SINGING WORKSHOPS
SING WITH AUSTRALIA’S BEST MUSICAL DIRECTORS
During the day we meet in the hall for a variety of singing workshops. Different styles, genres, and different leaders. The sessions have an emphasis on beautiful harmony, spine-tingling moments, and heart-warming connection.
A feast for the ears, a fizz for the brain, and a tonic for the soul!
DETAILS
The 2024 Autumn Mountain Fest is an investment in mind, body and spirit. It’s a commitment to deep connection with yourself, your community and the beautiful surrounding nature. Stay home and scroll through Netflix again, or come up the mountain and discover what your soul really needs.
This is a great chance to reconnect with your voice, your heart and your community after a tough couple of years.
WHAT: Feed your soul some fabulous music, meet some other local singers, and enjoy the clean Mt Evelyn air.
WHEN: Friday 15 – Sunday 17 March 2024
WHERE: Mt Evelyn Recreation Camp
TICKET INCLUDES:
ACCOMMODATION (2 nights), ALL MEALS, PRESENTERS and ACTIVITIES!
VENUE LOCATION
* Make sure you take the path to your right, just before you enter the football oval *
A weekend singing camp with music trivia, singing workshops and an awesome fire pit singalong. There are also some other activities including morning yoga and drumming circles. It is the perfect weekend if you love singing and music!
FIREPIT SINGALONGS
CONTRIBUTE A SONG TO THE FIREPIT ORCHESTRA!
Rug up, grab your guitar, and come join the cacophony of musical delights at our under-cover, all-weather firepit. Contribue a solo, join in on a well-known chorus, shake a tambourine, or just bask in the glow of the wonderful atmosphere.
The Winter Mountain Fest was two days of pure joy! Singing was always important to me, but this event showed me how long such a joyful experience could last – it was quite eye opening.
TEAM MUSIC TRIVIA
MEET SOME AWESOME PEOPLE!
Friday night starts with a light dinner, a casual drink, and some team music trivia. Whether you are a trivia buff, or merely contribute a question or two, music trivia ensures you get to meet some terrific people, spark some great stories, and make some life-long connections.
A safe and welcoming environment for all levels of singer, a great variety of talented presenters, with the added bonus of a music trivia quiz and firepit singalongs in the evenings.
DRUM CIRCLES
TAKE OUT ALL YOUR FRUSTRATION ON A DRUM!
Feel the power of three dozen city folk bashing out their year’s angsts on some animal skins in the name of art! It’s an incredible feeling to say the least!
The Mountain Fest feeds your soul by making music, meeting great people and having lots of fun. Very inclusive. The afterglow lasts longer than the smoke in your clothes!
To sing with a group of people from all walks of life in a safe and comfortable environment was terrific. The beautiful harmonies that each instructor teased out of the group brought goosebumps upon goosebumps. The happiness instilled in me through this experience has lingered for weeks.
My life was changed forever at Mountain Fest; I stumbled upon it looking to sing with others and found gold. This weekend at the very least will expand your horizons both musically and socially and might just change your life; do it!
A great opportunity to share singing and moving in harmony. A opportunity to learn a variety of different vocal styles A great place to meet like- minded people.
A great balance of singing, learning, playing and getting to know other music lovers. Chris and the team were professional in their approach and made sure everyone was included and had a good time. Thanks so much for a fantastic event.
PRESENTERS
SCOTT COOK
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Scott Cook sings sturdy, straight-talking songs that see the good in you. Born in West Virginia and raised on the Canadian prairies, in 2007 he quit his job teaching kindergarten in Taiwan to move into a minivan and embark on the life of a full-time troubadour. Since then he’s toured almost incessantly across Canada, the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere, averaging over 150 shows and a dozen summer festivals a year, all the while distilling his experiences into empathetic, keenly observant verse. His seventh and latest recording Tangle of Souls was recorded in Australia and comes packaged in a cloth-bound, 240-page hardcover book of road stories and ruminations. The album spent two weeks at #1 on Alberta’s province-wide community radio network CKUA, and earned Scott his third Canadian Folk Music Award nomination, for English Songwriter of the Year. Its second single “Say Can You See” was the second most-played song of 2020 on Folk Alliance International’s folk radio charts, and took top honours for the folk category in both the 2020 UK Songwriting Competition and the 2020 Great American Song Contest. Scott has already completed nine tours of Australia, including talked-about performances at Woodford, Port Fairy, Cobargo, Candelo, Cygnet, Healesville, Mullumbimby, Newstead, Kangaroo Valley, Dorrigo, Maldon, Illawarra, the National, and Yackandandah folk festivals. He’s been back on the road full-time since January of 2022, living in a campervan named Roadetta with his sweetheart Pamela Mae on upright bass and vocals, and this year he’s bringing her for her first visit to Australia.
