Elena Harris

Location

Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire

Specialisms

Nature-based community choir, workshops, outdoor, families, festivals and wilderness camps.

Additional information

I am an outdoor educator and passionate about singing in community and in nature.

During my training learning primitive skills and understanding how to be in balance with our natural surroundings, something sparked inside me. Singing has always been at the core of this work for me, our voices being our most ancient instrument we still carry with us. I am deeply inspired by the natural world to sing and serenade my respect and gratitude in return for its incredible gifts.  I believe singing bonds us together and unites communities. When we bring our voices into harmony with each other, we support one another by listening and holding each other in full acceptance and love.

Singing has always been part of my life. I have been told that I never stopped singing as a child. I learned to play the piano and guitar into my teens as a way to accompany my singing. I am now a lead singer in a folk band, a blues band, a backing singer in The Hoolie band, a disco/Ceilidh fusion band, and in a cappella group with other Oxford choir leaders that formed during lockdown in the woods! The latter has inspired in me a passion for collaborative singing, and this has directed me towards leading groups as a singing leader.

I first started leading singing groups as part of an outdoor leadership programme Call of the Wild with Wildwise in 2017. I was profoundly moved by the connection it created between us and also the thrill of directing the singing and teaching the harmonies. From then on I have taken every opportunity to lead groups singing, teaching, holding, and bringing each persons voices out. Since then, I have led groups as large as 70 at Medicine festival in 2021 and 2022, in camps, retreats, and forest schools.

I am also very curious about circle singing and improvisation and have trained with Guillermo Rozenther in various courses.

My choirs

Feral Voices Community Choir
Description

Songs to ground you, to lift you, inspire and connect you. 💚

A nature-based community choir. I teach simple songs with 3 or 4 part harmonies and rounds, all with a nature-based theme. We’ll cover some songs that can be learnt in a single session, and some that we’ll build over a few weeks. All songs will be taught acapella and there is no sheet music, although occasionally I may provide word sheets for more lyric dense songs.

We gather weekly on a Wednesday evening in a beautiful ancient Tythe Barn with incredible acoustics.  We are an inclusive and friendly community and all abilities are welcome. There is always plenty of tea and biscuits. We have a tiered pricing structure for all incomes, and block bookings and drop ins are both available.

Session times

Arrival from 7pm
Singing starts promptly at 7.30-9pm

Contact details