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Denmark Arts is proud to announce a great line-up of acts for the 2012 Denmark Festival of Voice.

From Melbourne comes Aluka. With a passion for experimentation and creativity, the Aluka ladies are on a constant quest to reinvent a cappella, refuting the idea that a vocalist is somehow less of a technical artist than someone with an instrument in their hands. They have fostered a musical bond, forming inventive sound scapes of vivid sonic colour with nothing but their vocal chords.

Our spectacular massed singing events during the festival will be led by Melbourne-based Stephen Taberner, a great choir leader and performer who will be giving the Big Sing workshops and other special treats. And he will appear on the same program with the brilliant and bizarre Spooky Men of the West, a phenomenon he instigated, in concert, workshops and in the street!

As well as Stephen, soloists who will inspire and entertain include Gina Williams, a singer-songwriter story-teller, a Noongar daughter with proud Kija links - her music lifts your spirits and soothes your soul. Also Rory Faithfield is home from Ireland with wistful, romantic, deeply felt songs, beautifully crafted and sung with a voice that pours sincerity and emotion over every line and note. And Valanga Khoza is back to explore South African stories, traditional rhythms and harmonies through voice and movement.

Choirs continue to be a prominent part of the festival and this year will include A Kappella Munda, Bunbury Men of Song, Cleanskins, The Gay and Lesbian Singers of WA, Madjitil Moorna and The Real Sing, with local choirs Eklektika, SeeTB, Something In the Air, Cantare and Louise McKenna with Southern Skylarks. Choirs will be showcased in the Voice Moves Big Sound concert including festival favourite Bernard Carney's Working Voices.

The Have A Go News Festival Club will be back, with more opportunities for singing together than ever before, including a special treat or two. And as always, a whole world of workshops will be offered by our headliners and many more. And then there is the growing "fringe" to the festival with events in the Denmark Hotel, local wineries, cafes and a garden-roofed hobbit house. Something for everyone!

Choir Leader Master Class with Stephen Taberner

It's the choir leaders that make singing groups happen. Out of passion, people with the musical background and a good ear manage to be inspired to form singing groups and choirs. These people are the backbone to community singing. And its not an easy task for them. There is normally not a local course or easy "how to" book at the local library.

To support those that are involved in directing choirs, and people who may feel inspired to do so in the near future, we are running a choir leader master class on the Monday after the festival with Stephen Taberner.

It will be held on Monday 4th June (Foundation Day), the day after the main festival, in the Function Room at the Denmark Recreation Centre. There will be a morning session from 11.00am to 1.00pm and an afternoon session from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. From his extensive experience Stephen Taberner will present and demonstrate all aspects of leading and developing a group of singers.

It is open to anyone who is leading or is wanting to lead a singing group. The class is $100.00 for the two sessions. Local (Denmark) choir leaders are eligible for a 50% discount, and may have all the fee waived on application to the Festival Coordinator. If you wish to attend, please contact Graham Mason by email on .