Flinders Island Singing Camp

WHAT IT IS:
The Flinders Singers invite you to a weekend of choralling, creating and learning new skills and songs, with inspiring facilitators in a non-judgmental atmosphere. Participants can camp at the Whitemark Showgrounds or stay at the Flinders Island Cabin Park or Interstate Hotel, and either walk or catch the free mini-bus to all of the weekends activities. There is a full day and evening programme, with a choice of workshop streams in mornings and afternoons to cater for teachers/community musicians who want to develop the craft of song-leading, mad-keen choristers who just want to sing, sing, sing all weekend, and everyone in between. 

TICKETS AND MEALS:
The camp is open to all ages and is $50 for adults and $30 for kids and teenagers. This includes morning teas and lunches on the Saturday and Sunday. There is a separate meal ticket for the welcome buffet dinner at the golf club on the Friday night (which you can book for $30 at the same time as purchasing your camp ticket). There will also be pizza from local legend Cate Cooks available for purchase at the film night on the Saturday, and we will have a potluck supper after the Sunday finale concert. Breakfasts times are each to their own. 

FACILITATORS:
Fay White (Vic)
A highly sought-after, acclaimed singing facilitator, singer and song-maker, who has worked tirelessly for 30 years to bring the experience of group singing into the lives of people and communities Australia wide.

The Roundabouts (nipaluna / Hobart)
A bluegrass instrumental trio and sea-shanty singing trio in one, made up of Fred Pribac, David Birch and David Haynes. They wield banjos, fiddles and mandolins, sing songs with gusto, and are a part of the rich tradition of not sticking to any one single tradition. 

Teri Young (Flinders Island)
A singer, songwriter and leader of the Flinders Singers community choir. She's released three albums, and been winner of Alistair Hulett Award for Social Justice Songwriting at the National Folk Festival, the FolkTas Song of the Year and the Cygnet Folk Festival Songwriting Competition. 

Nivedita Saraswati (Flinders Island)
An experienced teacher of yoga and meditation, with a special focus on mantras and music. She incorporates a traditional integrated style of practise which includes movements, postures, chanting, breath, relaxation and concentration techniques.

PROGRAMME:
Friday
5pm Welcome Dinner at the Golf Club with live Bluegrass from The Roundabouts (SEPARATE $30 TICKET, WHICH COVERS BUFFET DINNER)

Saturday
7:30am Yoga with Nivedita 
9:30am Group Sing with Fay and Teri 
10:30am Morning Tea 
11am Morning elective workshops (‘Leading Singing' with Fay or ‘Sea Shanties' with the Roundabouts) 
1pm Lunch 
2pm Afternoon elective workshops (‘Songmaking' with Teri and Fay or ‘Beginner Ukulele' with the Roundabouts) 
4pm Chanting with Nivedita or Song Swapping Session
6pm Documentary screening: Wide Open Sky

Sunday
7:30am Yoga with Nivedita 
9:30am Group Sing with Fay and Teri 
10:30am Morning Tea 
11am Morning elective workshops (‘Leading Singing' with Fay or ‘Sea Shanties' with the Roundabouts ) 
1pm Lunch 
2pm Afternoon elective workshops (‘Songmaking' with Teri or ‘Beginner Ukulele with The Roundabouts ) 
4pm Chanting with Nivedita or Song Swapping Session
6pm Finale Open Mic Concert

ELECTIVE WORKSHOPS
The elective workshops are a continuation from one day to the next, so you can choose one for the morning and one for the afternoon, and then stick with the same workshop the next day. The different streams are:

Leading Singing with Fay (morning)
Dive into the world of being a singing group leader and learn by doing in the safe space that Fay will create with whoever comes along. Tools, techniques, ideas and resources, some practice leading, consider issues of sustaining a group over time. Plenty of song swapping and collecting of new material. Lots of singing! For teachers, choir leaders or people who are interested in learning how to lead groups of people in singing. 

Sea Shanties with The Roundabouts (morning)
Fred, David and David will be teaching you shanties in harmonies and get you to really sing them like they are supposed to be sung! For anyone who likes to sing - all ages and experience levels.

Songmaking with Teri and Fay (afternoon)
Teri will lead you through a process of finding words and tunes that are meaningful and/or fun. Fay will also share some ideas for making words sing - putting words to music, whether they are words you've written or a pre-existing poem or mantra that you love. Bring a pen and paper, and an instrument if you have one (but that's not at all necessary). All ages and experience levels.

Beginner Ukulele with The Roundabouts (afternoon)
Learn how to play basic chords, strumming an picking on a ukulele and apply it immediately by playing a few songs. This is for people who are at or close to the beginning of the ukulele playing journey, or need a refresher. Bring a ukulele if you have one, or let us know if you need us to supply you with one and we will sort that out. All ages.

CAMPING (cabins are sold out)

Camping costs $30 per person for all three nights which you can book when you buy your ticket. Campers have access to a communal room called the Tea Room, with a kitchenette, plus toilets and showers, which is also where several day workshops will be held. The campground is also across the road from the Cabin Park which is where yoga, lunch and several of the day workshops will be held. There will be a 14 seater van ferrying to and from the campground throughout the day to take you the 5 minute drive in and out of Whitemark as needed, or you can take a 30 minute walk in and out along the coastal footpath Bluff Track.

TRAVEL FROM TAS OR VIC (Please book ASAP)
Sharp Airlines (flies from Melbourne and Launceston) - https://sharpairlines.com/
Flinders Island Aviation (flies from Bridport) - https://www.flindersislandavia...
Bass Strait Freight (overnight weekly ferry from Bridport) - https://bassstraitfreight.com....

FOLKTAS YOUTH SCHOLARSHIP

This scholarship is for an aspiring singing leader between 13 and 30 years of age and living in Tasmania, to attend the ‘Singing Leading’ stream of the camp, facilitated by Fay White. It includes a $500 bursary to go towards travel and accommodation, plus a free ticket to the Singing Camp and Welcome Dinner.

To apply, tell us in Approximately 300 words combined:
1.A little bit about yourself generally
2.Your musical experience and interest (eg. Do you like to sing? Do you play an instrument? Do you write songs?)
3.why you think choirs are a good thing for the world

Email applications to quoirchoir@gmail.com by 5pm Thursday 12th September. The successful applicant will be selected by a panel and informed by Sunday September 15th. The scholarship is funded by The Folk Federation of Tasmania.

SPONSORS:
This event would not be possible without the very generous support from Flinders Council, Sharp Airlines, Flinders Island Aviation, Flinders Island Car Rentals, Maireener Bnb, The Folk Federation of Tasmania and the Flinders Island Cabin Park. Thankyou!