Location
Ilkley, West Yorkshire
Ilkley, West Yorkshire
Choirs for mixed voices, upper voices & lower voices. Singing retreats, composing & arranging.
I started out as a composer writing for a variety of professional instrumentalists and groups and particularly loved writing for the voice. I discovered Natural Voice Singing in the early 2000’s and received training as a Natural Voice Practitioner from Frankie Armstrong in 2015.
I am passionate about sharing the sense of well-being & soulful connection that singing with others can bring. I lead a large community choir which meets once a month for a Saturday morning workshop session, as well as weekly and fortnightly smaller informal choirs. I run Heart & Soul Singing Retreats, residential weekends of sharing songs for reflection, inspiration and restoration in beautiful locations.
I have worked as a music specialist in a Primary School, leading KS1 & 2 singing, developing a school choir, devising and leading KS2 music afternoons of music-making and composing. I have also worked as a music specialist in Special School settings devising and leading bespoke themed music and sensory interactive sessions for PMLD students, their teachers and support staff.
In recent years I have returned to composing, mainly for voice and small instrumental ensembles, including collaborative projects with poets and writers, performing in local literature festivals, BBC Radio and local radio.
I am a member of the Bring Me Sunshine Trio, a social enterprise which delivers interactive music workshops for Care Homes, Primary and Special Schools and private functions. I am the co-leader of Singing for Lung Health Sessions run through a local GP Surgery.
I belong to the team of arrangers and composers who write for the website ChoirCommunity.
This is a group for upper voices and has 25 members who come from Ben Rhydding, Ilkley, Burley, Otley, Guiseley and Leeds. We sing for pleasure and well-being, and we perform around 2 – 3 times a year, often to raise funds for the UK charity “Give A Child A Hope” which supports the Revival Centre, Matugga, Uganda. We sing a varied repertoire from around the world, including original songs and arrangements by Natural Voice Leaders. New members are always welcome.
Fridays (term-time), 1.30 - 3pm
Ben Rhydding Community Choir was set up by Keely Hodgson in 2011. The choir welcomes all voices. We meet to sing together one Saturday morning each month (except August) to learn songs, socialise and raise awareness for the UK Charity “Give A Child A Hope” which supports a small community, The Revival Centre, Matugga, Uganda, comprising an orphanage, schools, clinic, and farm.
The choir sings in a large concert setting once every two years to raise funds for The Revival Centre and has also performed at local events, community fetes, bandstands and train stations.
We sing a varied repertoire of acapella songs from around the world as well as from different eras, including original songs and arrangements by Natural Voice Leaders.
Once a month, Saturday, 10am - 12.30pm
This is a small informal group for mixed voices. There are 10 members at present and all our repertoire is acapella. We enjoy singing all sorts of songs and rounds and often try out repertoire that Keely takes to her Heart & Soul Singing Retreats. New members are always welcome. No auditions, just enthusiasm!
Monday (fortnightly in term time), 7.30pm - 9pm
MOSS was originally a group of men who sang with the Ben Rhydding Community Choir, but who also wanted to sing repertoire for lower voices. At present there are 10 members. Our repertoire includes jazz, blues, folk and pop arrangements, and original songs by Keely Hodgson.
Current MOSS members: Jonathan Cain and Dean Bagnall (tenors); Paul Holmes, Martin Lawley, Jon Lury and Peter Willox (baritones); Peter Horn, Paul Elcock, Ian Balfour and Simon Browning (basses).
MOSS have performed at hotel functions, local community events and concerts, including performing alongside Dominic Stitchbury and his Chaps Choir at St. John’s Church, Ben Rhydding in 2019.
We welcome new members who love to sing and are happy to perform. Prospective members are invited to visit for a few sessions to “try us out”!
Wednesdays (fortnightly in term time), 7.30pm - 9pm
