Festival Overview 2024

The contents of this workshop is various useful exercises that I have collected over the years. The main purpose of doing these exercises is to have fun, with a side effect of learning something about yourself musically. Every now and then, you run into a challenge, that may occur due to a score difficulty or to musical blockage that you need to release, in order to move on in your musical progress as a group. Since the early days of rehearsals and choir coachings with The Real Group, it was clear to us that every choir and every vocal group in the world find a direction forward by doing the same exercises, basically. What you do in a coaching or in a rehearsal depends on singers’ previous experience and knowledge, of course – but in essence, we all do the same things. This workshop is presented in collaboration with RAMA Vocal Center.

The Single Singers are back! In 2025 we celebrated our 25th edition in Istanbul – a journey that started back in 2012 at the London A Cappella Festival. Since then, The Single Singers have grown into an indispensable element of many festivals across Europe. Hundreds of singers from all over the world have joined us – sometimes once, often again and again – to create a nice concert in just two rehearsals. Along the way, countless new international friendships have been made. And now: we’re coming back to Aarhus in May 2026 for edition 26! Whether you’ve sung with us before or are brand new, you’re more than welcome to join. Don’t have a choir or vocal group to come with? No problem – that’s exactly why we exist. Here’s the deal: - Learn three songs at home - Rehearse together twice at the festival - End with one unforgettable performance Come sing, connect, and be part of the magic of The Single Singers!

Playful music-making with voice, body, and electronics. In this workshop, we’ll explore how voice, body, and technology can come together to create music in the moment. Using tools like loop station, vocal effects, and pedals, we’ll co-create vocal music through short, rehearsed fragments, improvisation and intuitive play. No tech experience needed. Just bring your voice, your curiosity, and a willingness to explore and have fun.

Step into the heart of harmony! In this workshop, you’ll sing through James’ viral vocal explorations—warm-ups that have taken the internet by storm for their joyful, immersive approach to music-making. Designed for singers of all kinds, these playful exercises place you right at the epicenter of big, enveloping harmonies while strengthening your ears, deepening your musicianship, and sparking pure choral joy.

Icebreakers - Find the flow and become a superhero! In this workshop I will show you how icebreakers can bring people into the state of mind called flow and turn everyone into superheroes. Yes! Superheroes. Confident, curious, creative, having fun in finding solutions and exploring what is behind the next corner. Finding the flow is the way to fun, deep concentration and creativity and in a group context also faelleskab and teamwork. In the workshop I will talk about the most important 2 minutes of your choir rehearsal and introduce you to some of my favourite icebreaker games including games that train rhythm and groove in combination with singing. Icebreakers are games and exercises that break the ice between people of all ages using singing, music, movement and playing to get there. Icebreakers provide a framework for social interaction and strengthens the feelings of trust and community in a group while also training basic musicality like rhythm, coordination, ear training and creativity. You can find more info about icebreakers and the icebreaker hand books that I wrote together with Tine Fris-Ronsfeld at https://www.breaking-the-ice.dk/en

The workshop explores the rich vocal traditions of Corsican and Georgian polyphony. These traditional forms of singing, passed down through generations, often embody a profound relationship with the land, culture and community. In this workshop, participants will learn the basics of these polyphonic traditions and experience first-hand how these powerful songs arise from an inseparable connection between humanity and nature. One of the songs we will work with was created by a female ethnomusicologist who, for years would walk in the Corsican nature in order to compose songs that were deeply connected to and arose from the landscape. We will also work with songs from the highest parts of the Caucasian mountains. They have been sung for more than two thousand years, passed on from generation to generation, shaping them into the gems they are now. With a very special polyphonic tradition of harmonizing, which sound foreign to our ears, but goes straight to our heart. Even if you don't understand the language, you will feel it. In this workshop, you will learn polyphonic songs by ear, delving into vocal traditions that weave together voice, land, and the powerful bond of community.

