08-12-2011
Along time since my last post – but things as usual with VIAM have been very busy -
Visited Minehead School and the lovely Mrs Wingrove and all the students – Had a fabulous time and the kids sounded great all were very enthusiastic, also found a fabulous young girl singer with great potential for both Wembley and Birmingham!
Then “The Orphans Christmas Wish” finally both shows went on…………….
Dartford Orchard Theatre on Nov 24th
Hull City Hall on Nov 29th
Both shows went very well and were well received by the audiences too – the school children all seemed to enjoy the show / event and the soloists all performed to a really high standard. Hulls mayor not too popular after the event though!
Lessons were learnt and we will tweak a number of things in preperation to roll out the show again around the country in various theatres, therefore the hunt will be on for 9 Orphans and a Jake for each venue!
Saturday Dec 3rd was the mass workshop for stage choir/soloists for the 2012 Wembley event the standard just gets better we are truly blessed with young talent in this country and it is a delight that they all to be involved in what will be a truly amazing concert.
The hard work begins now having to select who will sing what, as we are so very spoilt for choice this year so some tough decisions will have to be made.
VIAM Academy kids will be singing in the Bentall Center Kingston outside John Lewis on Dec 21st
15-11-2011
Well it has been fairly manic to say the least for the last few weeks/ months – We are fast approaching the Orphans Christmas Shows in Dartford and Hull everyone is excited and we hope all will go well!
On Saturday I was lucky to visit Northgate High School in Norfolk where we had a workshop on the Wembley / Birmingham set – The teacher (Mrs Dack ) was lovely the kids were great and there was some real potential amongst the older girls. I spoke to quite a few and I hope they will get onboard and register for solo auditions for future events.
Sunday was a long day with my VIAM academy ( Who I love!) – All worked really hard throughout the day and their efforts paid off by the end of the day I felt we had a show I could….. be proud of! My Orphans will be tremendous if they remember to act throughout.
Monday evening was another exciting night when I visited Step Up – Who stepped into the breach and put together a group for Dartford when we lost some children fairly late in the day. The kids have a very talented and passionate teacher Nathalie and they make a great sound. I was lucky to hear them do one song prior to my rehearsal in harmony and was impressed, so with any luck we may have them onboard as group for a future event.
Today Tuesday…….. I have just returned from Gordons School where I listened and watched their great pipe and drums band who we are delighted will be joining us in Dartford!
Thursday I am going to visit Minehead Middle School for another workshop so will get back to you after that!
18-09-2011
Today was another day with the VIAM academy and we made great progress with The Orphans Christmas Wish – I just need everyone to now learn the songs!!
Filming of the promo will take place on October 15th – The song we are going film and record is I Gotta Feeling – Anyone can apply to take part so simply call the office or email team@voiceinamillion.com It promises to be a fun time -
10-04-2011
What a great day of auditions, I wasn’t there this year for all auditionees, but I did see a few, and they were amazing, I was informed that the standard was very high indeed this year. I am delighted, and hope that we will see lots of new faces for the 2012 shows. Our next auditions are April 30th – So hoping to find even more talented guys and girls ….. If you want to audition and haven’t then call the office or register on the website!
03-04-2011
Tesco – well it was cold! It was difficult logistically with the lack of powered amplification – but hey we did it!
Four twenty minute sets for Mothers day!
Well done to everyone and I hope your mums got spoilt afterwards!
01-04-2011
Yet again the VIAM Chertsey kids pulled off a fantastic performance this evening, one we were all very proud of!
I don’t think you could have done any better and your professionalism really shone through this evening, your ability to transfer from large arena to school hall !! Well done -
Tesco here we come!!
13-03-2011
A massive thank you to Nicky & Lisa and of course all the wonderful VIAM parents and fabulous children – Thank you so much for all of your beautiful cards and presents they are all very much appreciated. I can’t thank you all enough, it means so much to work with such great families!
03-02-2011
Well hello everyone! We finally got to the 02 on February 1st and what a spectacular show it proved to be!
Thank you to every single school and child that took part in the event, a massive thanks to the teachers, parents and carers that helped with organising the various groups.
To all the VIAM parents and helpers from Robert and I, a massive thank you. Without your never-ending support and commitment Voice in A Million would not be where it is today. I feel honoured to teach your children and blessed to have made some wonderful new friends.
Lets hope we can top this year and pack out the arenas next year! There are hundreds of schools within a commutable distance of Wembley and Birmingham; and we need to get them all involved so they can part of something really special.
I am sure everyone was tired after the big day! I know I was. My arms are still aching, and my voice is still croaky, but it doesn’t matter because the show was amazing.
THANKYOU !
