Expecting a lot and nothing…

By Armando Guillen
When you plan a trip, no matter where….you are open to live new experiences, but it’s inevitable to create some expectations in any field. I traveled 9600 kmArmando singing with The Real Single Pop Singers, from my city Mérida in Venezuela to Stockholm, and I was expecting a lot and nothing at the same time. Later I realized that I was privileged not only for living in total consciousness one of my dreams, but to feel connected with a bunch of incredible nice people, and we connected in the best way possible and that’s singing…… That was only possible because of the Single Singers, that’s one of the best choices to keep you grounded, focused, and hunger for the love of music….. Thank you girls, thank you everyone in the Single Singers family……..

The Single Singers are ready for Stockholm!

By Emily May ‘t Hoen
We are SO excited!!

In less than four weeks the next edition of The Real Single Singers will take the stage in Stockholm. We were very honoured to be contacted by Peder Karlsson himself, asking if we would take our idea to The Real Group Festival 2012.
We didn’t hesitate to agree!

After our first Single Singers adventure at the London A Cappella Festival, organised by the Swingle Singers in January 2012, the Single Singers concept has already travelled to the States. Nick Girard (House Jacks) who took part in London, organized The Pick Ups in Los Angelos (LAAF), Boston (BOSS) and Washington (VoCALNation). And Jonathan Minkoff’s girlfriend Judy Fontana did a Single Singers (DC) edition.
That means that more than 200 singers have already enjoyed the Single Singers experience. How great is that!

And now we, me and Annemarie, are organizing The Real Single Singers for The Real Group Festival and the amazing amount of over 70 singers from all over the world have enrolled to join us.
All these singers are (a bit or a lot) experienced a cappella singers. We are very honoured that Nick Girard has written an incredibly beautiful arrangement especially for us. In total we’re going to perform 4 songs on Sunday, as the final concert! I think Annemarie and I are not only very excited but also a little nervous about all this.
This is the second time we are organizing The Single Singers. All we wanted was to sing at
the festival and not be alone, and look where it got us haha!

“Our” singers are active in the Real Group Academy virtual classroom and on facebook, introducing themselves and having conversations among each others. It’s so fantastic to see their enthusiasm and involvement!
Besides the big choir we have decided to form two small groups of ten singers (the
Jazz group and the Pop group), that are each going to sing two extra songs. The
arrangements are now accessible to all singers in our classroom on the website of The Real Group Academy.

Now the studying can commence!

Bringing an incredible experience to Washington DC

By Jonathan Minkoff
The Single Singers really opened my eyes. I have toured with professional a cappella groups since I turned 20. Over 40 US States and over 200 shows in Asia. In front of gatherings with more than 100,000 people live, and more than 10 million people broadcast. But I was still genuinely nervous to join the Single Singers at their first performance in London. I’m so glad I took the plunge. Continue reading

Arrive and sing at my first SingStrong

By Jordan Truesdell
This is my first move into contemporary, but not my first “arrive and sing” event. Barbershoppers have “brigades” (http://www.harmonybrigade.org/faq.php) where 100-120 men get 12 challenging songs in the mail, show up for a weekend a couple months later, get randomly combined into quartets, and – with one hour to practice – compete against one another. Continue reading

Memories of the London A Cappella Festival 2012

By Annemarie Homan

Just a summary, in random order
* First evening at The Fellow having a very nice pre-festival dinner with Emily May, Clare, Jo, Kevin, Sara, Dylan, Florian, Willy, Aaron, Carl, and I’m not sure who else was there.
* Vocal Jog world record on Friday 13th and meeting Bill Hare, Joan Hare, Soňa Kilianová and Willy Eteson (with a surprise) on the summit of Primrose Hill Continue reading

High expectations!

By Claudia Appel-Dom
In less then a week The Single Singers will finally meet! The past couple of weeks I have struggled to find time to rehearse the songs and squeeze it in my busy schedule as IT consultant and mother, singing in my hotel room most of the time (and scaring the other guests I am afraid…). Just when I thought I had just enough time, it seems we are also doing a city run in London…. Pff, now I have to work on my condition as well. But I am sure we will all have a wonderful time next week. Expectations are high! Continue reading

Fantastic experience!

By Lorenzo Subrizi
Hello guys! For me it’s very exciting and attractive to be part of this project and I can’t wait to meet all my “adventure mates”!  I live in Cuneo, a city in northern Italy and I’m 20 years old. I started to learn about the world of choral and a cappella musica at the age of 14, when I went to a music high school in my city! There I studied ancient and sacred music, and I continued to sing in choirs or groups of classical music. Continue reading