In this workshop we will try to find our mix voice. I will start the workshop with a short presentation containing the basic knowledge behind (what is called) SOVT(E) = semi occluded vocal tract exercises. I will do group exercises with “straw fornation” and voiced consonants. For the last 30 - 45 min I will invite 3-5 of you out on the floor and together we will put the new knowledge into practice. Prepare to sing a chorus - OR a single line from a song that challenges you singing technique. It can be around your register shift /passaggio. For this mini masterclass we will draw lots among those interested. Important: Have your line ready - in the right key - when you sign up. We work a capella and focused in these short 10 min sessions. Welcome.

Join vocalist and TikTok sensation Anna Frank for an intensive workshop aimed at singers with a higher technical level. The session dives into advanced riffs, runs and contemporary vocal agility, focusing on how to break down fast ornamental lines, achieve precision and flow, and apply these techniques creatively in your own vocal expression. Throughout the workshop, Anna will also sing excerpts from her own musical work, demonstrating how she thinks, shapes and executes riffs and runs in real time — offering a rare insight into her artistic process. Expect hands-on exercises and concrete strategies for developing speed, accuracy and musical intention in melismatic singing.

This session will focus on the Vocal Jazz soloist. Necessary skills would include: 1. Picking a good song for your voice 2. Finding the right key for your interpretation 3. Connecting to the text with truth and emotion 4. Understanding the rhythm and subdivision of the groove you choose to use. 5. Embracing the actual melody; then making it conversational.........this brings the personal touch. 6. Utilizing phrasing and dynamics to give the presentation texture and dimension. 7. Working on improvisation and melodic embellishment. 8. Creating a unique arrangement. All this to say that we want to lift the music off of the page and breathe new life into it. Make it your own..........Make it MORE than STANDARD!

A choir can often sing perfectly well without a conductor. And if there’s a beatboxer on stage, you don’t exactly need someone just to “keep time” either. So what is the conductor for in rhythmic choir music, and how can we use our conducting role most effectively? In this workshop with Jonas Rasmussen, we’ll explore concrete tools for getting the very best out of a choir in rhythmic music. We’ll reflect on what the choir needs (and doesn’t need) from the conductor, and we’ll try practical exercises that sharpen attention, strengthen ensemble awareness, and create a stronger sense of togetherness in the sound. We will also cover conducting techniques: how your gesture can shape groove, articulation, entries, cutoffs, balance and ensemble focus - all without over-conducting. This workshop is presented in collaboration with RAMA Vocal Center.

In the Sing It Out Loud workshops the main goal is to do just that; Sing It Out Loud! The center of the workshop is some catchy arrangements that are guaranteed to stick to you all day. In this workshop we will be sing some funky songs and explore how to phrase it to make it really groovy. The way we move our body to the music plays a major part in our ability to express music. So in this workshop we will also work with the performing-system, that Tine has developed on how to find a collective bodily expression in choirs. Having said all that, remember that it's primarily about having fun singing. Tine Ohrt Højgaard is a member of the board af AAVF. This workshop is presented in collaboration with Kor72.

In this workshop we will show you why the warm up is probably the most important part of your entire rehearsal and how you – if you plan it well – can turn it into a playful learning space for musical and vocal development and a greenhouse for trust, joy and connection. Join us in this hands-on workshop, where you will learn our newest vocal warm ups and our favourite exercises from our book “Warming Up – A handbook on choral warm up, vocal technique and singing together”, and we will share our ready-to-use guidelines and framework, so you can create your own custom made warm up programmes for YOUR choir.

Discover one of the most exciting developments in modern choral music: Vocal Painting. This workshop introduces the creative sign language developed by Jim himself, forming a core part of The Intelligent Choir philosophy (TIC), where shared musical responsibility and co-creation stand at the heart of artistic expression. Through hands-on exercises, you will experience how improvisation, groove, listening, and collective initiative merge into vibrant musical moments created here and now. Whether you are new to the method or already familiar with the TIC universe, the workshop will expand your musical imagination and collaborative skills. We look forward to welcoming you to this inspiring and dynamic session! This workshop is presented in collaboration with RAMA Vocal Center.

Join the Finnish vocal group Rajaton for a workshop where you will sing 1-2 of their songs together with them and get the opportunity to get to know them better and ask questions about their music and their journey together over the past 2 decades.

