
- In order to best manage COVID-19, the Centre asks that everyone tests on (1) arrival before the welcome dinner, (2) on the first morning of the workshop, and (3) on any free day.
- The format of testing is a Lateral Flow Test (also known as a Rapid Antigen Test), which we can supply to you.
- Anyone who feels unwell during their stay is asked to isolate themselves until they feel better or have a negative COVID-19 test. Additional COVID-19 protocols may be put in place by the leader of the workshop, in conjunction with the Centre, and you will be notified of those in addition to this information.
- The wearing of face masks is not required unless stipulated in any additional information from the workshop leader, or if it is a personal preference or requirement.
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel more than 30 days before the workshop start date, a 100% refund will be provided.*
If you cancel within 30 – 14 days before the workshop start date a 50% refund will be provided.*
If you cancel within 14 days before the workshop start date no refund will be provided.
Subject to availability, the cost of any amount not refunded could be put towards the cost of another course.
KLVC reserves the right to cancel or reschedule any workshop or event at any time. Should the rescheduled dates or alternative offered by KLVC not be suitable to you we shall refund any payments made by you.
(*less transaction costs and any administration costs incurred)
KLVC, Sarah Jane Gibbon and Aimee Leonard reserve the right to cancel or reschedule any workshop or event at any time. Should the rescheduled dates or alternative offered by KLVC not be suitable to you we shall refund any payments made by you.
Early Bird Cost £1,695
Normal Price £1,995
Once the early bird places are filled, the price will revert back to the normal workshop price.
[Photo credits: Sean Purser, Rebecca Marr, Sarah Jane Gibbon and Aimee Leonard]
