Tosini Board Members - Elizabeth Drwal-Stuttard, Pat McAlinden & Marie O'Sullivan attended the Choice for Voice Conference held at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama & the Barbican from 10-12th July 2008.

This was a marvellous international event with delegates from not only the British Isles, but Australia, Korea, Israel, Canada, USA, Germany, Austria and France all coming together to share their expertise, views and research into voice, singing and vocal health.  The opening lecture by respected Speech & Language Therapist & Counter-tenor, Ron Morris was highly informative as well as enormously entertaining and set the tone for the conference.  There was a rich diversity of approaches to teaching voice and developing the singers and performers of tomorrow.

The first recital of the conference gave us a selection of students from 1st year to Post Grad. and showed the levels of expertise expected and was followed by a Q&A session with Janice Chapman, Penny MacKay & Rudolf Piernay on various approaches to teaching classical voice.  We then enjoyed a lovely concert at St. Gile's Church, Cripplegate by some students from the Guildhall.

Friday evenings recital was presented by Mary Hammond & featured some of her Post Grad. students from the RAM, London.  The music featured ranged from pop (Queen) to contemporary Musical Theatre (Witches of Eastwick). The audience very much enjoyed hearing the voice being used in such exciting and different ways.

Elizabeth & I also managed to catch 'Wicked' and 'The Rakes Progress' when there, with Pat enjoying 'Hairspray' immensely. 

All in all, a super event and congratulations to the BVA and their lovely staff who made it all happen.