What makes music feel good? In this joyful, hands-on session, explore how groove lives in the voice — and how the natural rhythm of text and speech helps us find it. Using excerpts from a range of vocal styles including pop, jazz, and gospel, we’ll uncover how words, rhythm, and emotion combine to create authentic feel. Through vocal layering, rhythmic play, and call-and-response, explore how the collective “pulse” connects singers and brings music to life.

All Ears is a workshop developed by Anders Edenroth and Katarina Henryson that comes from their experiences developing methodology used in The Real Group. Since Katarina left the group she has continued exploring fields that involve artistic expression built on attentiveness, connection and vulnerability. In the workshop we will practice how to focus one item at the time and the phenomenon of listening. We will start with focus on connection with your body and voice through a physical warm – up that can be adapted to individual conditions. Come as you are! The workshop offers a straightforward approach and concrete exercises to explore an area in musicmaking that is at the same time elusive and a fundamental premise.

A workshop with exercises focusing on stage presence and song interpretation for choirs (120 min) What is stage presence und stage intensity, and what significance does it have for choir singing and performing? How can the relationship between the singers be strengthened and what positive effects can this have? How can inhibitions of voice and body be overcome to increase expressivity? What is the emotional phrasing of a song and how can it be more appropriately developed? These and other questions form the core of this workshop. Drawing from his own longstanding performance and directing experience Felix Powroslo introduces exercises to enhance stage presence and to further develop uninhibited, emotional and intuitive music-making.

Classical choral music is often perceived as something belonging to the past — a beautiful but static tradition. But nothing could be further from the truth. It is, in fact, a living art form, continuously evolving and responding to the world around it. In this lecture, Jonas Rasmussen takes the pulse of classical choral music today: Where are we now? What trends are shaping the field? And what might the future hold? From emerging compositional voices to shifting audience expectations and the tension between innovation and tradition, this session invites you to reflect, rethink, and rediscover the possibilities of classical choral music in the 21st century. This lecture is presented in collaboration with RAMA Vocal Center.

Vocal Microtonal Fluency awakens the potential of fine Listening and transforms the core question of Intonation Skills into a function of expression and musical depth. In this workshop we experience and practice microtonal Sounds and see how this practice can improve blending and vocal expression.

In this workshop we will try to access the loud volumes together. I will start with a short presentation based on the basic principles of CVT (support and the metallic modes). We will try out “the belted sounds” in group exercises. For the last 30 - 45 min I will invite 3-5 of you out on the floor and together we will put the new knowledge into practice. Prepare to sing a chorus - or a single line from a song that challenges you singing technique. This could typically be in the high part of the voice. For this mini masterclass we will draw lots among those interested. Important: Have your line ready - in the right key - when you sign up. We work a capella and focused in these short 10 min sessions. Welcome.

We all need this wonderful State of Flow to forget about our inner critic, to be moved deeply by musical experiences, to reach and to move the heart of the ones listening to us and to experience a special kind of focus: a relaxed yet powerful and awakend kind. How do we get there? Is that state a pure coincidence, a gift of fate, so to speak? I am quite convinced that we can learn to actively create a space where Flow is allowed to happen. In this workshop we discover together the different Kinds of focus we use in every day life and we try to find a way to embrace this focus diversity playfully, to recognise the importance of this is tool and to invite the flow sate to our song space.

Discover one of the most exciting developments in modern choral music: Vocal Painting. This workshop introduces the creative sign language developed by Jim himself, forming a core part of The Intelligent Choir philosophy (TIC), where shared musical responsibility and co-creation stand at the heart of artistic expression. Through hands-on exercises, you will experience how improvisation, groove, listening, and collective initiative merge into vibrant musical moments created here and now. Whether you are new to the method or already familiar with the TIC universe, the workshop will expand your musical imagination and collaborative skills. We look forward to welcoming you to this inspiring and dynamic session! This workshop is presented in collaboration with RAMA Vocal Center.

From my book of the same name, this process, drawing upon diverse fields such as psychology and theater, teaches directors and singers how to get vocal harmony groups of all ages and sizes to perform each song in their repertoire with genuine unified emoOon.