28-11-2010
Hi All – Again my apologies for the delay in posting – things have been manic as usual! No change there I hear you say! Since my last post I have visited even more great schools with many talented and enthusiastic children enjoying the rehearsals for the forthcoming 02 show.
Gems Hampshire, Mill Chase & The Vale Primary in Epsom – All were absolutely fantastic both children and teachers and I felt most welcome at all schools.
I guess though the best experience over the recent weeks has been the Voice In A Million concert at the Liverpool Echo Arena on November 11th. It was a long struggle to get there but we made, not without the problems with weather and threatened cancellation by the arena! However we went on! It was a fantastic evening the school children that joined us from all over the country were a credit to their teachers and schools and really made the show a truly fantastic evening.
I personally would like to thank the very many parents who helped backstage and front of house throughout the day without them we would not have been able to get through the day and each and every one are truly great supporters of VIAM and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
During half term we had a great day with some really talented children where we workshopped the numbers for the forthcoming 02 show and I am very excited to say that we have yet more really superb voices and we hope these children will be joining us onstage at the 02 in February.
Our main flagship academy are doing their very first show on April 23rd in Addlestone where they will be raising money for a forthcoming trip to Tangier Morocco in May 2011 – 12 children will visit Le Creche De Tangier and orphanage in Tangier where we adopted our son from in 2006. The children and parents will travel to Tangier perform a short revue for the children and staff and we hope to be able raise enough money to fund not only some of the trips but also money for much needed supplies for the orphanage.
December 22nd will be our 2nd workshop for the 02 and I personally am looking forward to setting all numbers and getting to know the children better.
12-10-2010
Delighted to say that members of VIAM performed on Friday October 8th with prog rock legends Rick Wakeman and John Anderson and were absolutely superb! As always, I never expected anything less. I don’t think many of them were really aware what a great honour it was to do so!
They did four numbers during the evening and the audience thought they were excellent, Jon and Rick must have been impressed too as they have asked if they would like to do the Indigo room at the 02 in November!
A massive thankyou to everyone who helped, Sandra, Mark, Paula and Julia and as always Debs and Ben, without a team and great support these type of things could never go ahead!
Then today I took a trip to Bishop Challoner school in Kent, and what an amazing time I had there. A truly great school with amazing staff and brilliant kids too, who were so enthusiastic if a little excited and noisy at times! Great potential though and it really was a great pleasure to spend the time with them. A massive thankyou to Sue and Karen, and a superb guy who had a whistle throughout, didn’t get his name! There were some amazing boys with a real zest and enthusiasm for life which made the singing all the more fun! I hope to return in the future because I am sure we could do some great things together.
The workshops I am doing in educational schools are becoming so very popular and I have to say I am having some of the best times I have had teaching large groups of enthusiastic children and very supportive teachers! So a big thank you to everyone who has supported VIAM in this way and please continue to do so!
I will speak to you all again very soon!
On another note Samuel had his fifth birthday party on Saturday and we had 38 four year olds for a party!!! Great fun!!!
04-10-2010
Hello Again! Sorry it has been so long since my last post! Voice In A Million, and life in general have been totally manic – However there are some great things happening.
Sam our little boy, and the reason we started VIAM and our inspiration to continue to grow the project, started school in September. Like mums across the country I shed a few tears!
Sam has settled well, loves school or rather playtime! He isn’t too impressed with Oxford Reading, as at present his book has only pictures and he is very unhappy that there are no words, as to him it isn’t a real book!
Julie took a trip to Stagecoach Denbigh and said the kids were fab and their number for the Liverpool arena show is great!
On September 12th the VIAM kids performed at Bentley Priory for the Anniversary of the Battle of Britain and were truly superb, not a dry eye in the house, stunning vocals from all!
I had a great workshop with the kids from Young KVODSs over in Kingston on September 15th and also visited St Johns C of E Primary in Coventry on September 27th, where I had a great session with some really enthusiastic kids and teachers, a lovely school and great staff.
We had the technical rehearsal for Liverpool with all featured singers on Sept 25th and I have to say yet again we are so lucky to have a host of talented children.
On Sunday we had Blue Peter at the studio which was great fun, no one got a badge, but we are hoping we will very soon!
Then this week there is more activity going on…. The VIAM kids are rehearsing with the legendary prog rockers Rick Wakeman and Jon Anderson from YES tommorow night for a show on Friday in Addlestone.
Next week I am looking forward to visiting Bishop Challoner School in Kent.
