Vocal Coach and Arranger
Jon is a singer, vocal coach and arranger living in Frome Somerset. He is a member of the British Association of Barbershop Singers where he travels Internationally to coach and judge the top choruses and quartets around Europe.
All the groups Jon is involved with perform his own arrangements which have become favourite additions to their repertoires.
Jon also runs singing retreats in Dorset and Devon with his singing buddy Nick Petts. These weekends have become so popular that they are now increasing the number of sessions being offered.
He also runs singing holidays abroad with other choir leaders. The first was in Cortijo Romero, Spain, which is a very popular retreat.
My arrangements are mainly for community choirs (SATB). I provide scores and teach tracks of each part (which I record myself) plus a demo version so you can hear what the song sounds like.
If you don’t find the song you want in my list then I can be commissioned to make teach tracks for you. Email me if you would like this service.
Nick and I run Summer Sizzlers and Winter Warmers singing retreats at Othona (near Bridport, 15 minutes from the sea) and Sharpham House (near Totnes, overlooking the river Dart).
These retreats run from Friday 4pm till Sunday 3pm and include accommodation, all meals and workshops. We have a cabaret on Saturday night and during the day take a stroll down to the water where we sing songs in the open (weather permitting!).
These weekend have become so popular that we have increased our frequency, check our Retreat page for our next event but book early, especially if you need a single room
Monte na Luz
Set in the hills just north of Loulé, offers a splendid octagonal room, an attractive restaurant, beautiful one , two and three persons ensuite bedrooms and a splendid swimming pool. Monte na Luz has sleeping accommodation for 34 people maximum. The rooms are spread over the main building and three small houses. Every room has its own bathroom with shower and toilet. The centre is spread over an area of 2 hectares.
Cortijo Romero
A breathtakingly beautiful alternative holiday centre like no other; in a magnificent Andalucian mountain setting; delightful accommodation and delicious healthy food.
The pool is a curved, natural shape, cocooned in a picturesque, walled enclosure with palm trees, flowers and the scent of jasmine. As the area is completely private.
There are several splendid garden areas, with abundant sub-tropical flowers, fruit and trees, open and secluded spaces, intriguing scents and colours of every hue.
I can come and coach your choir, quartet or vocal group. Work on basics of ensemble singing, enhance your presentation and performance.
Music is alive with its own pulse, expression, dynamics, flow and story. So many things can get in the way of this and ‘muddy’ the performance. I can pick apart the different elements and put it back together to produce a cleaner more artistic performance.
The role of the director goes much further than just ‘waving’ your arms around in time to the music. I can coach on directing skills including directing patterns, listening for errors and correcting them, running effective warm-ups, positive communication, non-verbal communication, leadership and motivation.
I am an experienced WordPress developer and can build a new website for you or update an existing one. I also offer the ability to host your site for you, keep it updated and secure so you only have to worry about the content.
Check out my Website Design page for examples of my work.