This workshop takes a deep dive into the musical thinking behind Journeys in Voice. Together we’ll unpack the theory that shapes these accessible warm-ups, revealing how harmony, rhythm, and ear training are secretly woven in. Perfect for singers and leaders who love to connect the dots between joyful music-making and the brainy side of choir life.

Construction of a Humanophones vocal body musical piece Focus on body percussion groove & singing The human body is an ancestral musical instrument. Traditional practices using the human body for sound purposes exist in many corners of the planet. Contemporary forms use its heritage, transform and develop it. By taking care of our body-instrument, you are invited to an immersive workshop through a range of musical and bodily explorations aimed at being autonomous in the game by gaining expressiveness, spontaneity and freedom. Develop organic musical creativity thanks to your anatomy! Feeling free to communicate and play music with your body, learning in relaxation, cultivating relaxation is very valuable here.

The individual and the collective. Improvise soundscapes and riffs. Katarinas “Swedish armyknife” for choirsinging. I had difficulties finding one name for the workshop. In these times we need to sing together more than ever and we need to nourish the force that can be found in this process. Trust, sensitivity and courage are central to choirsinging. In the workshop we have focus on the dynamic of the individual responsibility in the ensemble in relation to trusting the collective process - and how to enjoy this dynamic. We will be active on the floor, but if you need a chair or need to adapt the exercises in a way to suit you, you are just as welcome. We will improvise music from different startingpoints and with different sets of instructions that creates a safe space for the participants to take risks - or not. A simple songs will be used as a vehicle for the exercises.

Step inside the magic of a One-Day Choir with Gaia Music Collective's founder, Matt Goldstein. In this workshop, participants will learn accessible harmonies, experience co-creative vocal play, and explore the joyful group-flow practices that power Gaia’s viral choral videos. We will learn a re-imagined arrangement of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time", focusing on connection, curiosity, and embodied music-making as our guide. Open to singers of all levels who love communal singing. This workshop is an offering both for singers who simply want to immerse themselves in the music and for those interested in leading choral experiences of their own. This workshop is presented in collaboration with the Danish choir association Kor72.

Ever wondered how to make drum sounds with just your mouth—and how to blend them with your group’s singing? In this fun, hands-on workshop, SPIDERHORSE will guide you through the basics of beatboxing and how to combine it with harmony to take your a cappella game to the next level. You’ll learn foundational sounds, build full rhythms, and explore how vocal percussion and singing can groove together in perfect sync. No experience needed - just bring your voice and get ready to make some serious noise (and music)!

In this workshop we will work on an 8-step method that helps singers relate personally to the text and share the content of the work with an audience. The workshop is about “Stage Presence and Focus” in a few words. I will start by sharing the basic principles of the 8-step interpretation model and together we will perform a series of exercises on the floor. Please prepare the 1st verse and chorus to Carole King’s “You’ve got a friend”. The last 30 - 45 minutes I will focus on the text work with 1 or 2 vocal ensembles and translate theory into practice.

This workshop invites singers and choir leaders to reimagine how choirs can be more inclusive, welcoming, and accessible to people of all genders. Together we’ll explore practical ways to move beyond gendered language and traditions that unintentionally exclude singers. Participants will leave with tools and ideas to create choral spaces where every voice truly belongs.

What happens when we let the music lead? This intimate 25-person workshop invites singers into the deep waters of collaborative vocal improvisation. Drawing from Rhiannon’s Vocal River, Musica do Circulo, and Gaia Music Collective's group-flow practices, we’ll explore harmony, rhythm, lyric, movement, & story through playful structures that allow spontaneous music to feel grounded and joyful. Led by Gaia's founder, Matt Goldstein, this workshop will be a meeting place for singers who are invested in deepening their improvisational intuition and experiencing the freedom of collective creation. This workshop is presented in collaboration with the Danish choir association Kor72.

Ever felt like you would like to sing with less effort and more ease? In this session, Liz will introduce you to some of the breathing and vocal techniques and approaches she uses for herself and her students, including an introduction to Accent Method. During this session you will explore how to become more aware of how hard you are working when you sing and how to apply it to your own practice (and life!). Please bring a water bottle with some water in it and something to lie on.