31-08-2010
Again another great day with some of the talented VIAM kids. We spent a day in the studio recording guide vocals for the 02 Arena show in February 2011, these will be mixed and sent out to all the schools that are taking part in the event. As usual there were plenty of laughs throughout the day but everyone worked really hard so a great big thankyou to you all. This weekend is going to be busy as well, we have all of the soloists for Nottingham and Liverpool Arena events coming to Chertsey for Rehearsals on Saturday and then on Sunday the Chertsey academy recommences after the summer break! I am looking forward to seeing everyone and hope you are all prepared for some hard work, but some great fun too!
17-08-2010
Sky News came to film a group of Voice In A Million singers at the studio, it was great fun and we were lucky enough to have some children attend who we haven’t seen since the 02 so it was fabulous to see them again. A Great performance of “Somebody To Love” everyone worked really hard to get the vocals tight prior to the filming. We expect the piece to be show on Sky news either Monday or Tuesday keep checking the website for details!
Planning the recording for the 02 2011 guide vocals on 31st August so look forward to seeing people then.
This weekend I am going away for a break!!
08-08-2010
Sunday another fabulous day with all the Voice In a Million featured artists -
A massive thank you to Helen Garnett a truly talented lady with her amazing harmonies for Pie Jesu as well as many others!
Sophie Plummer a very well done for carrying on all day, and working really hard despite a really bad sickness bug.
Classic moments – Lovely Lauren Glyn in When A Child s born and the stunning voice of Sarah Baron, Rachel Kevern and Rebecca Hallam
Sophie Manning – from little girl to teenager, great vocal and performance in Aint No Mountain
Mikhael – Will make everyone SMILE with his version of Ben
06-08-2010
Well we had a great first days rehearsal in Hull today for the forthcoming Nottingham and Liverpool Arena shows. A fantastic bunch of children of all ages, who worked really hard all day and we got through so much it was fantastic.
A massive thank you to Steph Hallam who stayed and helped as Jules was poorly, but she managed to make it in for the afternoon session despite not being at all well – But as they say the show must go on!!!
Met some great mums who helped with Teas and coffees throughout the day too Mrs Wright and Mrs Baxter thank you -
To  those who travelled from all over the country many thanks for your commitment and support
Some classic moments – the two tiny ones Caitlin & Jordan for their very cute opening to You’ll Be In My Heart!
Motherless Child opening Garnett girls were outstanding and Rebecca Hallam truly lovely.
Sallie Lax great One Voice will be stunning with the Hot Gospel ladies.
Boys were all fabulous – as always!
03-08-2010
Well another fun day with VIAM as always! Not long to go to the very first soloist rehearsals in Hull for the Nottingham and Liverpool Arena shows! A few admin errors along the way have caused some little problems! However as ALWAYS the VIAM family pull together to ensure it all works well in the end – The Manning’s, The Cox’s, The Carlton’s & The Owen’s thankyou so much for your support. Each and every single person involved is helping making this work!
I know we will have great shows; and I personally am very proud to have all of you onboard – See you at the weekend!
On another note we have our second adoption panel on Thursday next week – Keep your fingers, toes and everything crossed for us!
31-07-2010
I had another fabulous, though exhausting day today with the Voice In A Million singers! Everyone worked really hard and we managed to record some great vocals for the forthcoming “SMILE” album due for release on September 13th. A particularly impressive live vocal version of “Requiem For Soldier” from Daniel Lane which was simply stunning. I have to say the boys really impressed me today with their effort and enthusiasm and the result was great vocals, well done the boys!
The girls, well without mentioning any names I have to say that if their phones were in their bags, the vocals would be much improved…… nevertheless I think we can safely say they all did well and results were good.
Holly & Sophie did a great version of The Greatest Love of All.
A big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Daisy Cox for Tuesday and thank you for the cake, which was enjoyed by all.
Enjoy the short break and look forward to seeing all of you in September if you are not going to be in Hull on Friday!
Stay tuned for all the updates ….
30-07-2010
Today after an amazing time in the Isle of Wight we decided it would be good for us to add a Blog to the website! An update for everyone on what we are up to on a daily basis. Up at 5.00am; and on the way to the ferry in Portsmouth to hop across to the IOW. Debbie, Anna, Sam and I were met by Paula and Mark and our day began….. We had a fabulous time with a group of children who intend to join the VIAM Academy on the island that starts in September. There was some great talent and although the children were quiet to start, by the end of the day we were all friends!! The local press arrived to take pictures and then we began a 3 hour session of vocals, workshopping numbers for the Nottingham and Liverpool Arena shows and for a bit of fun, added in the GLEE favourite of the moment “Don’t Stop Believin”. A massive thank you to Mark, Paula and all the parents and children that came along to support the session. Some great voices, Ellie, Georgi, Kath, Sophie, Amy, Jess, Daisy, Becky, Alix & Chloe plus loads more far too many to mention. Hope to see you all in September !!!
