Foden's work in partnership with the Love Music Trust in 'Sing Swing'
In March Foden's worked in partnership with the The Love Music Trust as well as singer Matthew Ford to offer young vocalists in Cheshire East the chance to develop their vocal and stage craft, before being invited to perform alongside the band.
The project, supported by Arts Council England, provided the opportunity for young singers aged 11-19 attending secondary schools in Cheshire East, to apply for a chance to receive an individual 20 minute masterclass session with Matt looking at the stylistic approach to Big Band / Swing singing on a selected song. Having received video's of 'audition' songs, 11 students were chosen to take part in the masterclass. Accompanied initially by piano, the vocalists worked their way through the specially arranged songs, looking at and exploring Matt's 6 key performance elements, before later that night rehearsing their songs with Foden's.
A week later on Tuesday 21st March, the Sing Swing vocalists were invited to perform their song on stage at Congleton Town Hall in a concert with Foden's Band, an event which also featured Matt Ford both as a singer and compere.
Director of the Love Music Trust John Barber said of the programme ' Sing Swing is a brilliant programme that provided such a wonderful opportunity to our young people here in Cheshire East. The development of all of the young singers, in their confidence, body language, musical phrasing and communication of the story in such a short space of time was fantastic, and a huge credit to Matt. The way he gets the message across, making the complex easy to understand and access is fantastic'.
Speaking on behalf of Foden's Mark Wilkinson commented 'It was fantastic to work with Matt once again in collaboration with the Love Music Trust. The development of the young singers after Matt's workshop was inspiring and all at Foden's enjoyed working alongside the talented performers.'