In this workshop, we will go behind the scenes of a full-length a cappella concert of improvisation using vocal painting. We will try out contrasting frames for the improvisation and exercises to unleash the full creative potential of the singers. What kind of tools can be used to create the concerts dramatic arc? What and how much do you need to plan in advance? Whether you’re a seasoned improviser or a complete vocal painting newbie, you’re warmly welcome! “Leikki - Play!” is a concert concept by Ida Olsonen & Musta lammas (FIN). This workshop shares our insights and practical approaches.

Improvised discussions playing in 3 with your body (3/4, 6/8) With a polyphonic melody as support, we will travel through the different flow rates and pulses in 3. We will explore percussive vocabularies within improvised discussions by cultivating relaxation & dance. The human body is an ancestral musical instrument. Traditional practices using the human body for sound purposes exist in many corners of the planet. Contemporary forms use its heritage, transform and develop it. By taking care of our body-instrument, you are invited to an immersive workshop through a range of musical and bodily explorations aimed at being autonomous in the game by gaining expressiveness, spontaneity and freedom. Develop organic musical creativity thanks to your anatomy! “Feeling free to communicate and play music with your body, learning in relaxation, cultivating relaxation is very valuable here.

A workshop by Katarina Henryson and Felix Powroslo to explore if and how deeper and defined connection affects the music and how we can work with these aspects. In choirs we inevitably experience moments when the singing connects us on a level that seems to be beyond the expected. Let’s explore this. Can we encourage such moments? Can we practice connection, mindfulness and flow and does it help singing? And where does spirituality come into the picture? The goal of the workshop: To give space for the intangible and immeasurable consequences of singing together. To empower and encourage singers and conductors to trust the process. To explore if and how deeper and defined connection affects the music and how we can work with these aspects. Katarina and Felix offer physical and vocal exercises involving rhythm, soundscape, awareness and simple collective improvisation.

If your head is full of ideas for vocal arrangements that just lack the right cohesion to flourish or do you dream of being inspired by others in making arrangements, then this is just the workshop for you. We will collaborate to make a vocal arrangement using joint brainstorming and group improvisation. You will experience the joy of developing other singer´s musical ideas and hearing you own ideas take on new forms in a fast flowing and intuitive process, where the musical encounter creates arranging ideas that you would not have come up with by yourself. In this process 2 plus 2 equals 5. Tine Ohrt will be the anchor who guides the process and will present her method „Head arrangement - from impro to sheet music“ for you to take home and use in your own choirs. Tine Ohrt has been using this method for many years creating unique arrangement with her students and has recently formed a quartet which creates their music in this particular way.

Muwashah (plural Muwashahat) is a song form based on arabic classical Poems from Andalusia (10th century Spain). The melodies of the Muwashahat are from Syria through Egypt and date back from last century or two. These songs use often complex rhythmic cycles of 5/4, 7/8, 10/8, 11/8, 13/8, 17/8 and so on. The Melodies are waved around these cycle and offer new experiences of intricate vocal lines and fresh grooves. In this workshop we learn together some Muwashahat and dive into their fascinating stories.

This class will take a look at our own individual stage frights and some personal perspectives on how to overcome our fears and let the music be our guide to success and comfort. Activities will entail conversation, personal revelation, and actual demonstration........We will engage in breathing exercises, a meditation, and a group singing exercise that creates a sense of security. Participants will physicalize the bonds that connect us, and actually enjoy the freedom of movement. There will also be a list of Creative Vitamins to build together. This workshop was quite successful in its last incarnation-----It truly tailors itself to the people who partake.......an emotional experience as we release tensions and discover our own "vulnerable strength". What a relief to finally be back on the stage while we navigate this challenging pandemic. If we can manage to overcome Corona, we can certainly take on that which scares us in the performance arena. We will work in a safe environment, and inspire a supportive and positive, artistic community.

focus on treble voices For this workshop we will sing treble voices arrangements written by Malene Rigtrup for Maestra - a cappella and with accompaniment. Maestra is a choir with 28 women aged 18-28 (The Music School of Aarhus), which conductor Malene Rigtrup started in 2009 with a focus on talent development within rhythmic choral music. Maestra sings everything from original compositions and folk music to newer hymns and pop, and the choir singers are often co-creators in the creative processes around both concert design, visuals, compositions and arrangements. For the workshop we will also discuss what is particularly important to focus on in arrangements written exclusively for treble voices compared to mixed choir. Maestra will participate in the workshop. www.maestra.dk This workshop is presented in collaboration with RAMA Vocal Center.

