Dave Camlin

Location

Cockermouth

Specialisms

Outdoor singing, environmental themes, health and wellbeing, civic imagination

Additional information

Dave:

  • is a singer / song-writer by trade
  • leads a number of choirs in rural west Cumbria in Northern England
  • leads many outdoor music events
  • Composes for choirs
  • won the National Trust’s Outstanding Achievement Award in 2019 for an AHRC / Arts Council England funded mountain-top singing project, The Fellowship of Hill and Wind and Sunshine.
  • Sings with NE-based vocal quartet Mouthful (with Bex Mather, Katherine Zeserson and Sharon Durant)
  • is a lecturer and researcher in music education at Royal College of Music and Trinity-Laban Conservatoire in London, as well as guest lecturing all over the world
  • is a leading practitioner-researcher in group singing, Community Music (CM), musician education and socially-engaged music praxis
  • is the author of many scholarly texts and academic papers, including a monograph Music Making and the Civic Imagination (2023) for Intellect Publishers
  • was co-chair of the Special Interest Group (SIG) in singing and mental health for the March Network 2018-19.
  • was a trustee of the NVN from 2015-19
  • was Head of Higher Education ad Research at Sage Gateshead 2010-2018
  • was founding director of music organisation SoundWave 2005-2010
  • was co-founder of the Solfest music festival 2004 – 2014

My choirs

Mouthful Voices
Description

Mouthful Voices is an accomplished and fun singing group, where all voices are welcome!

We learn material mainly by ear, with scores and MP3 recordings also available to help you learn.

Led by the talented Bex Mather with the other three singers from a Capella quartet Mouthful (Dave Camlin, Katherine Zeserson and Sharon Durant)

Session times

Wednesdays 7-9pm

Sing for Fun
Description

A free opportunity to feel uplifted by singing together!

For anyone looking to improve or maintain their mental health and wellbeing, no previous singing experience necessary, no need to read music – “if you can talk, you can sing!”

In partnership with North Lakes Recovery College, an ‘all ability’ singing group for anyone who enjoys singing along to their favourite tunes, to those already singing in groups.

Session times

Fortnightly on Wednesday evenings 18:30 - 20:00 - check website for dates

Sing Owt!
Description

Dave Camlin’s award-winning, accomplished, fun and friendly non-auditioned choir. As the name suggests, we sing owt that takes our fancy, mainly from the global and local Folk traditions, and also jazz, rock / pop, gospel & more… Infectiously joyful, harmonically sweet, we’re a close-knit group who have a lot of fun together!

An established group suitable for singers of all experience, including beginners, Sing Owt! is a friendly group who have a lot of fun together! A great place to begin your singing journey – whether you read music or not, enthusiasm is more important than any previous singing experience! Sing Owt! is a welcoming, accomplished and fun singing group who regularly perform, and where all voices are welcome! Don’t worry if you’re not sure whether you’re good enough – singing together builds your vocal confidence, and helps you sing more confidently.

Session times

Mondays 19:00 - 21:00 (term time)

Wild Chorus
Description

Wild Chorus is about connection: with each other; with our collective creativity; with audiences; with, in and through nature in the promotion of living more sustainably – freeing our voices to sing together in wild places!

Inspired by the wildness of the natural world, Wild Chorus is a performance choir led by Dave Camlin. By singing together in nature, we hope to promote the importance of wild places for the biodiversity and health of our planet.

Wild Chorus is a relaxed and friendly performance choir, for singers with some experience, and who are looking for a fun vocal challenge with like-minded singers. The emphasis is on having fun making a good sound together, singing material from rock, pop and folk traditions from around the world. You’re expected to be able to:

  • Commit to weekly rehearsal and personal practice in order to learn repertoire
  • Adjust your voice to blend with the group
  • Sing confidently and accurately
  • Follow a musical score.

During weekly rehearsals, we warm our bodies and voices up, and learn songs to perform as well as simply singing for pleasure. We learn repertoire mainly by ear, although lyrics, scores and rehearsal MP3s are all available to help you learn. You don’t need to be able to ‘sight read’ notation, but you do need to be able (or willing to learn!) to follow it.

Session times

Tuesdays 19:00 - 21:00 (term time)

Contact details

Website
Phone number
Connect