Projects
On The Horizon
Here are some of the future developments in which Black Voices are involved.
The Birmingham A Cappella Festival - Vocally BRUM!
The Centre for Music and Arts Technology - CMAT
The Creative Industries Strategic Consortium - CISC
The Birmingham A Cappella Festival - Vocally BRUM!
Launched in 2005, Vocally BRUM!, a festival of the human voice, is organised by the Centre for Music and Arts Technology (CMAT) and Black Voices, and is supported by Birmingham City Council, Arts Council of England, The Drum, Symphony Hall, Music Leader West Midlands, and several other local music partners, schools and colleges. Black Voices are hoping that the festival will become an annual event in Birmingham. It is receiving a great deal of support and although the first two festivals took place at various venues throughout the City, Vocally BRUM! has been invited to locate its base at the soon to be re-opened Town Hall in the city centre! The festival includes performances, master classes, open workshops, films and discussions, and has included artists from Spain, Australia, South Africa and Senegal. As Bob Ramdhanie, manager of Black Voices, says, "Our hope is to make Birmingham the centre of vocal music in the UK. Over the years we have been fortunate to perform with many of the world's great a cappella groups and we would like to bring some of these to Birmingham. We intend to continue our educational and developmental work by making it integral to this development so that there will be numerous performances by local music groups."
The Centre for Music and Arts Technology - CMAT
Tucked away in a quiet neighbourhood in the north of Birmingham, the beautiful Georgian property that now houses CMAT was formerly Hillick and Taylor Grosvenor Studio Complex. It was acquired by the internationally renowned female quintet Black Voices, through support from The Arts Council of England, Adventure Capital Fund and others. CMAT is a not-for-profit company, limited by guarantee, that has been in existence since 2001.
Black Voices, the a cappella performance company that gave birth to the concept of CMAT, date back 18 years in Birmingham, West Midlands. The group is an established performance company that has grown steadily from a community group to a professional company offering quality performances, educational programmes and an increasing amount of international arts collaborations. The company researches, develops and re-presents traditional contemporary vocal music from Africa and the Diaspora, from a distinctively black British perspective. Its music is sacred and secular, traditional and contemporary, challenging and inspiring, and the group has released seven CDs to date.
For more info visit: www.cmatltd.co.uk