Ōamaru Sings is bringing its second offering to the community with a weekend workshop, helping people to connect to the “groove” of songs.

Sally Randall is the driving force behind the group, which kicked off with a 10-week singing programme, All Together Now, in the winter of 2024.

The new Rhythm in Harmony workshop will be held on March 15 and 16, in Ōamaru’s Scottish Hall, on Tyne Street.

“In a nutshell”, Sally says the weekend is “mostly about connection” and for anyone who wants to experience singing in harmony.

“As Plato said ‘Rhythm and harmony find their way into the inward places of the soul’.”

The workshop will be led by Wellington Community choir and Kotaba Voices director Lala Simpson.

Lala draws inspiration from her Malagasy and African heritage, and is an energetic song leader, performer and composer with a great sense of humour, Sally says.

She is an advocate for community singing, believes in supporting singers to find their voice, and is passionate about community singing and its power to bring people together.

Lala will be joined by Claire Stevens, a long-time member of Dunedin gospel and world music group, Sunny Side Up and their leader for 17 years.

Claire Stevens. Photo: Supplied

Claire has attended and learnt from many of New Zealand gospel expert Tony Backhouse’s workshops here, in Australia and further afield, including one of his gospel tours to the southern United States.

She has been leading Oamaru’s Limetones choir for the past seven years, directs Dunedin’s U3A choir, mentors a men’s singing group, and occasionally acts as a short-term leader for several other community choirs in the region.

“Gospel music offers rich harmonies and easily accessible part singing,” Claire says. “It is energetic, fun and a great way to experience singing with others, a cappella or accompanied, in four-part harmony.”

In her workshop sessions, Claire will teach several gospel songs, and lead participants in the informal performance.

Ōamaru’s Ra McRostie is also on board, and will be helping workshop participants “find their groove” within the rhythm and movements.

Ra has been facilitating classes based on traditional West African drum and dance for 19 years.

She has studied in Senegal, Zimbabwe, Hawaii and Australia, and has toured New Zealand with her main teachers Mohammed Bangoura, Epizo Bangoura, and Chris Berry.

Ra has also studied flamenco and Brazilian percussion, plays drumkit and is a singer.

She will also collaborate with Lala in the Rhythm in Harmony sessions.

Ra McRostie. Photo: Supplied

Sally will join with fellow Ōamaru Sings member and guitarist Rick Loos to lead the warm ups, and they will then participate in the workshops.

There is room for up to 80 participants, and they are hoping for at least 60, Sally says.

The workshop will appeal to those already involved in local amateur theatre, musical theatre or choirs but is for anyone (over 14) and any experience level.

“Taking part will help to hone their skills and gain confidence,” Sally says. “But equally those entirely new to singing will also enjoy this joyful and fun weekend.”

All songs will be taught by ear.

“In my years of singing and song-leading experience, I have observed that singers often find moving while singing challenging,” she says.

“Choir leaders worldwide seem to agree that when teaching a song, it’s important to start with the ‘groove’ of the song first.

“I genuinely believe this is true. When a singing group is connected to the ‘groove’ whilst singing in harmony, magic happens.”

In the Rhythm in Harmony sessions, participants’ learning will be “gently scaffolded”, Sally says.

“In fun ways we will firstly learn to connect to the rhythm of simple songs, then easy movements will be introduced to solidify this learning.”

A payment of $80 ($65 for unwaged) is due on registration, although can be paid on the Saturday.