Expressions of interest for Singing workshop
Nov 12 or Dec 10 2006
Posted Thursday, September 14, 2006
The Troubadour is trying to arrange a singing workshop for everyone with Umina resident Doreen Van Bree.
Doreen has enjoyed a lifetime of music and it continues today. After 16 years living on the north coast of N.S.W. and Brisbane, Doreen has returned to the Central Coast and is happy to be back. Born in Holland, where she studied classical piano and organ, Doreen experienced her first stage performance at the age of 10 playing Clemente's Sonata. At age 12 the Van Bree family migrated to Australia, and Doreen quickly became interested in the popular music of the day. During high school years in Sydney Doreen performed in many musical stage productions and was organist for 4 years at St. Josephs Church, Edgeclifte. She later moved to Gosford where she studied singing and formed her own Rock`n Roll band, playing piano and singing. In 1961 Doreen entered the Miss Australia Quest and was crowned Miss N.S.W Charity Queen, Around the same time, she appeared on Brian Henderson's Bandstand several times, and eventually became a professional singer, performing at various clubs on the Central Coast and Sydney, and teaching singing.
In 1990 Doreen left the C,C, to travel around Australia for a planned 2 year period. Whilst in Murwillumbah she was invited to be musical director in David Johnstone's musical "Genghis", with a cast of over 100 local performers and 14 piece orchestra., which Doreen conducted. As a result of that enjoyable experience Doreen decided to stay on in the Tweed Valley. She taught singing at Murwillumbah and the Tweed Music Academy for about 1 0 years and also gained a Diploma in Psychology before moving on to Brisbane, where she lived and worked for 4 years. After a long musical career and back on the Central Coast to be closer to family, Doreen is now retired, but still takes on the occasional singing student. She has recently taken up classical piano again for her own enjoyment and is writing her memoirs.
We would like to know who would be interested in coming so we can make our plans. It would be about a one hour workshop from 11 am on either
November 12 (before the Troubadour Afternoon with the "Stiff Gins") or
December 10 (before our Christmas Troubadour Afternoon. (it might start at 10:30)
You don't have to attend both but its a great chance! Doreen is great at getting in a lot of information in a short time, and proper breathing and shapes of your mouth etc will be covered. Plenty of help for everyone from professionals to beginners. This workshop would be timed so you can have a nice lunch and then come to the Troubadour afternoon.
Cost has not been decided but will be somewhere between $5 and $10 depending on the number attending.
Please use the 'E-mail this page' link at the bottom to inform people who might be interested in improving their singing. A number of Troubadour members are already taking lessons from her and really think its a great opportunity for everyone.
Please either email or call Leila at (02) 4344 1810 and let me know your thoughts about it.
Thank you so much.