This workshop is about learning basic rhythm and breathing techniques that allow for a seamless transition into vocal percussion. Participants will be taught fundamental vocal percussion sounds such as the kick drum, hi hat, rim shot, snare drum and crash cymbals. You will leave with practice patterns to take home and the necessary tools to perform live. Beatbox Beginners is for everybody fascinated by the art of vocal percussion. This is your chance to get started!

A joyful dive into collaborative, spontaneous song-making. Inspired by the legacy of Bobby McFerrin, the practices of Musica do Circulo, and the community-centered approach of Gaia Music Collective, this workshop will explore the art of crafting songs in the moment. Led by Gaia's founder Matt Goldstein, this circle sing will use movement, rhythm, intuitive harmonies, and evolving vocal patterns to build living music that belongs to everyone in the room. Open to singers of all levels who want to experience circle singing as a playful, human-centered act of creation. This music is by the people, for the people, from the people! This workshop is presented in collaboration with the Danish choir association Kor72.

In the Sing It Out Loud workshops the main goal is to do just that; Sing It Out Loud! The center of the workshop is some catchy arrangements that is guaranteed to stick to you all day. DId you ever dream of standing like a hero on the rock and filling the whole universe with your sound? Do you want to experience how it feels, when the choir sound and vibrations in the room are streaming through every inch of your body and give you tons of goosebumps? Congratulations! This workshop is the right place for you ☺ We will work on 1-2 arrangements that have focus on epic melodies, that you really can sing out loud with your full body. The room will be filled with high energy, powerful sound and body movement and joyful smiles. In this workshop we will also work on performance techniques to get the right expression into the music and body language. Having said all that, remember that it's primarily about having fun singing. This workshop is presented in collaboration with Kor72.

This workshop offers a physiotherapy-based approach to physical warm-up for singers. Lucas and Maria – both physiotherapists and experienced singers – first met as members of Vocal Line and are now colleagues at the same clinic in Aarhus. They will combine a touch of theory with plenty of hands-on practice to show how posture, breath, and healthy muscle activation can form the foundation for more effortless and expressive singing. Step by step, you’ll be guided through easy practical exercises that you will be able to use right away to achieve better singing stamina, resonance and support. Along the way, you’ll also gain simple insights into why warming up matters – from neurology and muscle activation to breathing mechanics and mindset. Designed for both singers and choir conductors, this workshop will leave you with ready-to-use warm-up exercises. We’ll finish the work shop by bringing body and voice together in song, so you get to feel the difference yourself.

In Denmark we have a vibrant tradition of community singing. It's rooted in the blue Danish songbook called "Højskolesangbogen" - a songbook so popular in Denmark that it is sold in more copies than the Bible! The songbook goes back more than 200 years and every 20 years there is a new edition of the book with a selection of 600 Danish and international songs that deals with human nature. Love, loneliness, hope, loss, identity, history, dreams, Nature, the change of seasons, the weather, morning, evening, faith, and doubt. Some of the songs are old, some of the songs are new. Some are from pop-culture and some are written especially for the song book. The songs are sung in schools and in families, at business conferences and wherever people meet, thus they are a part of the everyday life for a lot of people here in Aarhus and Denmark. Join this workshop if you want to learn more about our National Songtreasure and be inspired to explore your own.

In this workshop we will dive into the scores of "True North", "Winter" and the new arrangement "Barndommens Gade", analyze the lyrics' influence on form, backing voices, basslines, re-harmonization and melody-lines. We will explore methods for getting creative using the lyrics as inspiration and toward the end of the workshop we will also have a look at complex basslines and grooves from other arrangements that can support a dramatic and powerful expression of your arrangements. Unleash your creativity by bringing the story of the songs to life in this immersive workshop.