“Scott Cook’s seventh ‘love letter’ to the world is all strings and beauty, a 12-song agnostic endorsement of love over fear… It doesn’t condemn, it summons to one fire… Of all his records this one simply feels the best. ✭✭✭✭✭” –The Edmonton Journal
“Damn, this is a gorgeous album. Scott Cook’s voice –– vocally and lyrically –– is as clear-eyed, optimistic, and straightforward as ever… Tangle of Souls is the medicine we could all use right now.” –Adobe and Teardrops
“He sings his heart and soul, and in doing so lets light flood into your own… He has a good eye for imagery, a gentle human touch, a wry sense of humour, a whole lot of integrity, a warm, rugged voice and a bunch of memorable lines… Truly one of Woody Guthrie’s children.” –RnR Magazine
KYM DILLON
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Kym Dillon is a composer; arranger; orchestrator, pianist and conductor, who is currently based in Melbourne and Geelong. Starting out her career as a jazz pianist, Kym’s interest soon turned to composition, and her work now regularly spans multiple genres and areas of musical practice.
She completed a Bachelor of Music Performance Honours in composition at the Victorian College of the Arts, studying under such teachers as Anthony Lyons, Mark Pollard, and John McCaughey. She was awarded the ‘Beleura Sir George Tallis Award’ from the ‘Friends of the VCA’ for her work in the course in 2009; and the ‘Beleura John Tallis Award’ in 2010. She composed and performed two original jazz works for the VCA Improvisation Series in 2009, for which her ensemble won the ‘Athanaeum Prize’.
Kym has had original works commissioned by such groups as the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Astra Chamber Music Society, and Musica Viva; and her music has been performed in Canada, the U.K., North America, Canada, Romania and Italy. Her work is often inspired by reflections on the nature of imagination and creation — what it means to create and what our creative compulsion says about us.
Kym has frequently collaborated with the choreographer and artist Jude Walton, including performing solo piano compositions for her show Heide (2014) and Heide II (2015) at the Heide Museum of Contemporary art; conducting compositions for brass quartet for her show The Drill Hall Project (2017); and performing a collection of serial and improvised piano works for her show Nadja-Léona (2018).
In 2017 Kym was commissioned by St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Box Hill to compose a cantata for chamber orchestra, choir and soloists celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the Lutheran reformation, with the work being given a repeat performance in 2018. 2019 saw Kym collaborate with BK Opera to transform the intense orchestral score of Béla Bartók’s opera Bluebeard’s Castle into the radically different style of synthesiser-laden 80’s electronica, with her work on the project described by the review site whatdidshethink.com as ‘great genius’. In 2021 she was commissioned by the City of Greater Geelong to compose a work for the Sonus Ensemble which responded to iconic sites of the local area, a project which incorporated a variety of media and which was premiered at the Geelong Art Gallery.
As a pianist she often performs in her own chamber works, such as her Sonata for Piano (2019), and Sonata for Flute and Piano (2021), but also regularly in jazz/contemporary contexts. She also frequently enjoys playing as an accompanist to vocalists, such as in 2015 where she performed on piano as part of the Melbourne Comedy Festival show, Larry Paradiseo and the Fabulous Dame Farrar. She also regularly performs on piano with the Georgia Brooks Swingtet, a group that specialises in revitalising classic swing-era jazz tunes.
Kym is also a conductor for the charity Creativity Australia’s ‘With One Voice’ program, which seeks to connect people from different walks of life through community singing. As part of this role she conducts two choirs (Geelong and Ashburton) each week, having led them to perform at venues such as the Melbourne Town Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre, and the Monash carols in Jells Park.
Residing in Geelong, Kym now juggles work as a composer, arranger, theory/compositon teacher, tutor, performer, conductor and writer, and is currently studying a Masters of Composition at Melbourne University under the supervision of Elliot Gyger and Melody Eötvös.
SUE JOHNSON
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Sue Johnson is a composer, musical director and recording artist (vocalist, pianist and choral conductor) who has co-produced numerous CDs of original works with various artists and performed nationally and internationally.
Sue has co-founded vocal and improvisation groups (including award-winning Coco’s Lunch and Morgana), collaborated with Australian authors (Elizabeth Honey, Sally Rippin, Meme McDonald, Rosalind Price) as well as numerous arts organisations (Musica Viva, Sydney Opera House, Jump Leads, Theatre Arts Export, The Boite).
