Such has been the interest in the Academy that a waiting list is in operation for sopranos and altos. To put your name on this, please contact Ruth Badley on 01279 817514 or email her. You will be advised as and when places become available. A few places are still available for tenors and basses - please use the application form (see under the How To Join heading).

• Do you want to sing in a choir?
• Need help with sight-reading or voice training?
• Used to sing in a choir, but need a refresher course?
• Want to improve your singing?

If the answer is Yes, then join our training choir - the Harlow Chorus Academy

Our training choir will develop your singing skills and is aimed at anyone who wants to learn to sing in a choir or who is returning to singing after a break and wants to improve their voice and get better at reading music.

The rehearsals will help you with:

• Vocal techniques (posture, breathing, sound projection, vowel sounds, extending vocal range)
• Sight reading
• Music theory (rhythm, pitch and tonality, intervals, melody, singing in parts, key and time signatures, listening skills, understanding the score and conductor)

The first Academy rehearsal will take place on Monday 2 November 2009. Rehearsals will take place at St Johns Arts & Recreation Centre, Old Harlow on Monday evenings from 7.00pm till 8.30pm, for approx 30 weeks during the academic year. Participants will also be able to join part of Harlow Chorus rehearsals, where they will receive one-to-one mentoring, and we hope the Academy training will build a solid foundation for those wishing to join Harlow Chorus on a permanent basis.

The Academy will perform at least one concert each year and will occasionally join Harlow Chorus for a concert. Harlow Chorus holds regular social events each year and we hope Academy members will join in with these too.

Academy Director
We're delighted that Janette Ruocco has agreed to be the Academy Director. Janette is Vocal and Choral Development Manager for Essex Music Services and has run the two very successful series of Sing Out! training workshops for us. She is a highly experienced vocal animateur and has developed training programmes for aspiring singers of all ages. Janette is Musical Director of the Meljon Singers and three county youth choirs in Essex.

How to join
Harlow Chorus Academy is open to everyone aged 18 or over, no audition is required, but the number of places is limited and we will operate a waiting list if necessary. You can download an application form or contact Ruth Badley for a copy (tel. 01279 817514).

Cost
There will be a joining fee of £10 and a termly training fee: £25 per term for 2009-2010; concessions £17 per term for 2009-2010 (concessionary rate applies to under 25's, the unwaged and those aged 65 or over).

Harlow Chorus is grateful for financial support for the Harlow Chorus Academy from the National Lottery through Arts Council England and from GlaxoSmithKline.