As you sing

Neil Ferris is Chorus Director of the BBC Symphony Chorus, Artistic Director of the professional chamber choir Sonoro, Music Director of Wimbledon Choral Society, and Chorus Director at the Royal College of Music. He has worked with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain, the National Youth Choir of Wales, London Symphony Chorus and the BBC Singers. He has conducted the London Symphony Orchestra, London Mozart Players, Orchestra of the Swan, the orchestra of Welsh National Opera and Florilegium. Neil is recognised as one of the UK's leading teachers of choral conducting and has led masterclasses in the UK, USA, Ireland, and Denmark.Joanna Tomlinson is the Music Director of the international award-winning Farnham Youth Choir, the Whitehall Choir, and Constanza Chorus. She teaches conducting for the Association of British Choral Directors and as a workshop leader has led sessions for UK Choir Festival and the Gabrieli Consort “Roar” and Philharmonia Orchestra education schemes. She has also worked with the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, Wales, and Poland, as well as BBC Symphony Chorus, London Symphony Chorus, Royal College of Music Chorus, and Manchester Chamber Choir. Joanna trained as a singer at the Royal College of Music before turning to conducting and continues to work as a soloist and professional choral singer.

Another collection to catch my eye, ear and imagination is As You Sing . . . The items are all in English, but Ferris and Tomlinson have ranged far and wide in their search for top-quality music . . . Toby Young's vibrant 'Give me the River' includes clapping and stamping, and Sarah Quartel's unaccompanied opener needs a hand drum. Kerry Andrew gives us 'Charm' which involves whispered incantation of the names of herbs in Old English; just the sort of thing youngsters will love.