This hands-on session explores the collaborative approach to rehearsing the music of säje with intention, clarity, and musical curiosity. Together, the groups members will guide participants through strategies for developing ensemble cohesion, shaping phrasing, navigating complex harmony, groove, and cultivating a shared musical language. Through demonstration, interactive exercises, and open discussion, participants will gain practical tools for elevating their own rehearsals -- whether leading a group, singing in a small ensemble, or preparing for performance.

Join all four members of säje for a joyful, immersive workshop focused on singing together and exploring the group’s signature arrangements from the inside out. Participants will learn one säje arrangement, diving into blend, vocal color, lyric interpretation, and ensemble communication. The workshop blends rehearsal, demonstration, and shared music-making, offering singers a rare opportunity to experience the warmth, unity, and creative play that define säje’s sound.

In this workshop, we will dive into the wonderful music of Tina Dickow. As some of you might know, Tina Dickow has always been one of my absolute favourite Danish musicians, and over the years I have collaborated with her on several occasions. In this workshop we will learn and sing our latest creation: The theme song of The European Choir Games & Grand Prix of Nations 2025. The song is called "The Infinite Bridge" and it is composed by Tina Dickow and Helgi Jonsson and arranged for choir by me. The song celebrates how singing can remind us about who we are and where we come from and connect people across time, borders and cultures. The melody is a real ear-bug, and I hope it will resonate with you too! This workshop is presented in collaboration with Kor72.

Wanna learn how to sing a cappella harmony without any sheet music? Using the diatonic scale (“do-re-mi”), learn how to use your ear and some very basic music theory to create interesting background parts to a wide variety of popular songs. The seminar ends with people gathering in groups, spontaneously creating arrangements.

This workshop is about human consciousness as a source of musical development. We will do various exercises where you get to explore how to shift your attention between different musical parameters, as an experience in itself, as well as preparation for stage performance. Through focused practice, you make connections between the attention that you give and your physical activities of making sound. A primary goal of this practice is to learn how to rotate your attention between specific musical factors, in the moment of music-making. In this way, you set an intuitive process in motion to become more and more aware of how to arrive on time with precision of note pitch, rhythm and harmony, while also being emotionally connected with the phrasing and the expression of the music, in that moment. This workshop is presented in collaboration with RAMA Vocal Center.

Concert announcements are not just information or transitions – they are moments of presence. Small bridges of language that can either open the listener’s heart, or close it. This short workshop invites choir leaders and singers to explore how spoken words can support the music instead of interrupting it. Together we will look at what really happens when someone steps forward to speak: What kind of contact is created? What kind of energy changes in the room? And how can we make those moments feel natural, genuine, and connected – without sounding rehearsed, stiff, or overly theatrical? In this session we will explore: • Grounding and physical presence while speaking • The purpose and emotional potential of concert announcements • How to find simple, authentic words that resonate with the audience • Managing nervousness and staying connected in front of people • Small dramaturgical hints: when less is more Who it’s for: Anyone who speaks during concerts – conductors, singers, or ensemble members – and wants to bring more presence, clarity, and resonance to their spoken moments. Requirements: Curiosity, openness, and willingness to participate. You may bring short examples or situations from your own concerts.

Combining my artistic and academic research, I propose a provocation which presents vocal improvisation practice through an “ecosystemic performance paradigm,” whose “understanding of balance opens up alternative conceptions of creativity and embodiment that challenge anthropocentric and gendered conceptions of agency.” Within it, “singing is experienced as a material practice striving to sustain ecosystemic balance between all sources of life.” (Magnat, 2021) The presentation will be aimed at expanding the somatic awareness and musical possibilities of group mind creation, as well as opening up broader questions around how vocal improvisers as composers and their communities relate to the concepts of Indigeneity, identity and decoloniality. This will be explored through case studies of collective vocal improvisation projects and practices, both ones in which I was artistically involved in, as well as those showcased by The Well: Global Vocal Improvisation Network. Reference: Magnat, V. 2021. The Performative Power of Vocality. Routledge.