She is also a composer for children’s theatre, television and books including numerous seasons of Playhouse Disney. In 2008 her first book & audio CD with author Elizabeth Honey “Still Awake Still” published by Allen and Unwin was adapted into a theatre work touring the US and Australia directed by Jessica Wilson.
Sue’s published vocal scores are recorded by choirs worldwide and have been sung by numerous USA all-state chorus’. She has completed commissions for massed voices, led vocal improvisations with audiences of 2000+, produced workshops and concerts in venues ranging from concert halls to yoga spaces and created singing groups in workplaces and community.
Sue lectured at the Victorian College of the Arts Improvisation department from 1990 – 1999 and has tutored at Melbourne University, presented at conferences (ASME, Children’s Book Council, VMTA) and was artist in residence at many schools and festivals.
Sue has received numerous nominations and awards including Montsalvat Yalumba Jazz Medal (best young performer), APRA award nomination (with author Elizabeth Honey for most performed jazz work 2003) and nomination for Honouring Women in Moreland Award as well as Coco’s Lunch nominations for the ARIAS 2007 (Best World Album & Best Children’s Album) USA Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (Runner-Up Best Folk/World Album), 2000 Australian World Music Awards (finalist Best Album).
ANDREW PRICE
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Andrew is the director of the Woodend Warblers, and assistant director of Melbourne men’s singing group, Men in Suits. He also runs regular community “pop up choir” seasons with the Macedon Ranges Shire Council – most recently with Fred Smith – and local pub singing sessions when time allows!
A passionate music leader, and long-time Mountain Fest supporter, we’re delighted to have Andrew back for this year’s Autumn Mountain Fest!
CHRIS BLAIN
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Chris has been writing, producing, managing and performing in the music industry for over fifteen years, and has a wealth of knowledge of the artistic, technical and business sides of the industry.
Chris’ a cappella man-band SUADE performed for nearly twenty years, touring extensively, both locally and internationally. They produced four albums – the latest self-produced by Chris and his brother Loz.
Chris works with MusoMagic, running youth leadership and development programs throughout indigenous communities in Australia, and runs music programs for Red Dust Roel Models. He’s also the musical director of “Men In Suits”, runs Melbourne’s “With One Voice” choir, and was a co-founder and director of Vocal Australia – Australia’s a cappella singing hub.
He’s also the director of Melbourne Singing Events, and Keynotes Team Singing – ventures aimed at bringing communities together through song – and a registered civil marriage celebrant to round things off!
SCHEDULE
- Please note: This schedule may change slightly in the lead-up to the event. We will keep you informed as quickly as possible.
FRIDAY 15 MARCH
From 17:00: Arrive, registration
18:00: Light meal
18:30: Welcome, introduction, team MUSIC TRIVIA
21:00: Firepit Sing-a-long
SATURDAY 16 MARCH
07:00: Morning Activities (Yoga / Chanting)
07:30: Breakfast (Hot food from 08:00)
09:30: Warm up and intro
10:30: Morning Tea
11:00: WORKSHOP 1: TBC
12:30: Lunch
13:30: WORKSHOP 2: TBC
15:00: Afternoon Tea
15:30: WORKSHOP 3: TBC
17:00: Chat Break
17:30: WORKSHOP 4: TBC
19:00: Dinner
20:00: Firepit Sing-a-long
SUNDAY 17 MARCH
07:00: Morning Activities (Yoga / Chanting)
07:30: Breakfast (Hot food from 08:00)
09:30: WORKSHOP 5: TBC
10:30: Warm up and intro
11:30: Morning Tea
12:00: WORKSHOP 6: TBC
13:30: Lunch
14:30: WORKSHOP 7: TBC
16:00: Recap, Farewell
16:30: Depart
ACCOMMODATION
The accommodation provided onsite is camp style living – 3 to 4 people per room, most of them large rooms that could take 6 to 10 people. You must provide your own bedding and bring a towel. There is a communal bathroom located on each floor.
If you prefer something a little more luxurious, here are some other options for accommodation within 10km of the site:
York on Lilydale Retreat
(~$190 per night)
Econolodge Lilydale
(~$171 per night)
If you like singing in a friendly environment, this is the event to come to. Great teachers, great group, a fun weekend!
I can’t think of a better way to discover how much fun singing is – even if you’ve never sung before. If you think you can’t sing but wish you could, this is the perfect place to start exploring.
A fabulous weekend for those who love to sing in company with others. Simple but perfectly adequate accommodation, sessions presented by top choir leaders, the chance to sing around the fire pit into the wee small hours, lots of good company.
It was a challenging and fun exploration of so many different types of music – it was so amazing what we were able to achieve and it really fired up my passion to do more.