Explore how dynamic yoga and yin yoga can have an impact on our body, breath and mind. Through dynamic movements, long lasting stretches and deep breathing this workshop will focus on mobilizing the ribcage and regulating the autonomic nervous system which both is essential for singing. This workshop will be a yoga session followed by time to reflect, sharing experiences and an opportunity to bring home new perspective on how to work with the body for choir conductors as well as for individual singers. No prior experience is required. Bring a yoga mat and come as you are.

The concept of health choir has been developed by Sangens Hus in a collaboration between health care professionals, musicologists and choir conductors. More than 25 health choirs are currently active in Denmark, gathering citizens with various challenges in accommodated singing activities. This combined lecture and workshop will present the concept of health choirs in theory and practice.

What happens when experience meets innovation and vocal artistry transcends age? In this dynamic session, Judith Janzen shares insights from vocal science, performance, and pedagogy. Her “Belcantocanbelto” method blends classical and contemporary technique, while her Vocal BioHacking inspirations offer tools for lifelong vocal health. She loves coaching ONLINE and inspiring Choirs and their Concuctors in reaching their full Potential. A fresh perspective for choral leaders and singers who believe in voices without expiration dates—genre-inclusive, age-embracing, and deeply human.

Vocal music isn’t all about arrangements. and vocal parts; Most world cultures have a tradition of a cappella singing that relies on nothing but one’s ear and voice. Learn the fundamentals of improvising pop songs, how to sing a “circle song,” and how to improvise music without any rules or boundaries. Sometimes used as warmups, sometimes used to help build focus or musical precision, sometimes used to help build confidence in improvisation, this seminar teaches a numberof different singing games that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Translating the traditional Nordic instrumental dance music into vocal form is an old tradition - and a lot of fun! But what does it take to sing for dancing like a fiddler? And how can we apply this to the modern vocal tradition? During this workshop we will explore; syllables, swing and groove, tone quality, and various techniques for achieving the right “taw” – just like the bow of a fiddle or the bellow of an accordeon. Get ready for some nerdy trad stuff!

At AAVF 2022 Malene and her students from RAMA Vocal Center presented the concert Human Transformations with 10 brand new vocal compositions. At this year’s AAVF Malene will do a workshop about how to create your own vocal music - with voices as the instrument. We will both sing and listen to different examples and you will leave this workshop with many new ideas to finding your inner composer. Participating in this workshop, it is advantage if you know a little about arranging, but you don’t need to have composed before. This workshop is presented in collaboration with RAMA Vocal Center.

Dive into the core musical elements that shape the jazz choir idiom, while learning practical rehearsal strategies. This immersive workshop explores foundational components such asgroove, blend, articulation, swing feel, phrasing, and harmonic awareness, showing participants how to translate these concepts into clear, efficient rehearsal techniques. Whether you’re a novice singer or an experienced choral director, this session offers accessible, actionable tools to help your jazz choir rehearse with greater confidence, musicality, and stylistic integrity.

All beatboxers and vocal percussionists are welcome at this workshop. Whether you have just been practicing beatbox for 2 weeks, or are a professional beatboxer. Every participant will get some individual time with a beatbox master to work on the elements they want to improve. The whole room, including the teacher, will benefit from this process, where we dive deep into the details of beatbox. Different snares, better breath control, singing and beatboxing, new patterns, different styles, clean hi hats, throat bass, vocal scratch, microphone settings... Let’s take it to the next level!

The Single Singers are back! In 2025 we celebrated our 25th edition in Istanbul – a journey that started back in 2012 at the London A Cappella Festival. Since then, The Single Singers have grown into an indispensable element of many festivals across Europe. Hundreds of singers from all over the world have joined us – sometimes once, often again and again – to create a nice concert in just two rehearsals. Along the way, countless new international friendships have been made. And now: we’re coming back to Aarhus in May 2026 for edition 26! Whether you’ve sung with us before or are brand new, you’re more than welcome to join. Don’t have a choir or vocal group to come with? No problem – that’s exactly why we exist. Here’s the deal: Learn three songs at home Rehearse together twice at the festival End with one unforgettable performance Come sing, connect, and be part of the magic of The Single Singers!